Corporate gift giving is a popular practice, and it will only continue to grow in popularity over the next years. Of course, if you are just getting started in corporate gift giving, there are a few things you should know:

Who can you give corporate gifts to?

Clients

Employees

Business Associates

Which occasions is corporate gift giving best suited to? Practically any occasion:

To promote your company and its products and services

To say "thank you"? and show your appreciation to employees, clients, or someone who has referred business to you.

To motivate and to encourage employees and clients

To celebrate and congratulate on a promotion, retirement, wedding, new addition to family, etc.

To welcome new employees

Company anniversary

Holiday gifts

Personal achievements

Company achievements

Sympathy and "get well"?

Other important corporate gift giving guidelines

Before giving any corporate gift, check and be sure that corporate gift giving is allowed with the company of your client or potential client.

Do not give any personal gifts. Instead, stick to mainstream gifts that anyone can enjoy, like food gift baskets, desk accessories, tickets to sporting events or the theater, restaurant gift certificates, electronic gifts, etc.

Do not give gifts in order to compensate your employees for poor wages. A corporate gift should be something given in addition to, above and beyond, the wage or salary of an employee.

Try to avoid holiday corporate gift giving mishaps: find out the religious and cultural backgrounds of recipient before sending Christmas gifts, for instance.

When possible, consider giving the gift in person. Be sure to check with the schedule of the recipient, first.