It has been a crazy year! A year in which working from home became the standard and celebrating the holiday abroad was no longer an option. Also 2021 will be a little different this year… Unfortunately due to all restrictions, we can’t celebrate it together with all our loved ones. A big disappointment for all […]
Gifts
Exploring the Ethical Dilemmas of Corporate Gift Giving
During the last holiday season, The Ladders published an article citing research on the motivational benefits of gift giving in the workplace. A survey by the Advertising Specialty Institute showed that 42% of employers gave gifts to their employees. When you are looking for ways to motivate your staff, you should show appreciation and reward […]
The ROI of Promotional Product Giveaways
You may have seen them before. As a consumer, you may have been given one and probably even have it still lying around at home—a pen, notebook, tote bag, umbrella, or any such object that bears a company’s name and logo. Sometimes, you may even see them given out as a prize for a first- […]
These 4 Marketing Strategies Significantly Accelerated My Business Growth
The critical decision of whether or not to save or abandon my business came just a few years ago. I had just opened a travel agency in Colombia, with the hopes of exploring its ever expanding tourism market. What I hadn’t expected, however, was the number of other agencies already established in the country, and […]
5 Budget-Friendly Ideas for Celebrating Employees
Keeping employees motivated and feeling appreciated is one of the most important ways for an organization to improve productivity and morale in the workplace: “Research shows that feeling appreciated—which comes from recognition from others—is one of the top three drivers of employee engagement. The best news is that showing appreciation doesn’t have to cost a lot […]
Thinking What to Get Your Favorite Small Business Owner? Top 5 Last Minute Gift Options
Gifting business people, whether they’re avid entrepreneurs, managers or company owners, can be extremely challenging. Gift baskets are overrated, and then there are expensive gift ideas that might seem cool and interesting, but not everyone can afford to overspend. The average client doesn’t really want spend thousands of dollars on iPads and overly expensive wristwatches. […]
3 Ways Business Holiday Gifts Make You Smart
The holiday gift giving season is a sure thing, often presenting challenges for your business or nonprofit organization. Should you give? To whom? If you’re even questioning whether to give or not, you can stop right there. No matter your budget, there are excellent business reasons why you should! Here are 3 ways that giving out […]
Using Promotional Items to Build Client Relationships
A friend of a friend gave his wife a vacuum cleaner for Christmas. Relating this story to me, my friend wondered out loud how it was possible that his buddy was still alive. This is the classic husband mistake: giving his wife something that he thinks will make life easier for her and that in […]
Gifts versus Cash: Which is More Effective as a Corporate Giveaway?
Certain corporate gifts have a greater effect than cash. A recent study demonstrated that that travel and merchandise incentives are more attractive to employees and investors than financial incentives. In the merchandise category we have gift cards, which proved to be the most popular kind of award item. Those who participated in the study declared […]
Can Business Owners Deduct Holiday Gifts on Their Tax Returns?
With the holiday season in full swing, many of us are in a gift-giving mood. So this begs the question: Does the IRS allow business owners to write off gift expenses as a tax deduction when filing with Uncle Sam?
