KATHMANDU: Corporate gifts — items offered by an organ-isation as an expression of appreciation — are an important tool for advertising a company and to spread its corporate mess-age amongst the intended audience. They do not carry an advertising message and generally convey best wishes with the company’s name and logo. However, these are the most creative means to reach target audience, build strong and long lasting business relationships and hold most productive employees within the organisation.

Atma Gautam, officer at Himalayan Bank, says, “Corporate gifts play a vital role in brand visibility and maintaining goodwill

of the company. We provide gifts like calendars, diaries, key chains, ball pens, et cetera that can be used by our clients,” adding that such gifts build attachment between customers and the company.

Over the years, giveaways have evolved to many more utility items such as tee-shirts, shirts, hand bags, clocks, electronics, coffee mugs, cups, storage devices, ashtrays, caps, perfumes, candle stands, crockery and so on. Earlier most corporate gifts were exchanged during the festive occasion only.

But nowadays, these are given away throughout the year to maintain cordial and affable business relations with buyers, suppliers and other recipients.

Informing that the bank occasionally provides gifts, Gautam says, “Since it would be costly to give away gifts throughout the year, we

provide calendars during Nepali New Year, diaries in English New Year and other items as a part of  our  promotion

whenever new services are launched.”

Corporate gifting has also become the most contem-porary way to motivate employees, stakeholders and welcome existing as well as potential clients. Corporate gifts are sometimes custom designed to suit the needs of the business firm with its name and logo on it with tagline of the company. They are mostly presented by firms during conferences, trade shows and trade fairs during launch of a new product line or to promote an existing range of products or services.

Roman Awale, showroom manager at Sony Centre, says, “We provide corporate gifts during launch programmes of new products, conferences, press meets and other programmes. On the other hand, we offer gifts of our own product line to express our gratitude and greetings on special occasions.” Report-edly Sony mostly provides corporate gifts on the occasions like Dashain, Tihar, New Year and World Cup.

Stating that corporate gifting is more effective than verbal appreciation, Awale says, “It is the best means for gaining brand loyalty and visibility which leads to a long-term business relationship with customers and employees.” While it is an additional way of advertising the brand, it can be carried out in a much more personalised and intimate manner.

Still, discovering the proper item as corporate gift is the key in promoting the business, its products and services. To increase product sales, it is advised to facilitate clients with useful items and give tokens of appreciation for trust and being part of the company.