What Is a Corporate Gift?

A corporate gift is a type of gift that is bestowed on a recipient by a business or company. Corporate presents, or gifts, may be given as a means of showing appreciation for efforts made by the recipient that have benefited the corporation. In other applications, a corporate gift is sometimes described as a one-time presentation to a local charity or municipality as part of the company’s community involvement efforts.

One of the more common examples of this type of gift has to do with employees of the business. Corporations often utilize gifts of some sort to recognize employees who have rendered a service to the company that is considered above and beyond the usual expectations. The company presents may take the form of a cash gift, or involve some type of tangible product such as a new car, or even an all-expense paid vacation for the employee and his or her family.

Presenting a company gift to customers is a relatively common public relations strategy. It is not unusual for companies to gift clients with some type of token or gesture of appreciation when the customer has generated an equitable amount of sales over the past calendar year. Many companies choose the December holiday season as the ideal time to send a company present to each client who meets the criteria established by the corporation.

Along with employees and customers, a corporate gift is sometimes extended to shareholders of the company. This approach is often seen as a way to express appreciation for the investment shareholders have made in the company. While a holiday season is usually considered an ideal time for this type of gifting strategy, shareholders may also receive company gifts on occasions that are of significance to the company, such as a stock split.

A supplier may also be the recipient of a corporate gift. This is especially true when the supplier has continued to work with the company during a rough economic period or otherwise provided additional support for the company. However, a company gift to suppliers may also be part of the general corporate culture of the company, in the same manner as gifting customers.

One final expression of a corporate gift is some type of present that is extended to the local community or a local charity. Generally, this gift is not an ongoing endowment, but a one-time gift that the charity of local municipality can use at their discretion. Corporations that are civic-minded sometimes make these types of gifts in areas where they operate offices, plants, or other facilities under the control of the corporation.

In general, the company gift allows the company to express appreciation for the relationship that exists between a given party and the company. The gift also signifies that the company feels it has benefited from the relationship and wishes to continue enjoying the benefits associated with the connection. Companies of all sizes and in varying circumstances employ this approach of corporate gifting.