Introduction
CNY is an important occasion for people and companies within the Asia Pacific and corporate gift giving is an integral part of this celebration. In the past, organizations give gifts to build goodwill with clients, supply companies and employees, to say thank you or to support good working relations. This article is going to identify strategies on how you can use CNY corporate gifting to help strengthen and open new business opportunities for your company.
More Than New Year Corporate Gift
The idea of gifting at the Chinese New Year is not only about the culture but the business gain as well. It enables the business owners to get visibility and express gratitude, regard and benevolence to their customers and counterparts. CNY corporate gifts also help:
- To gain more customers for the organization’s products it is important to improve brand awareness and work on the brand reputation.
- Secure business with additional guaranteed sales, to remind clients and partners of the friendly appreciation of the company.
- It can also express thanks to clients, vendors and employees for their support and patronage.
Chinese New Year celebrations and icons are explained below.
In order to create the best CNY corporate gift, company representatives should familiarize themselves with the traditional associations and customs of the celebration. Here are some of the most important ones:
- Red envelopes (hongbao): In Chinese culture, money put in red envelopes is as symbolic of prosperity and prosperity as it can get.
- Nian gao (sticky rice cake): It is told that this sweet treats are an indication of advancement and better position at the end of the year.
- Oranges: Used as fertility symbol, for crop yield and as a symbol of wealth.
- Pomelos: This fruit symbolizes prosperity and good luck This is a citrus fruit.
- Peaches: Associated with long life and dried up, shriveled brains.
- Pears: Respect success.
- Apples: Symbolise fertility and offspring respectively.
- Cherry Blossoms: Remind of the renewal process, usually used in a rebirth sense as in ‘being reborn again’.
It is important to give CNY corporate gifts with intention and to analyse how this exchange might change our relationship with the recipient. Factors to consider include:
- Relationship: The closeness of the relationship between the two businesses and the liking of the receiver
- Industry: Choosing gifts should be done based on the field of work of the recipient as well as his/her rank.
- Cultural preferences: The Chinese, Singaporeans, Malaysians, and other Asian people have different practices and preferences.
- Personal interests: If you want to gift something to someone you could relate it to the hobbies or interest of that person to make your gift more unique.
Types of CNY Corporate Gifts
When developing CNY corporate gift strategy, there are many types of gifts that one can settle on. Some popular choices include:
- Luxury items: Jewelry, sharp-look wrist watches or imported branded hand bags or any other elegant accessories are preferred as gifts for the VIP clients or influential business associates.
- Electronics: Gadgets such as smart phones, pads or smartwatches are common choices because they are useful devices and also fashionable.
- Collectibles and home décor: Such things as jade carved figurines, old coins or calligraphy set are perfect gifts to show corporate clients’ appreciation bearing in mind the cultural significance of such items.
- Gourmet gifts: Gift basket that contains local cookies or chocolates, tea sets, or wine to provide clients’ with an opportunity to experience Chinese New Year.
Timing and Delivery
The issues of timing and delivery greatly determine the success of a CNY corporate gifting campaign. Factors to consider:
- CNY is basically the Chinese lunar calendar, while the New Year officially begins on the first day of February.
- This should also be done before the beginning of the CNY so that the gifts can get to the intended destination on time.
- Please allow people to come to your office or events to pick them up to avoid situations where they have to carry their gifts home on the eve of CNY.
Follow-up and Maintenance
Having strategy after CNY is a common marketing strategy that if you don’t maintain the goodwill created by the corporate gifts then there is usually no reason behind the gifts. Some ideas:
- Provide follow-ups in form of emails or letters showing your appreciation for the recipient’s continued patronage
- Post a year end message /newsletter where you explain your performances and setting goals for the year 2016.
- Take members of that organization to other functions such as networking events, seminars or product launch in order to keep the cream quite active
Conclusion
CNY corporate gifting is an excellent solution for approaching the right people, maintaining business relations, and keeping your brand fresh in business partners’ and clients’ minds. When you explore the knowledge about Chinese New Year customs and select appropriate presents coupled with proper delivery, you will make sure that your gifting campaign will be effective and memorable for your recipients. Encased in beautifully packed and exquisitely designed corporate gifts that have been selected and designed with care and strategy, let this Year of the Tiger a year of prosperity and celebration of your business relations with China.