Running your business sometimes feels like trying to run three different marathons at once. You have dozens of projects calling for your time and attention — and many needs to balance within your budget.
With all these competing demands, you may wonder if business gifts should be a priority for you.
If you do it right, the answer is yes! Soulless promotional gifts are a thing of the past. Now, they’re nothing but clutter. That’s why sustainable corporate gifting is a surefire way to grow your revenue and influence.
In this post, discover seven reasons why you need to start developing your business’s sustainable corporate gifting program today.
Giving Sustainable Gifts to Key Stakeholders Creates Reciprocity
Imagine you’re cleaning on a Saturday morning when the doorbell rings. It’s Betty from down the street, holding a warm plate of homemade chocolate chip cookies she baked for you.
You thank her for the goodies — and the next time you’re baking, you immediately think about dropping a treat off for her family.
This is the principle of reciprocity at work. When we get something from someone, we want to give something back.
So what does this mean for your business?
Giving sustainable business gifts to your employees, clients, or partners builds reciprocity. It adds value to a relationship — and encourages a natural desire for them to support your business. This can then create a positive cycle of giving and receiving that benefits both of you!
Sustainable Corporate Gifting Helps Build Emotional Connections
Not only does corporate gifting create reciprocity, it also helps build a meaningful emotional connection. And this can make a big difference in your business — one study found that customers who feel emotionally connected to a business have a 306% higher lifetime value.
One reason for this is that people tend to make decisions based on emotion and then justify them with logic. When stakeholders have a personal, emotional connection with your brand, they’re more likely to engage with you more often and for a longer period of time.
Customers, employees, and clients who have an emotional connection with your brand are also:
- More likely to choose your business over a competitor
- More receptive to new offerings or projects
- More forgiving of mistakes or errors
- More likely to recommend your brand to others
Any gift can be beneficial in building a connection, but sustainable corporate gifts are especially valuable. Here’s why.
Choosing Sustainable Corporate Gifts Makes You More Memorable
How many times have you gotten a bland swag bag from a business? If you’re like most people, you use them a few times before tossing them in the trash (or in a cupboard where they gather dust).
When it comes to corporate gifting, the last thing you want is to be is generic. Any company can give out a cheap piece of plastic with their logo on it. And because people are so used to this type of promotional gift, they rarely remember them later.
Sustainable corporate gifts help your business stand out from the crowd. This is a big win, since one study found that gifts are 40% more valuable if the recipients considered them memorable.
Instead of a run-of-the-mill branded mug, what if you gave a big-hearted client a beautiful set of Reusable Gift Wraps she could use for her loved ones? Or if you sent a dog-loving employee a charming doy toy made from recycled lobster rope?
These gifts feel personalized, unique, and meaningful — so recipients are more likely to value and remember them. And by extension, they’ll remember your business in a positive way.
Sustainable Business Gifts Show Your Commitment to the Planet
As sustainability becomes more mainstream, so does a phenomenon known as “greenwashing.” Greenwashing is when a company claims their mission or product is good for the planet when in reality, it’s nothing more than a marketing scheme.
If you’re just talking the talk, customers and clients become skeptical about your motives. So a key to building trust with your stakeholders is walking the walk of corporate sustainability.
One way you can do this is by choosing eco-friendly corporate gifts — items that are truly good for people and the planet.
Showing that you care about sustainability helps you:
- Create a positive brand image
- Reinforce your company’s values
- Encourage others to live more sustainably
- Strengthen your position as a conscious company
And this isn’t just true for stakeholders like clients, partners, or customers. It can also improve your relationship with your employees.
Sustainable Gifts Helps Motivate and Inspire Employees
Your employees are a huge part of what makes your business what it is — and you can encourage them and show your appreciation with well-timed gifts.
Choosing sustainable corporate gifts takes this to the next level. Like we’ve discussed, sustainable gifts are more memorable, valuable, and personal than generic mass-market items. This creates a stronger bond with your employees.
And in a similar vein, it helps reinforce the importance of your company’s quest for sustainability. This reminds your employees that they’re part of an organization working toward meaningful change.
When employees feel inspired and empowered, they’re able to work at their point of best contribution.
Sustainable Corporate Gifting Creates a Lasting Return on Investment for You
Experts are forecasting that the return on investment for corporate gifts will continue to grow over the next few years — with up to a 10x ROI on the gifts your company gives.
And in most cases, this isn’t just a one-time benefit for you. It creates a ripple effect that continues to add value over time.
Here are five ways your investment in sustainable business gifts pays off:
- Word-of-mouth referrals from happy customers
- Longer customer relationships
- Higher customer lifetime value
- More authentic relationships with key partners
- Mission buy-in from stakeholders
And just like any investment, the sooner you begin to invest in sustainable corporate gifting, the sooner you can start to see the benefits.
Now Is the Best Time to Get Started with Sustainable Corporate Gifting
Since the pandemic, the world of corporate gifting has grown steadily. And this won’t stop anytime soon. Experts forecast that the corporate gifting industry will grow to $64 billion by 2024.
More and more companies are starting to follow the trend of giving gifts to people who matter in their business.But most aren’t doing it in a way that creates deep connection — and few are making sustainability a priority.
That’s why now is the perfect time for you to set a foundation for your business’s corporate gifting program. A foundation built on authenticity, person-to-person connection, and real compassion for the planet.
And the good news is that you don’t have to do it alone.
We Make Sustainable Corporate Gifting Work for Your Business
At Lochtree, we’re experts in making corporate gifting effortless for you. We take a fresh approach by helping you find the perfect gifts for your business needs, without any stress or extra work for you.
And by focusing on sustainable corporate gifting, you create mutually beneficial relationships that last. That way, you maximize the value of your investment while giving back to the planet.
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