ASI Says Corporate Gift Giving Trending More Nice Than Naughty

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Dec 10, 2014, 11:41 ET

TREVOSE, Pa., Dec. 10, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The annual corporate gift-giving survey released by the Advertising Specialty Institute^® (ASI) shows companies planning holiday rewards will spend $10 more per customer and $5 more per worker, despite static overall budgets.

Companies giving gifts told ASI they plan to spend an average of $43 per customer or prospective customer on popular promotional products like food baskets or wine bottles branded with a company's logo. Food and beverages topped the 2014 gift list, followed by desk accessories, writing instruments and calendars.

According to ASI's 6^th annual Corporate Gift Spending Survey, businesses giving gifts to employees will spend an average of $50 per worker. Most companies are handing out gift cards, followed by food/beverages, apparel and cash bonuses. This year, charitable donations and travel ranked at the bottom of the employee gift list.

"Everyone appreciates being remembered and recognized, which is why smart companies choose to recognize faithful customers during the holidays with a special gift that says 'Thanks for your business,' " said ASI CEO Timothy M. Andrews.

All told, about six in 10 (62%) companies plan on rewarding clients and employees. The main goal of giving gifts is to express appreciation (86%) and for relationship development (69%), as well as to generate good will and increase company awareness, the survey found.

Gift givers told ASI they considered an item's attractiveness, durability and usefulness when selecting what to give. Items that are eco-friendly or made in the U.S. were the least important factors this year.

According to ASI's Advantages magazine annual "Gift Guide," companies should pay strict attention to packaging. While gifts like Swiss chocolate towers will disappear fast, food and drinks presented in an attractive basket, bowl or wine carrier will remind recipients of the giver all year long. And don't forget branding. This year, 68% of corporate gifts will sport a company logo.

ASI conducted a nationwide survey of respondents from a cross-section of industries who were screened to have a personal role in decisions about procuring corporate gifts for either employees or clients/prospects.

For more information about ASI's survey, contact Nate Kucsma, ASI's market research director, at [email protected] or 215-953-3416

About ASI
The Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI) is the largest media, marketing and education organization serving the promotional products industry, with a network of over 25,000 distributors and suppliers throughout North America.

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SOURCE Advertising Specialty Institute