On-site Gifting

Boost the feel-good quotient of your next event with on-site gifting

By John Schofield

On-site gifting brings an air of excitement to any incentive trip, sales meeting or other corporate event. Instead of purchasing recognition items for employees, planners can hire an on-site gift provider to handle the experience from start to finish, allowing recipients to choose exactly what they wish. Here’s how to make the most of the experience:

PLAN AHEAD: Give the gifting firm at least 60 days notice, recommends Tom Romine, the founder and president of Boulder, Colo.-based Cultivate Premium Corporate Gifts, which handled on-site gifting at about 200 events last year in a variety of countries, including Canada. Romine says the gifting service should work closely with the planner to get a detailed picture of the event attendees and the gifts best suited to them. Most people prefer receiving brand name items, he says, and popular choices include Ray-Ban or Oakley sunglasses, Fossil or Michael Kors watches and OluKai sandals. Gifts can also include electronics such as Bose headphones, running shoes, or luggage.

MONEY MATTERS: The average gift spend at events is about $100 to $150 per person, estimates Romine. Gifts such as sunglasses, watches, sandals and apparel are typically priced 10 to 30 per cent below retail, while electronics are priced at or above retail. The gifting firm then adds its own fee (sometimes calculated per event attendee).

MAKE THE TIME: At a meeting with 200 people, for example, it could take two hours—which is likely best slotted in during registration, a happy hour or welcoming session. Romine recommends carefully vetting the gifting company and making sure they bring enough inventory to ensure that the last person in line gets as much choice as the first.

GIFTED PROGRAMS
A sampling of on-site gifting services available in Canada:

Cultivate Premium Corporate Gifts (sunglasses, watches and other gifts): cultivatepcg.com
Incentive Concepts (Bose headphones): incentiveconcepts.com
Somcan Marketing and Sales (Tumi luggage and other pre mium brands): somcan.com
Bulova Corporate Sales (watches): bulovaawards.ca

other articles in this section

Swag-Bag Standouts

Banff, Alberta

Incentive Travel Insights

Gifting Guidance

The Renaissance of Incentive Travel

Promotional products your attendees will love. Really.

Incentive Research in Action

History in the Making

Mindful Indulgences

Dynamic Duos

Status Report

Editor's Choice: 6 Springtime Gifts

Warm up to Winter Ski Incentives

Set to Impress

Expert Tips for Virtual Incentive Events

Party Pivots

Presents of Mind: The Art of Virtual Gifting

A Rewarding Experience

Noteworthy: Hamilton Princess & Beach Club, Bermuda

Cards vs. Cash

Good Times

Value Validation

Trip Trends

Sailing Away

The More, The Merrier

Holiday Angst

Making the Connection

Make an Impact

Mutual Appreciation

Healthy Options for Incentive Trips

A Rewarding Experience

Cruising the Rhone River

Celebrating Employee Milestones

How Do they Do It

Eyes on the Prize

Healthy employees = Healthy company

Measuring ROI

Hawks Cay Resort, Duck Key, Florida

Good Sensations

How to Design an Effective Gift Card Incentive Program

Fogo Island Inn, Fogo Island, Newfoundland

The Case for including Spouses on Incentive Trips

Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya

On-site Gifting

Rim to River Hiking in the Grand Canyon

Sparkling Hill Resort, Vernon, BC

Creating incentive trips that appeal to everyone

The Brave New World of Gift Cards

Award Show Winners

Capella Marigot Bay Resort and Marina

Take me to the river

Click + Praise

The Science of Incentives

Incentive trips go family-style

Knock-their-socks-off gifts for hard-to-buy-for executives

Building a Better Program

Perfect Pampering

Indulge Me!

Customized Recognition Programs

Virtual gift cards, the new reality

Gift Cards that Give

Go with a Pro, in the Spa and on the Greens

Chartering private jets

Offsite Employee Engagement

Behaviour-based Recognition

Canadian tax implications for employee gifts

A Christmas Bonus with all the Fixin's!

Peer-to-peer recognition

Everyday Green Heroes

Recognizing Environmental Actions in the Workplace

Reward and Recognize Every Day!

New Year, New You!

Co-Branded Cards

Last-minute gifts and rewards

Double Pampering Hits the Spot!

Hidden Gems: Cobble Beach Resort

Gamification

Free and Fab Employee Rewards

Incentive Programs Used by the Pros

Think Local for Corporate Gifts

21st Century Gift Cards

Time for an Incentive Travel Update

Reward Best-Practices for the Holiday Season

Small Product, Big Impact

Spa Rewards, Done Right

Staying Motivated

Gift Giving Guidelines

The Pros and Cons of Gift Cards

Eco-Friendly Corporate Gift Ideas

Green Guides

Travel Rewards Strategy

Speaker Gifts that Shine with Gratitude

Tax Treatment of Incentive Travel