Learn whether sending a holiday gift might put a business associate, client or customer in the embarrassing position of declining and returning your gift or donating it to charity. One business-newsletter publisher sends token gifts, such as shirts or calendars, but returns all gifts he receives. Choose Carefully Also consider each recipient s tastes and preferences. For instance, if you plan to send clients wine, find out if they all drink alcohol. If you want to send mail-order steaks or hams, be sure to rule out all vegetarians on your list.
Some businesses make charitable donations in recipients names, but such moves aren t always popular.
If I could select who receives the donation, then I would consider such a gesture a gift. If you decide to send perishable food, make sure your recipient will be there to receive it. And never give to or accept gifts from a person or firm you re negotiating with. Keep records of what you gave and to whom each year. Otherwise, you may keep giving the same gift when, for maximum impact, you may want to avoid repeating yourself.