Evening star., 1956-11-30

lldGlOIlS nave ItlelE OnTlSIuldS
shopping lists. as do individuals.
Supplying the gifts which busi-
ness sends out runs into big
money.
Whether the practice is in
creasing is hard to determine.
That it is substantial is indi-
Gated by a canvass of some of
those who supply the gifts which
are sent. That it has its prob
lens also is indicated.
Statesmen for a company will
compete with one another for
more and bigger gifts for their
customers. Some concerns re-
gard the practice as a pain in
the corporate neck.
An industry which goes after
the gift lists of business in a
big way is the liquor industry.
But it is not alone. Many busi-
nessmen get circulars in the fall
advertising citrus fruits in ham
IperS, half-bushel baskets and
boxes, apples. fruit cakes, cheese,
candy. smoked turkeys and
hams, partridges in cans and
other items.
Just send in your gift list and
a check and the selected items
will be dispatched to customers
and others whose good will the
donor wants to cultivate. One
company sent a stainless steel
meat cleaver with a small chop
ping block, carefully delivered
on Christmas Day.
Government Bans practices
In Washington the total of
such giving is held down by the
fact the biggest business gives
no Christmas presents and its
employees are extremely chary
Iof accepting them. This is the
Government.
About the only tangible thing
anyone gets from the Govern
Iment around Christmas time is
an income tax blank. Since a
Ispate of congressional inquisi-
ltiveness about accepting gifts,
Government employees don't ac-
cept them. There have even
been cases Of Christmas cards
being returned.
In one category Of giving, a
bottle of whisky is somewhat of
a standard. In the Washington
area the bottle is usually of bour-
bon, with Scotch in second place.
An industry spokesman said
any estimate of the amount Of
this business would be only a
guess. He said, however, the busi-
ness is Substantial" and is in
Icreasing. Distillers bid for the
trade by putting their products
in fancy decanters at Christmas
time.
Reminder of Product
One stationery company which
does a large business in filling
companies Christmas lists said
the aim of some is to keep the
Icompany's name before the re-
cipient. Hence the gift may be a.
pen. an ash tray, a desk ther-
|mometer or a memo pad with
the giver's name on it. In the
more expensive categories the
gift may be a barometer, a wal
let. leather card and memoran-
dunn case or a desk pen on a dec
orative base.
One company said it filled or
ders for silver money clips with.
the recipients name engraved.
Surprisingly, Washington
organization which fills tn e.
needs Of business concerns with
Christmas lists is the National
Geographic Society. A member
ship. which means the member
receives the National Geographic
Magazine, frequently is chosen
as a Christmas gift by one indi-
vidual, for another. But COM.
panies do 1t too. on a large scale.
Christmas subscriptions to-
memberships come in from con-
Germs in every State and from
countries on every continent.
One Of the largest donors is al
company which manufactures
shoe shanks. A ready-mixedI
concrete supplier is another. A
Scottish motor sales and engi-
neering flrm subscribes for MEM
berships for about 100 persons.
A Globe for the Boss
Booksellers admit they have
not been able 70 get in on this
branch Of Christmas giving al
though the sale OF books for in
diyidual giving is brisk. one
bookseller told OF another twist
to the business Christmas giving
A company's employees Clipped
IN and bought an expensive
globe for the boss.
Candy and perfume for women
y almost standard. A business
man may not only give SUCH .