Giving Archives - BOLLYWOOD SURKHIYAN

Helpful Tips on Business Gift Giving Etiquette in Latin America

Being prepared for an international business meeting requires information and knowledge of what will be discussed or presented at this meeting. A nice social gesture when meeting an international company for the first time, usually, is giving a gift. Take the time to research local customs before making a purchase, though, as some countries find it insulting to receive a gift. Knowing what to do before you go will not only show that you cared enough to learn about your destination’s etiquette, but may also open up all kinds of new doors and opportunities for you and your company.

Many multi-national businesses and their governments have very strict policies when it comes to business associates accepting gifts. Many Asian countries are concerned about corporate corruption and see gift giving as a bribe, so holding off on gift giving until you get to know the company and its policies may be a good idea. You should know that in Malaysia, most businesses require you establish a working relationship with them before giving a gift. Even here in the United States, our government sets a $25 spending limit on how much a business gift can cost.

An important fact to know about Latin American culture is that it is predominantly patriarchal, and very rigid divisions between work and home exist. Men are in business, and women are at home. If you happen to be visiting Guatemala, El Salvador, Colombia, Chile, Nicaragua, or Peru make sure you familiarize yourself with the current affairs and political dealings that are going on within those countries and avoid any discussions about these subjects for it most certainly will destroy any business dealings you hope establish with any companies therein.

When first meeting prospective business clients, handshakes are important so be firm but brief, and always make sure you keep constant eye contact throughout the handshake. When shaking hands with a woman, remember to be courteous and allow her to extend her hand first. Expect the person you’re speaking with to stand close to you and look you in the eyes, don’t move back or break eye contact because you could offend the person talking to you.

Below are some social taboos you should be aware of since using any of the following gestures can cause problems.

1. The “OK” sign made with your forefinger and thumb is an offensive gesture in Brazil.

2. Placing your hands on your hips in Argentina means you’re signaling a challenge.

3. Raising your fist to your head in Chile is a sign of Communism.

Latin America enjoys the business lunch and they are usually pretty long, at least two hours or longer. Dinners are considered purely social events and start late at night, usually around 10:00 or 11:00 pm. When at a social dinner, remember to keep your hands above the table at all times when eating and always pass food with your right hand

Giving a Business Client a Gift Basket From the Company

When searching for the right gift to say thanks to a client consider a variety of options before spending the money in order to accomplish the desired customer result. Sales professionals and business owners who want help finding the right gift for a clients may find the best solution for various situations can be a company gift basket. Many business leaders and sales people give gifts to their customers each year as a token of appreciation and as a subtle reminder to think of their organization the next time the client wants to place a similar order.

The easiest route to take for gift baskets is to get one that someone has already put together. Shopping for a gift basket that is already put together for a on the web is easy and in many department stores during a holiday season. Typical gift baskets that can be purchased include edibles such as candy, cookies, crackers, wine, meat, cheese and so forth. Also flower arrangements can be bought at a local florist or ordered over the internet at anytime. However these gifts are gone after only a few days. They may be appreciated, but will these gifts be remembered months later when the client wants to place a new order? Non-seasonal gift baskets are harder to find unless shopping is done at a specialty shop or gourmet store.

Although food baskets are nice, a client can get too many during the holidays or from competitors during the sales cycle. To insure remembrance, plan a special gift basket and find someone inside or outside the organization to customize it and arrange it in a nice container. If the container is a reusable item for the person receiving the gift basket, then it makes for an even better gift as they continue to use it! Company logo items used in a custom gift basket make an excellent reminder to the client every time it is used. These logo items are often practical gifts that will last for months to come. Often these types of gifts include mugs, calendars, clips, magnets, pens, or notebooks with the company name as the gift-giver imprinted on it along with the website and possibly a phone number. A miniature gift basket can be made by placing several small items in a mug and then wrapping it in cellophane, tying a bow around the top, and adding a gift card or business card. These types of baskets are nice-to-have and do have the desired company reminder aspect. Often customers will appreciate a gift that is both practical and helpful.

For a sales person who is looking for a meaningful appreciation gift to give clients during the sales cycle or when shopping for a holiday season, consider something to go along with the typical company logo item that reminds the client of their willingness to help grow the customer’s business as well as their own. Business books are often appreciated by professionals so they make a great addition to any gift basket. Often a custom gift basket can be built around the message of the book(s) being considered. There are so many business and improvement books to select from. When considering the best business book to give, think about complaints or concerns the recipient has expressed in the past and look for a title on that subject. The client will appreciate that their problem was remembered and that a solution may be provided in the gift. When saying thanks with a book for improving client’s business, the message is conveyed to “remember me because I want to help your business grow.” This additional message of business aid is often received with extra gratitude above what a gift basket alone gets. A salesperson should always include their business card in the book to be used as a bookmark. This way if the book is passed around in the client company, so is the salesperson’s name and contact information.

Many business leaders and sales people give gifts to their clients and customers each year as thanks for business and as a way to build future relationships. Sales professionals and business owners who want help finding the right gift to may find the best solution for various situations can be a company gift basket.

TIP: If looking for book ideas, check out article “Ten Book Options to Use for Business Gifts.”

Do You Know the Worst Times of the Day For Giving a Presentation?

If you have been invited to speak to a group of people and plan to talk for 30 – 40 minutes or even longer, it is important to understand that different hours of the day will result in different responses from your audience. 2 notoriously bad hours for a lengthy presentation are late morning, the hour preceding lunch, and late afternoon, the final hour before the end of the workday. In both situations, it is not easy to keep your audience’s attention.

Your body definitely goes through time rhythms throughout the day in which there are hours when you are more alert and hours when you are tired or fatigued. Whereas speaking at 7 am is tough because many people are still trying to wake up, the evening hours are usually good, especially for those in business who are accustomed to attending meetings and other organizational events after dinner.

Where your presentation is held is also another consideration. If you are going to be speaking in Las Vegas, for example, the morning hours will probably mean low attendance, so it would be wise to schedule your presentation for sometime in the afternoon in the city that never sleeps. In Atlantic City, on the other hand, morning hours would work well because many of those attending workshops, seminars, and conventions in this coastal city are coming from surrounding states or from within New Jersey. Bear in mind that Las Vegas’ tourists or conventioneers are coming from all over the country or even further and will be staying overnight. Atlantic City’s traffic is different than Las Vegas in that the conventions in this seaside city, because they are more localized, often mean that many in attendance may or may not be staying overnight.

What also must be kept in mind is whether you are the only speaker or whether you are one of many on the roster. Giving a persuasive or informative presentation to a group of people who have just listened to a comedian may not be the smartest move. Speaking before the comedian, for example, would be a better spot for you.

While you may not have the opportunity to choose the time for your presentation, much will also depend on your topic and the type of audience to whom you will be speaking. If you are going to give a presentation on maintaining a healthy heart to a group of retirees, it would be wise to avoid the evening hours. Keeping some of these seniors awake after their dinner with a serious presentation on heart healthcare could prove much more challenging than if you were to speak to them in the morning.

If, for example, you have been invited to speak to a women’s business group that meets the first Monday evening of the month, then your time has been scheduled. If, on the other hand, the hour has some flexibility, ask your host about the audience and discuss with this individual what they feel would be the best time for you to speak.

Planning your presentation at an optimal hour or in a good time slot may not always be possible. Should you be invited to speak at an hour in which your audience may not be as alert as you would like, it is doubly important to speak with enthusiasm, with excitement, and with passion to keep their attention on you. If you know they are going to be tired, wake them up!