In the same way, as a delivery driver is often the only company representative that a customer meets, your corporate gifts are often the only time a customer sees a tangible manifestation of your brand.
The once yearly gift, is not just a chance to express gratitude for customer loyalty, it is a priceless opportunity to put your company's values into a customer's hands and home.
All companies have by now, prepared their Environmental and Social Governance strategy. Larger companies have now prepared their Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive. These are often fine words, fine intentions and nowadays they are taken seriously by all* ( almost all😉)
However.
Sending a plastic wrapped, wicker basket filled with imported alcohol, chocolates and that jar of strange condiment/pickle/jam as a Christmas gift, does not really correlate with your pledges of reduced packaging, zero waste and social responsibility
Look, Christmas is a time for fun, for generosity and for expressing gratitude through gifts, we all want that. I am just suggesting matching our gifts with our company ethos.
Last year, we were approached by an Irish company that sells and installs energy efficient heating systems, who required 100 hampers for their customers. They are a company whose business IS sustainability and they felt that StyleBarn matched their values. We put together a hamper of locally made foods, a notebook made from recycled coffee cups and a metal coffee pot to replace a lifetime of single use coffee pods. The hamper was packed without plastic and we used coffee sacks as bubble wrap. The reaction from their customers was incredibly positive, with numerous emails thanking them for a gift that was stylish AND sustainable.
This year we are introducing a new Corporate hamper, that is appropriate year round and is based around the premise of Style, Substance and Circularity.
You will find it on our home page.
Corporate gifts should make people smile, but they should also make people think.
If a company takes the time to research a gift with the minimum carbon footprint, well, it would certainly instil a little more faith in their corporate governance.
Thank you for your time.
Richard & Mairead