Food Gift Baskets, Corporate Gifts Etiquette Explained

Looking for corporate gift basket ideas? Here's some tips for choosing the right items for corporate Christmas gift baskets and how to avoid corporate gift giving faux pas.

Believe it or not, it's closer than you think to that time of year again. Time to decide on what to give your clients or employees for the holidays that will make them feel special.

Holiday gift food baskets can help increase customer loyalty, build rapport with clients and employees, and add to more client referrals. But giving corporate gifts without knowing a bit of etiquette can have the opposite effect: you can alienate your customers, cause delicate employee relationships to become even more frayed and generally decrease your likelihood of future business. It's important that you choose an appropriate gift to make just the right impression.

Things to avoid adding to a corporate Christmas gift basket unless you are really sure you know the person:

1. Roses. Flowers are ok, but roses are a no-no. Roses signify romance and can be misconstrued. Stick with seasonal flowers that are gender neutral.

2. Liquor. Wine, beer and liquor are generally accepted, but use caution. Be sure you know whether or not your client or employee is a recovering alcoholic, or has cultural or religious rules against drinking alcohol.

3. Meat. Some of your clients and employees may be vegetarians. They may or may not be offended by a holiday gift food basket containing meat products.

That being said, corporate Christmas gift baskets are really the perfect business gift because they appeal to both women and men, and generally to anyone who likes to eat.

Holiday gift food baskets are easy for you because they can be delivered right to the office. And here's the bonus. If you send a holiday food gift basket to you client, that person gets to be the hero at their company. You addressed the gift card to them, and they in turn can share the bounty with their staff.

If your really want to make a strong statement, go for gourmet.