Swanky new yr gifts for corporates

GIFT TIME: Top companies are looking for new items to be gifted to their clients in New Year.

Featured Blog

Rajdeep Sardesai

Maharaj or Dada, Ganguly's legacy lives on

Featured Slideshows

Hyderabad: Expecting a pen or a diary from the office this year – well, keep your fingers crossed. The latest trends include designer mugs, mobile phones and even iPods.

New Year diaries are fast losing their appeal as a gift item at least, as far as the big corporates are concerned. Top companies are looking for new items to be gifted to their clients and employees.

Head-eTail owner Ranjith Boyannapalli says, “There is definitely a change, people think gifting is no more a formality or obligation. They think gifting actually talks about their identity and personality. So they are taking a lot of concern and putting in a lot of efforts in choosing the right gift and innovative gift."

The list of gift items ordered by companies for this New Year proves this. HCL is gifting 55 Nokia phones and 130 iPods, Dr Reddy's Lab will distribute 750 jackets, Oracle will give one thousand Denim shirts and Microsoft – 550 wrist watches.

Even the Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad is not behind any corporate in giving New Year gifts.

Last year, it distributed DVD players. But this year, it would be gifting 200 Olympus digital cameras to top politician and officials of the city. It means that the MCH would be spending nearly Rs 20 lakh on New Year gifts.

That’s just a fraction of the Rs 400 crore, which companies are expected to spend on New Year gifts. The biggest spenders are IT and pharmaceutical companies. But experts say the money is well spent.

E-Yantra Industries Managing Director Phani N Raj said, “If you look at corporate gifting alone, it is the best way to promote your brand yet the other guy doesn't feel bad about taking a gift. And the best part is visibility of the brand comes up most."

Besides costly gadgets, companies are also planning to gift products like designer mugs, reed diffusers and miniature golf sets.

So, if you are an employee or client of a big corporate, then chances are you can expect a nice New Year surprise.