As the economic graph shows signs of improvement and corporates are entering the festive season, employers are once again reaching out to their employees. Naresh N., who runs Gifts and Antiques, a gifting company, says companies were tight on budgets last year, but are much more indulgent now. “Over the last couple of years, companies were giving similar gifts to all employees. This year, they are spending more on gifts for senior management. Items like fancy USB devices, miniature golf kits and desk accessories are popular now,” he says.
As corporates are becoming generous, it’s boom time for gift makers. “Compared to last year our business has nearly doubled. Most big companies divide their clients into three categories — platinum, gold and silver and budgets are charted out accordingly,” says a spokesperson from eYantra, a corporate gifts solutions company.
Gift vouchers, too, are in demand for their flexibility. “Rather than fixed bonuses we opt for vouchers priced between Rs 250 and Rs 1,000 for employees along with chocolates and dry fruit packs in the price range of Rs 300 to Rs 500. We don’t mind going in for high value purchases like plasma TVs for our premium clients,” says Ashok Bhatt, VP-HR of Pamtel Solutions.
Some companies go the social responsibility way by weaving a cause into the celebration. Organisations like Child Relief and You (CRY) see a spurt in sales of about 30 per cent during the festive season, with their merchandise. While some others opt for customised gifts. Mithra K., a programming analyst with a leading software company, says, “In our company apart from the bonus, we give out a customised scrapbook designed like a school project to our clients where people have to paste photos and write details about their families.”
Employees are only too happy that their employers are going the extra mile to be innovative with gifting. Sanjay Kapoor, who works with a software development company in Delhi, says, “It is nice to see organisations loosen their purse strings. This year, our company has given the high achievers gift vouchers worth Rs 5,000 apart from a very special sweets package to all. It’s like the good times of 2006 and 2007 are back again.”