6 Corporate Gifting Challenges You Should Know About

Corporate is a big deal today. It's not just about being nice or showing appreciation - giving gifts to business partners, employees, and customers can actually improve your company's image and strengthen relationships. Plus, they can be a great marketing and communication tool.

But let's be real, it's not always easy to pick the perfect gift and make sure it's given at the right time.

Challenges in corporate gifting today include finding something unique and memorable that fits within a budget, making sure the gift is appropriate for the recipient, and standing out in a sea of competitors all vying for attention with their own gifting efforts, to name a few.

It's not just about finding the right gift, but also about finding the right way to present it and make it meaningful for the recipient.

That's why corporate gifting is a challenge, especially in today's market. There are so many factors to consider and details to pay attention to. But hey, that's what makes it an art!

In this article, we’ll look at some of the major challenges businesses face when it comes to corporate gifting and offer you the one-stop solution that addresses and eliminates every single one.

Let’s get right into it!

Challenges of corporate gifting

The following are the 6 most common challenges that businesses face when it comes to corporate gifting.

1. Too many stakeholders involved

Corporate gifting can be a great way to show appreciation for clients, employees, and business partners. However, it can also be a challenge when there are too many stakeholders involved.

First and foremost, there's the issue of choosing the right vendor. You want to find a company that can provide high-quality products at a reasonable price. But with so many options out there, it can be overwhelming to narrow down the choices. Plus, you have to consider the preferences of your recipients - what type of gifts will they actually enjoy and use?

Then, there's the matter of product suppliers. You want to make sure you're getting your products from reputable sources that can deliver on time. But with so many suppliers to choose from, it can be difficult to determine which ones are the most reliable.

Finally, there's the shipping company. You want to find a company that can get the gifts to their destination quickly and efficiently. But again, there are so many options out there that it can be tough to know which one to go with.

All of these factors create a highly disorganized and broken chain of supply and can make corporate gifting a real challenge.

2. Lack of transparency

One of the biggest challenges is the lack of transparency when it comes to expenses, timelines, and shipping.

First and foremost, it is difficult to determine exactly how much money you should be budgeting for corporate gifting. It's important to find a balance between showing your appreciation and not breaking the bank, but it can be tough to gauge how much is too much.

And even if you do have a budget in mind, it can be difficult to stick to it when there are so many different factors to consider, such as the number of people you need to gift, the type of gifts you want to give, and any customization or personalization you may want to add.

Then comes the timeline. It's important to plan ahead and give yourself enough time to choose and order the gifts, but sometimes things don't go as smoothly as you'd like.

You may have trouble finding the perfect gift, or there may be delays with the supplier or the shipping process. And if you're working on a tight deadline, it can be frustrating to feel like you're constantly racing against the clock.

Finally, shipping can be a major challenge when it comes to corporate gifting. If you're sending gifts to a large number of people, it can be difficult to coordinate all the different addresses and ensure that everything gets delivered on time.

And if you're shipping internationally, you also have to deal with customs regulations and other logistical issues that can add even more complexity to the process.

3. Constant haggling with vendors

If you work in the corporate world, chances are you've experienced the challenge of constant haggling with vendors when it comes to gifting. It can be a frustrating and time-consuming process, especially when you're trying to find the perfect gift for clients or employees within a budget.

One of the main challenges with haggling with vendors is the lack of transparency. It can be difficult to get a clear understanding of the costs involved, as vendors often have hidden fees or markups that aren't initially disclosed.

This can lead to a lot of back-and-forths negotiating and trying to get the best deal, which can be exhausting and take up valuable time that could be spent on other tasks.

Another challenge is finding vendors who are willing to work within your budget. It's not uncommon for vendors to have minimum order quantities or pricing tiers that may not align with your needs. This can lead to a lot of searching and reaching out to different vendors to see who is willing to work with you.

One way to mitigate some of these challenges is to establish long-term relationships with vendors. By building a rapport and working with the same vendors consistently, you may be able to negotiate better pricing and have a more streamlined process for placing orders.

However, this isn't always possible, especially if you have a large number of clients or employees to gift.

4. Complicated expenses

Another major issue that companies face is fluid pricing. This refers to the fluctuation of prices for products and services, which can make it difficult to accurately budget for corporate gifts.

Fluid pricing can affect expenses in a number of ways. For example, if a company is planning to purchase a bulk order of a certain item as a gift, the price of that item may change between the time the order is placed and when it is received. This can lead to unexpected costs and make it difficult to stay within budget.

Another issue with fluid pricing is that it can make it difficult to compare prices between different vendors. If one vendor is offering a lower price on a particular item, it may not necessarily mean that they are the best deal. Prices can fluctuate so frequently that it can be difficult to determine the true value of an item.

To complicate matters further, some vendors may not be upfront about their pricing policies. They may offer a low initial price, but then add on hidden fees or charge for additional services. This can make it difficult for companies to make informed decisions about their corporate gifting expenses.

5. Unexpected delays

As a corporate gifter, unexpected delays can be a major challenge. Whether it's a supplier running behind schedule or a shipping issue, delays can throw off the entire gifting process and leave you scrambling to come up with a solution.

One of the biggest issues with delays is that they often come with little warning. You may have everything planned out and ready to go, only to have a delay pop up out of nowhere. This can be especially frustrating if you have deadlines to meet or if the gift is time-sensitive.

6. Questionable product quality

As a corporate gifter, it can be tough to navigate the overwhelming sea of options out there. With so many companies claiming to have the best products, it's hard to know which ones will actually live up to the hype.

Unfortunately, it's not uncommon to come across products that don't meet the standards you expect in terms of quality.

One of the challenges businesses face is that not all companies are upfront about the materials and processes used in creating their products. This can make it difficult to gauge whether or not a product will hold up over time.

On top of that, it's tough to know how accurately a product is being represented online or in advertising. We've all seen those flashy ads that promise the world, but when the product arrives it falls short of expectations.

Another challenge is that some companies cut corners to save money, resulting in lower-quality products. While it might be tempting to go with the cheapest option, it's important to consider the long-term value of a product.

It's better to invest in something that will last and be appreciated, rather than choosing something that might break or wear out quickly.

Is there a solution to corporate gifting challenges?

While these challenges are still prevalent today, there is a solution - Swageazy.

Swageazy is an all-in-one enterprise gifting platform assisting startups & modern workplaces to shop, store and deliver high-quality swag around the globe with the click of a button. Our only goal is to simplify gifting and make sending gifts as easy as a push notification.

But what makes us stand out as an all-inclusive solution?

For starters, you get to pick your products from scratch from our website, be it a single product or a gift basket/pack. And the best part is you have the liberty to customize every single thing in it. It is your gift to them after all.

Want to add your own logo and color it with your style? We have designers to do that for you. Designers from Swageazy will sit with you every step of the way until you are absolutely satisfied with the product, sharing everything as a mockup for you to decide on.

But won’t reiterations and additions change pricing? Yes, it will, but our platform will provide you with the actual price of the product in real time with every change you make. You don’t have to guess if it fits into your budget anymore.

It’s all there right in from of you, providing a transparent pricing format to make your decisions easier. No hidden costs, whatsoever.

And most importantly, there is no middleman with Swageazy. It is just you and us. Our service is as transparent as can be. You have control over the process at every step. You don’t need to waste your time waiting on a response. Sit with people from our organization and get everything sorted out well before your recipient receives your meaningful gift.

Solve all your corporate gifting setbacks with Swageazy

Swageazy is a corporate gifting company that makes it easy to order top-quality items for your team, business partners, employees, and anyone else. With our wide range of options and fast turnaround times, you can quickly find the perfect gift for anyone and any occasion.