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When is it appropriate to give a gift to a client, and what are some appropriate gifts?

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Host: When is it appropriate to give a gift to a client and what are some appropriate gifts?

Nancy Mitchell: There are a number of times during a business year when you might consider giving a gift to a client. The first thing that comes to mind of course is the end of the year, everyone is exchanging holiday gifts, that is an appropriate time to gift something to a client with whom you have a long standing relationship. You want to thank them, you want to continue that relationship, you want to spread goodwill if you will.

End of the year is a perfectly appropriate time, let us say you have completed a project, an important deal with a client, you may at that point want to give them a gift to thank them for their part in it. You again want to follow the guidelines of your company and the recipient s company about, what gifts are appropriate and the spending limits, that is critical. Make sure your gift could never be misinterpreted as a bribe, as encouragement to continue business. It should be a sincere gift thanking them for an existing relationship. It should not be that you are sprinkling gifts out there hoping to accrue favor with vendor supplier or potential clients.

Expert: Nancy Mitchell

www.etiquetteadvocate.com

P: (301) 320-2393

Email: nancy@etiquetteadvocate.com

Nancy R. Mitchell is an established protocol and etiquette consultant and advisor with more than 30 years of experience in the field. Currently, she is an adjunct faculty member at George Washington University, where she developed and teaches protocol courses to Event Management Certificate Program students in the School of Business and Public Management, and at Stratford University, Falls Church, VA. She serves More »