Gift Ideas

rorydelargy

rorydelargy

At the Start
Joined
May 15, 2005
Messages
3,806
Location
London
I'm going out to the Far East to visit some clients next month and we traditionally bring them gifts, but it's hard finding something original. Does anyone have any ideas of what would make an original gift which would suit an oriental (Hong Kong Chinese) sensibility?
 
Marmalade

Anything really made in the UK - if you can find such an item, that will have superb novelty value for them..........
 
I watched a good programme on CNN about doing business in Asia, general etiquette and suitable gifts etc.

The only two points I can remember about China were:

- The gift should not be too expensive as it will create an awkwardness that the value of the gift will need to be reciprocated.

- Don't give them anything that says 'Made in Japan' on it as there are clearly some economic hostilities between the nations and you do not want to create any resentment.
 
Marmite, tea and baked beans....

seriously though - what kind of clients are they? Theres loads of things like nottingham lace ( for example), and stuff like that - is there a perticular thing your town is famous for?? ( like Ive got Poole Pottery)
 
Originally posted by rorydelargy@Apr 26 2006, 03:26 PM
I'm going out to the Far East to visit some clients next month and we traditionally bring them gifts, but it's hard finding something original. Does anyone have any ideas of what would make an original gift which would suit an oriental (Hong Kong Chinese) sensibility?
Click to expand...
An English take away! Roast beef and yorkshire pud as well!!! oh and a carton of bisto gravy too...... ;)

Seriously though whatabout the Cadburys roses????
 
Scotch and cut-glass tumblers to drink it from, smoked salmon, shortbread, Dundee cake. And keep a haggis in case they start plying you with something dodgy in the eatng department. It would make a suitable revenge.
 
Would Cadburys Roses not be that little bit too sophisticated for the Japanese Merlin ? Surely pic and mix from Woolworths would do !
 
Rory, what do you know about your clients? Many well-heeled Chinese enjoy golf, so perhaps a Pringle golf sweater, or cufflinks from Aspreys? Do they like horseracing? Then possibly a small antique print of one of the Classics winners? You could do worse than to ring up Harrods Gift Service and ask them to prepare a hamper (or hampers) containing typically British items, such as Gentleman's Relish, Scottish shortbread, Carr's water biscuits, hot English mustard, Piccalilli, smoked salmon, Lea & Perrins sauce, Bombay Sapphire gin, and anything else they can think up within whatever price range you have in mind.

Of course, if you're on a tight budget, then I suggest a different insight into the British culture you'll be representing:

Tins of mushy peas and baked beans
Jars of pickled eggs , Marmite, Bovril
A 6-pack of Irn Bru
Bottles of Ribena
A few flags of St George and some En-ger-land sponge hands to wave.
 
Some interesting answers. Cheers folks.

Our "clients" are old friends, more "cough" business facilitators really and we've done the rounds several times, as it were. So we've got a little bored of the obvious corporate gifts. Football is a theme, and particularly premiership football.
 
Premiership footie? Well, definitely the waving sponge hands, then! And shirts, fanzine subscriptions, DVDs of Premiership games, CDs of Famous Footie Chants (best with sing-along sheets, perhaps?), die-casts of famous players, books on the history of XYZ club, biographies, autobiographies, signed posters and other memorabilia, season tickets...
 
Dont get them a clock or a mirror since a clock implies your time is up and a mirror implies, take a look at yourself or saying they are ugly.

Anything foreign would generally be good, a lot of Hong Kong people dont drink as well so worth bearing that in mind. Its the gesture that matters to them, im sure they will appreciate whatever they get.
 
Back
Top