Subject: Fw: Denver Business Journal placement
From: "Merilee:::Kern Communications" <[email-masked]>
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Date: Tue, 2 Dec 2008 11:51:32 -0800

http://www.bizjournals.com/corporate_gift_center/3_cool_gifts_whats_hot_for_2008.html
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Cool gifts – what’s hot for 2008
by Karen Nielsen 
Experts say personalized items, charitable gestures and green items all popular with business buyers this Christmas

Holiday gifts reflect the times, and this year corporate gift-giving is all about value and making a personal connection.

Businesses plan to spend about the same this year on gifts, according to a bizjournals survey, but experts say buyers are eschewing the perfunctory fruit baskets and musical cards for more practical items such as cell phone accessories and USB flash drives that can hold music, photos or funny video clips.

“Where the trends are changing most is in what businesses are giving,” said Lynn Switanowski-Barrett, president of Creative Business Consulting Group in Boston. “It’s about customized gifts that are very personal, and understanding what each customer is about. The way I would describe it is: not as much trinkets and trash.”

Some of the hottest corporate gifts of the season will reflect the recipient and his or her lifestyle. The Clear Card, an airport security fast pass, gives business travelers the gift of time.

Adding a personal touch

For an annual membership fee of $100, travelers can avoid the security bottleneck and be whisked through separate security lines at the airport. Travelers register online at www.flyclear.com and then submit fingerprints and iris scans at an enrollment station for government approval.

Some of the hottest business gift items for sale at online retailer RedEnvelope are business-card cases ($19.95-$54.95) and silver-plated frames ($24.95-$39.95) that can be personalized.

“We’ve found that our business clients like to add their personal touch to their gifts,” said Brandon Hamm, public relations manager at San Francisco-based RedEnvelope.

Things Remembered sells a personalized, silver-plated jump drive on a key ring that holds up to 1 gigabyte and can be engraved with name and address, so if it’s ever lost, it’s easily returned.

The gift of organization

The SanDisk Cruzer Gator USB flash drive ($24.99) holds 2 GB to transport music, photos and videos in style. It comes in a faux-alligator texture with three chic colors.

To help business people gift with ease and confidence this year, albeit unconventionally, CableOrganizer.com offers some inexpensive, gotta-get-em gadgets and gear that will keep the recipient duly appreciative all year long.

The Cableyoyo POP ($4.99 to $9.99) is a tiny cord winder that keeps iPod and other ear bud cords organized and ready for use. 

Here’s one for the person who does nothing but complain about that rat’s nest under his or her desk: The One Man Tied cord organizer ($10) is a great conversation piece and helps control rampant cords.

Brookstone’s digital key chain ($39.99) is ideal for family-values clients who love to show off pictures of their kids or grandkids.

A workout enthusiast will appreciate Things Remembered’s executive barbells ($14.99). The silver-plated paperweights are charming, but practical. The barbells weigh in at 2 pounds each and are ideal for a quick arm tone at the desk.

Green gifts

Another trend that saves gift-wrapping and postage is to donate a tree in a client’s name or give to charity. CharityChoice charitable gift certificates make it easy to send meaningful gifts to important clients. The cards are purchased online at www.ccgiftcards.org and the recipient can choose from more than 100 nationally recognized charities to donate their gift.

If going green is more your thing, then check out RedEnvelope’s “plants by the month” gift. Choose from a 3-month, 6-month, or 12-month plan, ranging in price from $140 to $649.

Or consider giving the gift of good will. A leafy-green money tree is considered a token of good luck and Feng Shui masters say keeping one in a home or office is an invitation to good fortune. RedEnvelope sells them exclusively ($39.95-$49.95).

Gifts with an earthy feel also are popular. Things Remembered sells a Solar-Powered Mova Globe ($100) that can spin continuously within a glass sphere. The globe’s crystal base has room for the recipient’s name, title or other message.

WorldGlobe.com’s floating desktop globe ($99.95) floats in its magnetic stand. Plug it in, guide the globe into the magnetic field, and watch it float in space.

When all else fails

And let’s not overlook the power of a gift card. Last year, consumers spent $26.2 billion on gift cards during the holidays, with an average of $40 per card, according to the National Retail Federation.

In the spirit of the season, try to customize gift cards to the individual. For those who love to be pampered, consider a gift card to a local spa. Outdoorsmen will appreciate some free cash to spend at Bass Pro Shops, while golfers will long remember you when they hit the links at their favorite course.

Other top picks are gift cards to book stores, restaurants or major department stores.

“Having to look at each customer can be a laborious process, but maintaining key relationships is so important right now,” said retail consultant Switanowski-Barrett. “This is the time when you need to be even closer to your customers.”