Reply-To: "Merilee:::Kern Communications" From: "Merilee:::Kern Communications" To: "merileek@kerncommunications.com" Subject: Fw: Denver Business Journal placement Date: Tue, 2 Dec 2008 11:51:32 -0800 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/related; type="multipart/alternative"; boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0DF2_01C95474.57221240" X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Unsent: 1 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.5579 This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0DF2_01C95474.57221240 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_001_0DF3_01C95474.57221240" ------=_NextPart_001_0DF3_01C95474.57221240 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="Windows-1252" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable http://www.bizjournals.com/corporate_gift_center/3_cool_gifts_whats_hot_f= or_2008.html -------------------------------------------------------------------------= ------- Cool gifts =96 what=92s hot for 2008 by Karen Nielsen=20 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. =93Where the trends are changing most is in what businesses are = giving,=94 said Lynn Switanowski-Barrett, president of Creative Business = Consulting Group in Boston. =93It=92s 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.=94 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. =93We=92ve found that our business clients like to add their personal = touch to their gifts,=94 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=92s ever lost, it=92s 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.=20 Here=92s one for the person who does nothing but complain about that = rat=92s nest under his or her desk: The One Man Tied cord organizer = ($10) is a great conversation piece and helps control rampant cords. Brookstone=92s 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=92s 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=92s 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=92s = =93plants by the month=94 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=92s crystal base has room for the recipient=92s = name, title or other message. WorldGlobe.com=92s 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=92s 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. =93Having to look at each customer can be a laborious process, but = maintaining key relationships is so important right now,=94 said retail = consultant Switanowski-Barrett. =93This is the time when you need to be = even closer to your customers.=94 ------=_NextPart_001_0DF3_01C95474.57221240 Content-Type: text/html; charset="Windows-1252" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
http://www.bizjournals.com/corporate_gift_center/3_= cool_gifts_whats_hot_for_2008.html
 
 
Cool gifts =96 what=92s hot for = 2008
by Karen Nielsen

Experts say personalized items, charitable gestures and green = items all=20 popular with business buyers this Christmas

Holiday gifts reflect the times, and this year corporate gift-giving = is all=20 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=20 eschewing the perfunctory fruit baskets and musical cards for more = practical=20 items such as cell phone accessories and USB flash drives that can hold = music,=20 photos or funny video clips.

=93Where the trends are changing most is in what businesses are = giving,=94 said Lynn Switanowski-Barrett, president of Creative = Business=20 Consulting Group in Boston. =93It=92s about customized gifts that = are very=20 personal, and understanding what each customer is about. The way I would = describe it is: not as much trinkets and trash.=94

Some of the hottest corporate gifts of the season will reflect the = recipient=20 and his or her lifestyle. The Clear Card, an airport security fast pass, = gives=20 business travelers the gift of time.

Adding a personal touch

For an annual membership fee of $100, travelers can avoid the = security=20 bottleneck and be whisked through separate security lines at the = airport.=20 Travelers register online at www.flyclear.com and then submit = fingerprints and=20 iris scans at an enrollment station for government approval.

Some of the hottest business gift items for sale at online retailer=20 RedEnvelope are business-card cases ($19.95-$54.95) and silver-plated = frames=20 ($24.95-$39.95) that can be personalized.

=93We=92ve found that our business clients like to add their = personal touch=20 to their gifts,=94 said Brandon Hamm, public relations manager at = San=20 Francisco-based RedEnvelope.

Things Remembered sells a personalized, silver-plated jump drive on a = key=20 ring that holds up to 1 gigabyte and can be engraved with name and = address, so=20 if it=92s ever lost, it=92s easily returned.

The gift of organization

The SanDisk Cruzer Gator USB flash drive ($24.99) holds 2 GB to = transport=20 music, photos and videos in style. It comes in a faux-alligator texture = with=20 three chic colors.

To help business people gift with ease = and=20 confidence this year, albeit unconventionally, CableOrganizer.com offers = some=20 inexpensive, gotta-get-em gadgets and gear that will keep the recipient = duly=20 appreciative all year long.

The Cableyoyo POP ($4.99 to $9.99) is a = tiny cord=20 winder that keeps iPod and other ear bud cords organized and ready for = use.=20

Here=92s one for the person who does = nothing but=20 complain about that rat=92s nest under his or her desk: The One Man Tied = cord=20 organizer ($10) is a great conversation piece and helps control rampant=20 cords.

Brookstone=92s digital key chain ($39.99) is ideal for family-values = clients=20 who love to show off pictures of their kids or grandkids.

A workout enthusiast will appreciate Things Remembered=92s executive = barbells=20 ($14.99). The silver-plated paperweights are charming, but practical. = The=20 barbells weigh in at 2 pounds each and are ideal for a quick arm tone at = the=20 desk.

Green gifts

Another trend that saves gift-wrapping and postage is to donate a = tree in a=20 client=92s name or give to charity. CharityChoice charitable gift = certificates=20 make it easy to send meaningful gifts to important clients. The cards = are=20 purchased online at www.ccgiftcards.org and the recipient can choose = from more=20 than 100 nationally recognized charities to donate their gift.

If going green is more your thing, then check out RedEnvelope=92s = =93plants by=20 the month=94 gift. Choose from a 3-month, 6-month, or 12-month plan, = ranging in=20 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=20 or office is an invitation to good fortune. RedEnvelope sells them = exclusively=20 ($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=20 sphere. The globe=92s crystal base has room for the recipient=92s name, = title or=20 other message.

WorldGlobe.com=92s floating desktop globe ($99.95) floats in its = magnetic=20 stand. Plug it in, guide the globe into the magnetic field, and watch it = float=20 in space.

When all else fails

And let=92s not overlook the power of a gift card. Last year, = consumers spent=20 $26.2 billion on gift cards during the holidays, with an average of $40 = per=20 card, according to the National Retail Federation.

In the spirit of the season, try to customize gift cards to the = individual.=20 For those who love to be pampered, consider a gift card to a local spa.=20 Outdoorsmen will appreciate some free cash to spend at Bass Pro Shops, = while=20 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=20 department stores.

=93Having to look at each customer can be a laborious process, = but=20 maintaining key relationships is so important right now,=94 said retail = consultant=20 Switanowski-Barrett. =93This is the time when you need to be even closer = to your=20 customers.=94

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