Global Gift-Giving—A World of Ideas

Many of us are taught that it is better to give than to receive, but in international business, receiving can be just as important. You would not want to embarrass the giver or cause him to lose face.

Talk to your boss, legal department, or human resources, and explain that in many countries and cultures, refusing a gift is an insult and could negatively affect your professional relationship and the perception of the company. Ask if it would be possible to accept the gift on behalf of the company, with the understanding that the gift will be turned over to the company. Gifts accepted on behalf of your company could then be displayed for the enjoyment of all. Some companies accept the gifts, then use them as incentives for employees, or allow them to be displayed in their private offices. Others sell the items, which I do not recommend. This could insult the donor, and result in bad relations. If this is your organization’s policy, do so discreetly. You could also arrange for a long-term loan to a school, library, bilateral chamber, or other appropriate entity, which could then display the items with some background information on the donor’s country or culture.

If you absolutely cannot accept gifts, you should make it known to your international clients. Likewise, if there is a financial limit to the value of gifts that can be accepted, advise the appropriate counterpart that you cannot accept gifts above a certain monetary value. Another possibility, if a potential donor insists on giving something despite your company’s policy, might be to suggest a charitable donation in honor of the relationship. Again, try to have policies in place, that way you can have a list of charities your organization has approved and that relate to your business. Many people prefer to do this, and do good, rather than receive another item they don’t need. It’s a positive way to reciprocate each other’s generosity.

For example, some international officials who visited the U.S. and had a security detail often wanted to give gifts to the police officers and other security agents who helped during their trip. Most of those officers and agents cannot accept gifts, so we suggested donations to non-profit organizations that provided support to families of the police or scholarships for officers and their families.

Gifts don’t have to be expensive to be effective. The purpose is to communicate that you value the person, the country, and the relationship you share. The best vendors will be able to work with your budget. Items that are unique, vintage, or personally relevant to a recipient may require more time and creativity, but can be inexpensive. For a major event, you can also reach out to artists and cultural groups in your community to see if they would be willing to donate items that you could give. You could then issue a press release acknowledging the artist, have her attend the presentation, meet the recipient (only if previously approved), or thank her at a public session/meeting. Some ideas:

•   Coffee table books: on a topic that reflects the recipient’s interests, a history of your company, city, state, country, favorite cuisine or hobby…
•   A framed certificate of welcome or appreciation. You can print these yourself online and get inexpensive frames at Michael’s, Ikea, and local craft stores.
•   Food items: locally made sweets, nuts, wine (if culturally appropriate), honey, olive oil…
•   Local crafts or items indigenous to your area
•   A framed photo of your company’s facility in that country or something that reflects your relationship.
•   A photo album documenting the relationship
•   Something from a noteworthy person in your community who has ties to the recipient’s country, or is admired by the recipient. Examples: autographed books by the recipient’s favorite author, a signed ball or jersey from an athlete, your local symphony’s recordings of music the recipient likes…

Yes! While there are some general rules, countries and cultures vary when it comes to gift wrap. In some, like Japan, the outer presentation of the gift can be as important as the gift itself. Japan has shops and store departments dedicated to beautiful, elegant gift wrapping. Keep these tips in mind, and your gift will be appropriate for most situations:

•   In general, avoid wrapping in solid black or white, which are often associated with death.
•   Colors found in the individual’s country flag usually have positive connotations and are deemed safe. For someone in business, the colors in the company logo are also usually a safe choice.
•   Use good quality paper and double-sided tape.
•   For a public gift unveiling, use boxes with lids that easily lift up and off. This will require that the lid be wrapped separately, so that it can be opened.
•   If possible, use presentation boxes, like the one pictured above, so that you don’t have to wrap the item, (although you can if you like).
•   Avoid bows, which are easily damaged and are less professional looking.
•   Ribbons and discreet seals with company logos are usually appropriate.
•   Include the giver’s card, preferably personalized with a handwritten note.
•   If your gift is an art object, a cultural artefact, or has historical significance, including a card with some details about its provenance, significance, and use is recommended as well.
•   If you’re traveling, gift bags and presentation boxes are a better option than wrapping paper, to avoid spending hours wrapping once you arrive. Pre-wrapped gifts are likely to be opened by airline security or Customs, so never wrap before you travel. Do pack wrapping supplies, though, to be sure you’ll have something appropriate handy at your destination.

Yes. I have seen gifts exchanged graciously many times, but there have been occasions when it was quite awkward and uncomfortable for the dignitaries involved. Again, customs may vary depending on the culture, but in general, you will be fine if you:

•   Present and accept gifts with two hands, or the right hand, if you have only one free.
•   Who goes first? Usually the host of a meeting, event, or visit begins the gift exchange, and the guest then reciprocates, but this is not a hard and fast rule; do what makes sense for your event and clear it in advance.
•   Present the gift modestly and respectfully. You may not need to say anything, depending on the situation. Or you can be brief and say something like, “Please accept this token of our friendship.”
•   Accept a gift humbly; i.e., “Thank you for this symbol of our longstanding partnership. I will display it proudly in our office.”
•   Monitor your body language. Don’t show shock or distaste if you don’t like a gift or aren’t sure what it is.
•   If you receive a gift and there is a photographer or media present, be prepared to pose with the gift and the giver.
•   Treat the gift with great respect as you depart. If you must store it in a bag or hand it to an assistant, do so with care and respect. Staff and assistants should discreetly take charge of discarded wrapping paper.

One of the best ways to learn about gift-giving is by watching what others have done, which gifts were well-received and which were gaffes. The media provides numerous examples of successful gifts, as well as some that proved a bit awkward, may not have been the most appropriate, or showed a lack of careful consideration. Below are a few stories taken from the headlines so that we can all learn from them. If you encountered an interesting gift experience, either positive or negative, I encourage you to share it by posting a brief description at “Share Your Story.”

•   In Mongolia, a Gift Horse for Hagel: giving live animals is always a challenge unless carefully coordinated well in advance. One of the mayors I worked for was given a case of live lobsters, a specialty of the country we were visiting. Unfortunately, we had to leave them behind with the captain and pilot of the charter flight. However, the Chinese have had success with Panda Diplomacy, presenting a pair of pandas to President Richard M. Nixon on his historical visit to China.
•   A Jukebox Loaded with Elvis Hits for Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi: one of the reasons this was a perfect gift was the recognition of the Prime Minister’s passion for all things Elvis. It was creative, thoughtful, and personal, and culminated one of the most unique visits by a head of government, which included Graceland, the home of Elvis Presley.
•   Guys at the grill: President Obama gives David Cameron a $2,000 Barbecue Grill to Commemorate a State Visit: one of the many reasons I liked this gift was that it built on their shared history. When President Obama visited Prime Minister Cameron the year before, they had grilled together for members of the military. The grill was U.S.-made and customized with a plaque featuring the flags of both countries.

Gift-giving can be quite a challenge so you have to do your research. Certain occasions call for a more personal or custom gift but we’ll leave that for another occasion. To answer this question I would say that in my 20 plus years of working in protocol the most common gifts have been coffee table books, pens and paperweights.

However, I would say that’s taking the easy way out, with a little effort you can give something that people will want to keep, display and talk about. After all isn’t that what you want—to give something that reflects positively on you, your company or country and that will help you build a relationship with the recipient. I believe gifts that represent your city, state or country do this best. It can be a scarf or tie made by a local artist or a traditional craft. Remember that when people travel for business rarely do they have time to shop or see the sights so an item from one of your well-known tourist attractions could be well received.