From Halloween on, the two remaining months are a mad dash to the year’s finish line for both individuals and businesses. Third-quarter reports are in, shifting the focus to fourth-quarter earnings, the year’s bottom line, inventories, taxes and plans for the new year. Meanwhile, a holiday extravaganza of parties, outings, mixers and gifts goes full bore. Amid it all is the seemingly unavoidable dilemma of corporate gifting. Business can be tough, but gifting in business settings doesn’t have to be.
Making the List
Some companies admit to spending hours agonizing over what to give and who to include while others hope the holidays slide by, attracting as little notice as possible. Nevertheless, the holiday bustle will swirl, with tokens of appreciation acknowledging entrepreneurial partnerships, client loyalty and jobs well done. As the gifts fly, how to stand out becomes the name of the game. Partners, clients, vendors and employees are all giving and taking. Piles of boxes and bags appear in lobby reception areas and crowd corporate credenzas. Does anyone even remember who gave what? If you do it right, they will – and they will appreciate it, too.
Continue reading 9 Ways To Stand Out in Holiday Corporate Gifting
Gift buying can certainly be a time of over complication. Lists, budgets and people’s wishes all factor in when making decisions about what to buy. Here are seven ways to make the holiday gift buying experience a little less complicated:
There is quite a lot of pressure when hosting a dinner party. What you anticipate to be a fun and festive evening can turn into a “what was I thinking?!” personal meltdown in the kitchen. Consider not doing the following when thinking about hosting a dinner party:
Whether it’s a festive Easter brunch or a warm and cozy wintertime gathering, if you’re in charge of putting together a big dinner for the family, it’s important that you know how to make the holiday a success from start to finish. Who better to guide you through the intense process than the legendary Martha Stewart? Consider using some of her helpful tips as you prepare to host a large number of people.
It is a gentle reminder that pecan season is here when you begin to see the “We Buy Pecans” signs grace the front of many local businesses here in the Deep South. Typically the signs appear in front of small town feed stores, convenient shops or lumber yards. And typically it is the same businesses year-after-year who do the buying. Local residents get accustomed to bringing their daily pick to these locations, have their bag or bucket weighed and paid, cash, on the spot for a few hours’ worth of pecan picking. 
Whether it’s the golden-brown turkey of Thanksgiving or the lovingly shaped latkes of Hanukah, the end of the year brings a feast that will draw the whole family together. However, getting the components of a meal together can be an ordeal, one that’s compounded by the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. Don’t waste time sweating in the kitchen when you could be making memories with your loved ones. Follow these simple rules to get your holiday meal on the table in a snap and enjoy the free time under the mistletoe with your favorite dinner guests.