Page 7 - KZN Business Sense- Vol5 No4
P. 7

TOP INVESTMENT PROMOTION AGENCY





           nvest Durban Unit has won   nominated and awarded
           something of a “double-    Invest Durban Unit as
        Icrown” set of awards this    the “Best City Investment
        year. At the June 2019 World   Promotion Team for Africa”
        Forum for FDI in Sydney, the   in 2019.
        respected international Conway   These two awards and
        Group of investment analysts   certificates will take pride
        and advisors bestowed the award   of place in the growing
        of 2019’s “Top Metropolitan   accolades for eThekwini’s
        Investment Promotion Agency”   investment promotion and
        for the whole African continent   facilitation authority. The
        to our Invest Durban Unit.
                                      Invest Durban Unit Team
         Secondly, via a completely   wishes to give thanks to
        separate and independent process,   all supportive partners
        another authority conveyed a   and stakeholders whom
        similar award on this same unit.   have positively assisted
        At a ceremony held in July in   this great work, and
        London, an organisation known   constructively participated
        as Capital Finance International,   in helping us earn
        working in collaboration with   these top achievements,
        the United Nations, World Bank,   together... for the benefit of
        NEPAD and other authorities,   ALL. 




        THE ART OF CORPORATE GIFT GIVING





        Laiela Dorasamy, Ahavah Consulting  begin streaming in, and gifts are   this simply becomes a tick on the   will bring a smile and convey a   they also tend to lack longevity.
                                      being purchased.              to do list as more pressing issues   sincere message of gratitude.     A good idea would be to couple
                                                                    demand our attention.                                       or replace these with items that
              s we enter the final     Whether you are a planner, or a                             We are often asked what is the   are practical, functional, fun or
              quarter of the year, our   last minute ‘grab a box of biscuits’   I myself have been the recipient   difference between a corporate   creative. Items that will serve
        Afocus begins to shift in     type of gift giver, many people   of many corporate gifts that   or a promotional gift? While the   as a long-term reminder and be
        anticipation of the merriment   fail to consider the message that   tend to sit on my desk gathering   actual items are interchangeable,   appreciated.
        of the festive season. Holidays   is being communicated through   dust, are passed on, or are simply   the manner in which they are
        are being planned, party invites   these gifts. In the busyness of life,   useless to me. I have also received   given vary.  It seems as if these gift giving
                                                                    a small number of very thoughtful,                          occasions tend to sneak up on
                                                                    tasteful and memorable items,   Promotional items are pretty   us from nowhere, and many
                                                                    which I continue to hold dear,    much what their name suggests;   often resort to a desperate last-
                                                                    and serve as a fond reminder of   items that are given with the   minute purchase, which rarely
                                                                    the gift giver.               purpose of promoting a business   communicates the intended
                                                                                                  or creating brand awareness.   message.
                                                                     Do you ask yourself, “what   These are usually purchased in
                                                                    do I want this gift to say to the   bulk quantities, boldly branded   Choosing the best items to
                                                                    recipient?” Perhaps ‘Thank you!   and distributed to a broader   represent your business can
                                                                    I value your business’ or ‘Your   market, through marketing   be time consuming, so we
                                                                    support means a lot to me’.   initiatives such as goody bag   encourage our clients to stay in
                                                                    Perhaps you want them to feel   inserts, promotional activities, in   touch with us throughout the
                                                                    special, valued and appreciated.   store giveaways and pack inserts,   year, as we share new ranges on
                                                                     Maya Angelou said, “I’ve learned   to name a few.          a regular basis. This can be done
                                                                                                                                via our Facebook page as well
                                                                    that people will forget what you   Think of promotional items as   as our website where you can
                                                                    said, people will forget what you   an ongoing advertisement for   download catalogues, as well as
                                                                    did, but people will never forget   your brand. Every time someone
                                                                    how you made them feel”.      uses a pen with your logo on it,   search a wide range of products.
                                                                                                                                 We are always eager to consult
                                                                     In business, people want to   you will remain top of mind.   and source items to create
                                                                    deal with people; the clinical,   Corporate gifts are given to
                                                                    impersonal approach is dying   specific recipients, with a more   custom gifts that are unexpected
                                                                                                                                and make your clients’ feel like
                                                                    a slow and welcome death,     personal approach, designed
                                                                    as personal relationships     to show gratitude, strengthen   kids on Christmas morning,
                                                                                                                                keeping your message and
                                                                    become the glue that solidifies   relationships and serve as
                                                                    business deals. Trust, mutual   reminders. These are purchased   budget in mind. 
                                                                    respect, and outstanding      in comparatively smaller
                                                                    service are key ingredients to   quantities, on key occasions   T: 072 298 0148
                                                                    ensure longstanding business   such as year end, Women’s Day,   E: laiela@ahavahconsulting.co.za
                                                                    partnerships.                 Easter, or to celebrate milestones.   F: facebook.com/AhavahConsulting

                                                                     So, come year-end, what      They are directed at specific   W: www.ahavahconsulting.co.za
                                                                    message are you communicating   individuals and can therefore be
                                                                    to the people who have made your   personalised. Personal gifts are
                                                                    year a successful one?        often left unbranded or bear more
                                                                                                  subtle branding, creating a more
                                                                     Gifts need not be extravagant,   sincere feel.
                                                                    but rather heartfelt and sincere.
                                                                    Even with the smallest budgets,   While treat hampers, alcohol
        Laiela Dorasamy                                             we can recommend solutions that   and flowers are popular items,




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