| [November 23, 2004] |
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Office Depot Offers Workplace Gift-Giving Advice; Leading Etiquette Expert Helps Customers Purchase the Perfect Gift for a Client, Co-Worker, Employee or Boss
DELRAY BEACH, Fla. --(Business Wire)-- Nov. 23, 2004 -- When the holidays come around, choosing the right gift for your colleagues, your boss or your customers can be as difficult as winning over a new client. To help navigate the tricky "do's and don'ts" of workplace gift giving, Office Depot, Inc. (NYSE:ODP), one of the world's largest resellers of office products and services, is offering expert guidance to its small business customers.
A recent survey conducted by Harris Interactive on behalf of Office Depot found that the majority of people are unsure of holiday gift-giving etiquette at the office. For example, the survey revealed that while 78 percent of workers plan on either giving gifts or celebrating the holidays at their workplace, 90 percent are unfamiliar with the proper gift-giving protocol for business associates and clients.
To assist customers in understanding the unwritten rules governing the workplace this season, Office Depot has teamed up with Etiquette Expert Hilka Klinkenberg to provide insight on the workplace gift exchange.
"Office Depot is focused on providing unparalleled service to our customers -- and that includes making holiday business shopping as enjoyable as possible," said Tony Ueber, Vice President of Marketing Strategy and Decision Support for Office Depot. "Our key message this holiday season is that Office Depot has the Gifts that Mean Business. We are supporting this concept by providing gift-giving advice and practical suggestions, including a list of the top 100 gifts for businesspeople and the identification of hot products for professionals who have a variety of interests."
Ueber noted that in the Office Depot survey, 43 percent of respondents planned on giving gifts to at least one co-worker or business associate: "Klinkenberg's tips help build a comfort level so professionals can feel confident in the gifts they purchase and can avoid potential etiquette mistakes," he said.
"Simple points that are easy to remember can help reduce the uncertainty surrounding workplace gift giving," Klinkenberg added. "Giving an appropriate gift helps solidify relationships for the rest of the year and the future."
According to Klinkenberg, there are eight key tips that customers should keep in mind while shopping for business-appropriate gifts this holiday season:
Tip #1: Know your recipient. Whether the gift is for a client, boss or assistant, be aware of the person's style and consider your recipient's interests. For example, if he or she travels frequently for work the Ladies' Business Tote ($39.87) or Matrix Notebook Backpack ($69.76) are great options. The stylish co-worker will surely appreciate the Safari Stapler Gift Set ($9.98) that adds a touch of pizzazz to an otherwise bland workspace.
Tip #2: Think about giving a gift that someone wouldn't buy for themselves. Without being extravagant or expensive, a "splurge" item could help your business associate relieve some holiday and office stress. Christopher Lowell's Illuminating Mood Candle ($14.97) adds some soothing ambience to the office while the Logitech MediaPlay Cordless Mouse ($49.95) is great for work and entertainment.
Tip #3: Remember your budget and remain consistent. A budget will often be the determining factor when making business gift purchases this holiday season. The key is to create a list, set a spending limit and stick to it. Try to spend the same amount on an individual from year to year. If you spent $100 last year, a $20 gift might send the wrong message. Ideas for gifts under $15 include Padfolios ($10 to $12) and Christopher Lowell Photo Albums ($9.99).
Tip #4: Give the gift in person. Personal gift exchange is always more meaningful. However, never ask someone to open a present in front of you; it could easily create an embarrassing or disappointing situation. If it is not possible to give a gift in person, plan to ship the gift by Thanksgiving since many business associates travel and take vacation toward the end of the year. Office Depot provides packing and shipping services nationwide.
Tip #5: Presentation Counts. Pay attention to your gift-wrapping. Take a moment to personalize your gift by using appropriate paper and packaging; be sure to consider the recipient's corporate culture and ethnic background. Do include a hand-written card. To simplify your gift-giving process, Christopher Lowell has paired his holiday items with elegant silver gift bags. Additionally, Office Depot offers an assortment of workplace-appropriate holiday greeting cards.
Tip #6: Give a gift that is both thoughtful and useful. Simplifying a busy person's life or updating an outdated co-worker with the latest technology will ensure that your gift makes a lasting impression. Presenting someone with a needed gift shows that you're paying attention. A Digital Voice Recorder from Olympus ($39.99) is perfect for the colleague who is always on-the-go and needs a convenient "audio to-do list." For the co-worker who is curious about technology, give the Logitech QuickCam Communicate Web Camera ($49.95) or the Creative Labs Muvo Slim Audio Player ($109.99).
Tip #7: Avoid personal gifts. According to the Office Depot survey, 57% of respondents who planned to give holiday gifts to business associates will give personal gifts, but only 15% would like to receive a personal gift from their co-worker. What is considered too personal? A good guideline is to steer clear of anything that touches the skin...lingerie, fragrances, jewelry, clothing, and anything that requires size, style or color. Some appropriate gift options include: Sharp Atomic Wall LCD Clock ($30.15) or the Palm Tungsten E Bonus Pack (Office Depot Exclusive for $199). Gift cards allow your recipient to choose his or her own gift, and Office Depot offers a charitable way to "wrap" your gift card - with the "Teddy B. Caring" Bear Gift Card Holder; proceeds from the teddy bear purchase go to the Toys for Tots charity.
Tip #8: Match the gift with your company's image. Building a corporate image is something companies work hard to achieve all year. Don't ruin it with a holiday gift that doesn't reflect the company's personality. For example, if your company describes itself as edgy and creative then your client gift should reflect this. Ideas for edgy gifts include a motion lamp with CD Holder ($19.98) or Xact Wrist Watch FRS Radio ($49.99). Suggestions for more classic gifts include the Targus Notebook Leather Case ($69.99) or the Parker Pen and Pencil Set ($14.99).
Ueber noted that all of the suggested gifts can be found at Office Depot stores nationwide.
NOTE TO EDITORS: Complete information concerning Office Depot's Holiday survey, gift-giving tips, press releases, and product images can be found at http://mediarelations.officedepot.cc/holiday.
About Hilka Klinkenberg
As founder and managing director of Etiquette International, Hilka Klinkenberg, Office Depot's Business Etiquette Expert, is a recognized expert in the field of business etiquette and international protocol. In addition to her corporate workshops and coaching, Hilka has taught business etiquette and international protocol at NYU's Stern School of Business and at Parsons School of Design and has addressed graduate students at a number of other schools. She also authored the book, At Ease...Professionally: An Etiquette Guide for the Business Arena at Home and Abroad (Bonus Books, Chicago 1992).
About Office Depot
With annual sales of more than $12 billion, no one sells more office supplies to more customers in more countries than Office Depot. Founded in 1986 and headquartered in Delray Beach, Fla., the company conducts business in 23 countries and employs nearly 50,000 people worldwide.
Office Depot is a leader in every distribution channel - from retail stores and contract delivery to catalogs and e-commerce. The company is the world's number three online retailer - on track to generate $3B in sales for FY'04. In North America, Office Depot has 923 retail stores in addition to a national business-to-business delivery network supported by 22 delivery centers, more than 60 local sales offices and 13 regional call centers.
The company's common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol ODP and is included in the S&P 500 Index. Additional press information can be found at: http://mediarelations.officedepot.com.
About Harris Interactive(R)
Harris Interactive Inc. - www.harrisinteractive.com - the 13th largest and fastest-growing market research firm in the world is a Rochester, N.Y.-based global research company that blends premier strategic consulting with innovative and efficient methods of investigation, analysis and application. Known for The Harris Poll(R) and for pioneering Internet-based research methods, Harris Interactive conducts proprietary and public research to help its clients achieve clear, material and enduring results.
Harris Interactive combines its intellectual capital, databases and technology to advance market leadership through U.S. offices and wholly owned subsidiaries: London-based HI Europe - www.hieurope.com -, Paris-based Novatris - www.novatris.com -, Tokyo-based Harris Interactive Japan, through newly acquired WirthlinWorldwide - www.wirthlinworldwide.com -, a Reston, Virginia-based research and consultancy firm ranked 25th largest in the world, and through an independent global network of affiliate market research companies.
Methodology
Harris Interactive(R) conducted this online study between September 28 and 30, 2004. A nationwide sample of 2,266 U.S. adults (age 18+) were surveyed, among whom 1,494 were employed. Figures for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, income and region were weighted where necessary to align with population proportions. Propensity score weighting was also used to adjust for respondents' propensity to be online.
In theory, with probability samples of this size, one could say with 95 percent certainty that the results have a statistical precision of plus or minus 3 percentage points (for the overall sample). Statistical precision for the employed adults sample results is plus or minus 4 percentage points of what they would be if the entire population of employed U.S. adults had been polled with complete accuracy. This online sample was not a probability sample.
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