Let’s talk gifting. Not the cute stuff you get your mom for her birthday. We’re talking business gifting – the secret weapon smart companies use to stand out.
In a recent episode of B2B Outbound, hosts Chris and James sat down with Manny Deol, Commercial Director of the new, custom gifting platform, Barney, to discuss effective b2b gifting.
Why Gifts Work
Ever heard of reciprocity? It’s that fuzzy feeling you get when someone does something nice for you. You want to return the favour.
Manny explains: “You’ve sent someone a coffee voucher, a £5 coffee voucher, via Barney, for example. They’re more likely to attend your meeting request or respond to your email.”
It’s not bribery. It’s psychology.
Digital Noise vs. Real-World Impact
Chris drops some truth: “Email click-through rates are plummeting.”
Translation: Your prospects’ inboxes are a dumpster fire. Good luck getting noticed.
But a physical gift? That cuts through the crap.
The “Holy Shit” Moment
Manny shares a killer example: “A table tennis set… that stretches across your desk.”
The message? “Stop playing ping pong with your suppliers. Just choose us.”
People were still using those paddles months later. That’s impact.
Gifting Done Right
Some tips from the pros:
- Timing is everything. Post-discovery, post-proposal is prime gifting time.
- Food works. Chris says: “A little sweet treat… always goes down well.”
- Get personal. Know your prospect loves rugby? Send a scarf when the World Cup starts.
The WFH Problem (and How to Solve It)
COVID screwed up office gifting. But Barney’s got a fix:
“You can send the gift via a link and allow the recipients to redeem themselves and pop in their address details,” Manny explains.
Beyond Sales: Building Relationships That Last
Gifting isn’t just for landing new clients. It’s for keeping the ones you’ve got happy.
Manny suggests: “Recognising milestones. We’ve been together a year… Here’s a gift. We value your business.”
The Connect4 Campaign
Manny shares a genius move: A coaching platform sent mini Connect4 games to boost event attendance.
The kicker? A QR code on the game let people sign up instantly. Trackable and fun.
Ready to Level Up Your Gifting Game?
Check out frombarney.com. Manny’s team will show you how to turn gifting into your secret sales weapon.
Just don’t send any rulers. Unless they’re into that sort of thing.
Discover how B2B gifting can skyrocket your sales and client relationships. Learn expert tips from Barney’s founder on timing, personalization, and measuring impact. Boost meeting attendance and stand out from digital noise with strategic corporate gifts.
Listen to the full episode here.