FAIRFIELD, Conn., Nov. 27, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Let's face it. Corporate gift-giving is tough enough without having to think about the international component. When is a clock not a clock? When does the color red send the wrong message? When should you not give gifts in single or odd numbers? What message is that silver letter opener really sending?
"Just as our international business partners may have inaccurate notions of what a gracious gift for an American counterpart is, so too do we have our own preconceived notions of the 'perfect' gift for them," says Melinda Crews.
Crews, who advises senior executives on gift-giving programs that advance their business goals, has these five suggestions for international gift-giving as the 2007 holiday season looms:
* Historical, geographical, social and religious sensitivities really do matter -- a lot. * Gift-giving standards can vary dramatically by country. * Expensive gifts can look like bribery (and may even fall into that category under relevant U.S. and international standards). * Ineptitude is forgivable, indifference is not. * It's easy to make a faux pas -- but chances are, they'll never tell you.
About M. Crews & Company
M. Crews & Company (www.mcrewsandcompany.com) works with senior executives to build their businesses and their brands through strategic gift-giving programs. Founded by Melinda Crews in 1990, M. Crews and Company clients have included CNN.com, IKON, Hertz, Virgin Atlantic, Societe Generale, and UBS.