Corporate gifts are an effective tool to enhance business potential especially when handled with creativity and finesse. Whether you are in a home business, a partnership or a multinational corporation, it is good PR to constantly renew ties and reinvigorate business relationships.

Corporate gifting can occur at diverse occasions: a company's promotional event, celebrations of milestones, motivational gestures or goodwill celebrations.

But the corporate gift can make or jeopardize its very purpose if timed poorly, procured without an understanding of the recipient, his or her cultural background (this is cardinal if dealing with clients outside your country), the policy of the company towards accepting or giving gifts or if lopsided in its value. Being selective with gifts that carry your company logo, observing business protocol and ethics, all forge proper business etiquette and validate the business relationship.

A sure-fire hit to the right corporate gift is to maintain a corporate diary. Chronicle nuggets of information about your business contacts. Tidbits on personality, hobbies, cultural taboos, even his/her allergies, can reap rich dividends at gift time. A list of previous gifts bequeathed will also help you steer clear of repetitions and lack of imagination. Your sensitivity will be appreciated even after you have moved, changed jobs or retired from active business.

To develop that corporate dossier, perhaps the initial forays (great gifts in themselves), can be through corporate lunch or dinner meetings that serve to melt barriers.

When you finally get to it, your shopping choices are vast. Ideally, search for that distinctive, one-of-a-kind piece which shadows out the cloned replicas. Handpicked food and wine baskets are safe bets, as also office desk or travel accessories, electronic gifts or even CDs. Other options can be gifts or memberships that fit the recipient's hobbies such as tickets to premiere matches, the opera or theatre or even gift certificates or catalogues that do not mention their currency value but list the available gift products.

For your own office team, gifts must be offered according to seniority. Design customized gifts with your company logo that will be happy publicity on each member's desk or treasured keepsakes.

And remember, a personal note with every gift goes a long way to establishing your sincerity and generosity of spirit. That well-planned, customized corporate gift to your boss, peer, supplier, client, customer, employee or host can definitely rejuvenate ties, build new bridges and better still, add that perfect human touch to hard-nosed business practices!