What are some general gift guidelines for international friends, colleagues, or clients?
Nancy Mitchell: Because we exist in a global economy, every business large and small may have occasion when they are working with people from other countries. They may travel to those countries or they maybe working by telephone or by e-mail, working virtually with people all over the world. It is time that people in especially the North American business environment raise their awareness of cultural differences.
When it comes time to gift giving, it is a mind field, there are certain things you must avoid or you will offend or embarrass the person who is receiving the gift you have chosen for them. Think about doing some research, you have let us say a client in China, the gift that would select for someone in China is going to be totally different than the person you may be giving a gift to in Guatemala. Think about doing some research, finding out do not embarrass yourself, do not embarrass them.
The religion of a country, the symbols, the customs, the courtesies of the country are going to play into the success of the gift that you choose and the way you present it, the way you wrap it, when you send it, all of those things are so different from country to country, you need to do some research and find out so you will not make a mistake.
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