Gift Giving Etiquette in Other Countries

Gift giving can involve a certain etiquette, that if breached, can lead to embarrassment at the least, and potentially damaged relationships in more serious situations. Whether it’s part of a business trip and cultural exchange, or even visiting family or friends in another part of the world, there are certain gift giving rules and expectations that are culturally significant and must be observed.

Gift giving etiquette mainly centers around the following questions: Who is the recipient, what type of gift is expected, what is the process for giving the gift, and is there an expectation of reciprocity?

In Western cultures, the identity of the recipient is perhaps the single most important factor in gift giving. Specifically, the nature of the relationship between giver and receiver is key. The closer the relationship, the more personal the gift that is allowed. Closer relationships also allow for more informal gift giving occasions (not just on holidays or special days of celebration) as well as an increased expectation for both parties to reciprocate the gifts. Anyone who has ever experienced one of those awkward moments receiving a gift from an unexpected source knows exactly just how important the observance of these customs is. 

With more more international business bringing about cross-cultural relationships, it’s important to note that not all gift giving rules of etiquette are universal. Some are unique to their culture.

In China, for example, it’s quite common, even expected for the giver to ask the recipient what gift he or she would like to receive. In business relationships, gift giving is always reciprocal and a failure to observe this custom could destroy an otherwise prosperous relationship. The Chinese also are very generous with their gift giving. Someone who obviously has skimped on a gift becomes known as an “iron rooster.” As the concepts of balance and harmony are valued in Chinese culture, it’s customary to give gifts that come in pairs or sets rather than individual items.

In Saudi Arabia, gifts are only exchanged between individuals who are considered the most intimate of friends; therefore, a gift for a casual business acquaintance may appear too forward and damage the relationship. If buying for a Saudi man, never buy gold or silk. That is an inappropriate gift for a male in the culture. One other piece of advice, when giving a gift in Saudi Arabia, it is customary to offer it with the right hand. To do otherwise is considered offensive. 

Fortunately, Gifts that Give offers a variety of high quality, name brand gift items that will be acceptable in any culture (provided the aforementioned rules are followed). Not only will the recipient be honored by a present from Gifts that Give, but an additional honor is bestowed when Gifts that Give contributes 20% of the purchase price to a charity of your choice, because charitable gift giving is appropriate in any culture.

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How Charitable Giving Works

Ecommerce makes charitable giving more convenient, but not how you might think. Oh sure, there are electronic payment options at virtually every charitable giving website out there, but there’s one unique option out there that has changed the way we think about charitable giving.

One of the great struggles for all of us is separating our need to give back with our desire for material items, especially as the economy slowly recovers. However, according to several organizations and think tanks, charitable giving was on the rise in 2011, and 2012 is filled with expectations and hope.

According to the American Association of Fundraising Counsel, in 2010 Americans gave more than $290.89 billion to their favorite charitable giving organizations, which was up 3.8% from the previous year. $211.77 billion of that was given by individuals and households, which was 73% of all charitable giving dollars. This figure is further borne out by the National Park Service, which says that 80% of their own philanthropic giving comes from individuals and bequests. The remaining amount comes from corporations and foundations.

And just as there are many different charitable giving organizations, the web also features a plethora of ecommerce sites that make shopping online far preferable for many than getting out to traditional brick-and-mortar stores and markets. No fighting traffic, looking for a parking spot or braving inclement weather only to find that the store doesn’t have the item you’re looking for. By shopping online, you can easily browse for what you’re looking for and compare prices. The item you want is always in stock and oftentimes customers can finds some great deals on line that aren’t available in the physical stores.

Gifts that Give have managed to combine charitable giving and online shopping into one experience, making it easier for people to both shop and give at the same time. On the website, you have access to thousands of name brand, high-quality gift items in as many gift categories as you can imagine, many of which can’t be found in stores.


Best of all, you’ll get to take advantage of what makes Gifts that Give special in the marketplace: the ability to attach a charitable giving contribution to your purchase. For every five dollars spent, Gifts that Give will designate a dollar toward the charity or special cause that you choose. There are literally thousands of those to choose from as well, from national organizations like the American Heart Association to charities and organizations serving your own community.

What would make a better gift for someone you care about than one of the unique, high-quality items offered by Gifts that Give as well as the knowledge that a portion of the purchase price for that gift has been “payed forward” to a worthy cause?

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Gift Ideas for Valentine's Day

Fresh gift ideas might be hard to come by with Christmas just past, but Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. The importance of selecting just the right gift to express your affection for that special loved one is still something many consumers worry about. Valentine's Day gift ideas should reflect that connection with the most important people in your life.

First of all, whether you’re one half of a young couple or seasoned Valentine’s veterans, think outside the box with Gifts that Give. Twenty percent of the cost of any purchased gift goes to a charity of your choice. So not only will your gift recipient love his or her present, he or she will enjoy the peace of mind that comes with helping others.

Gifts that Give has everything you need to find the perfect gift for your sweetheart. Whether you want to honor her with the age-old gift of perfume or want to be a little more adventurous with some designer candles, soaps and bath salts, you can find many name brands at Gifts that Give.

Of course, jewelry is one of those can’t miss gift ideas. And with Gifts that Give, you know you can fulfill her Valentine’s dreams with jewelry from her favorite designers. Knowing she has something for herself to enjoy, plus getting to donate to a charity of choice, means a satisfying Valentine’s Day for everyone.

Valentine’s Day is a perfect opportunity for women to let their men know how special they are. Gifts that Give also has a prolific section of men’s gift ideas.

Is your guy a techie? Does his smartphone or mobile device seem surgically attached to his hand? What about picking out a designer case for that electronic device? It tells him that that what's important to him is important to you, and allows you to at least have the contraption fashionably clothed instead of all scratched up without a cover.

Many men are into sports. A nice golf accessory organizer shows you care about what is important to him and helps him keep track of tees, divot replacers and the like. Or, you could improve his fashion sense with some sports-related gift ideas: a watch, tie clasp, or even cuff links of his favorite baseball team would be an ideal gift.

This year, why not go all out for Valentine’s Day? Instead of simply contributing to the bottom line of the greeting card and chocolate companies, get thoughtful and give back with Gifts that Give.

Charitable Giving Gift Ideas

Charitable Giving always sees an increase during the holidays. It's the end of the year, so nonprofits are sending out their fundraising letters, asking us to support them. We help them as much as we can with our charitable giving, supporting our favorite causes and the ones we hold most dear.

You could give to Susan G. Komen for the Cure in a friend or family member’s name. Another option is to support the Sierra Club or the Nature Conservancy, because you want to leave the earth in better shape for your children.

So wouldn't it be great if you could support your favorite cause with more than just your charitable giving and volunteering? What if your holiday shopping could support your charitable giving as well?

Gifts that Give is the way you can give to charitable organizations while you shop. We donate 20% of your order — $1 out of every $5 — to the nonprofit of your choice as soon as you place your order. And you can get your shopping done at the same time.

There are more than 1.2 million charitable organizations, nonprofits, and causes you can support through your gift buying. Not only that, but you can browse through top name brands, like Riedel glassware and wine decanters, Jay Strongwater jewelry, and even Michael Aram home accessories. Other brands include Toss Designs, Anna Weatherly, Picnic Plus, Trésor, and Pearhead.

The way it works is this: You make a purchase on GiftsthatGive.com, and we give 20% of your purchase to the charity you choose. You can register as a VIP to take advantage for additional VIP benefits, or just check out as a guest. Then you tell your friends on Facebook and Twitter about GiftsthatGive, and help them with their own shopping.

You can even create your own Gifts that Give fundraiser page on Facebook. Steer all your friends to that page, and as they make their own purchases, your chosen charity will receive $1 of every $5 in charitable giving as well.

To top it all off, your charitable giving dollars are tax deductible. Any charitable giving amounts more than $10 can be applied toward your taxes the following year. The same goes for your friends — they get the same charitable giving tax benefits.

So if you're looking for designer name table linens, technology accessories, gorgeous designer bags, jewelry, or high-quality glassware, we've got it. We even have stuff for the men in your life (Edwin Jagger shaving kits), your kids (PluiePluie raincoats and rain boots), and even your pets (great dog sweaters and collars from Fab Dog). 

If you want to handle your holiday shopping and charitable giving at the same time, check out GiftsthatGive.com and find great gift ideas for everyone on your list.

Charitable Giving Through Gift Giving

Including charitable giving with the regular holiday gift giving time can be a little tough, especially when you have several people to buy for, and you want to give something that is both beautiful and meaningful. You want to give them something they will treasure for years, and yet, there is that list of charitable giving you want to do this year. How do you make it all work out?

What if you could combine both your gift giving and charitable giving at the same time?

At Gifts that Give, we have made it possible for shoppers to give gifts that, well, give to others. That is, when you buy a gift for someone, you can give to a nonprofit organization as well.

The way it works is that whenever you purchase a gift on our website, we will donate 20% — $1 out of every $5 — of every purchase to the nonprofit organization of your choice. So if you buy a $100 gift, we will send $20 in charitable giving in your name to any organization of your choice. Whether it is saving wildlife, helping the environment, feeding the hungry, or providing educational opportunities to young scholars, there are literally more than 1.5 million nonprofit organizations and causes you can choose to help through your charitable giving and gift giving.

Gifts that Give carries a number of different high-quality, beautiful designer items for women, men, and kids including any designer label enthusiasts, sports fans, and technology users. Whether you are interested in items for the kitchen or outside, you can find great gift ideas for everyone on your list.

And buying your items is very simple considering we have a variety of different electronic payment options, where we can also record your designated charitable organization, and immediately attach the charitable giving to your chosen organization. There is even a VIP club you can join so you can enjoy access to even more benefits. Just by registering during checkout, you can automatically become a member, and make your charitable giving go even further. 

Finally, because we rely on word-of-mouth marketing to spread the word, we make it possible for you to link up your Facebook and Twitter accounts, as well as your email, so you can help your friends and family find their own charitable giving ideas, and maybe even share a few of your own. (Don't worry, we won't tell your friends what you got them.)

Gifts that Give prides itself on having high-end, exclusive gift ideas for even the most difficult person to buy for. But at the same time, we help you find gifts that also have an extra meaning and significance, not only to the recipient, but to you, and especially the people who benefit from your generosity and charitable giving.

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Charitable Giving Gifts that Give Back 20% to Charity

Charitable giving that gives back 20% to charity?  Really?  How do they do it?


Gifts that Give, Inc. is unique.  In a nutshell, at www.giftsthatgive.com, the company runs a business that relies on its customers to tell their friends about Gifts that Give, and in exchange the comany donates the savings in advertising cost to the cause of the customer’s choice.  They make “passing the word” easy by providing tools on their website to let you tell your friends about this unique avenue to provide high quality gifts for charitable giving.


Choose a charity, purchase a product from companies, such as 

Jay Strongwater
Anna Weatherley
Kim Seybert
Vietri
Jonathan Adler
Lilly Pulitzer
Jellycat
Trumpette
Michael Aram
Simon Pearce

$1 out of every $5 goes to any cause of your choice.
It is that easy.  www.giftsthatgive.com