Corporate gifting ideas to make a difference
In early November 2018 we published a blog that showcased the uniquely South African stamp we put on the IUMI 2018 Conference. Each year the conference travels to a new location. In 2018 that location was Cape Town and Ripcord was appointed as the official PCO (Professional Conference Organiser) for the event. Beginning with a relatively clean slate for this sizable and prestigious event is a privilege, and we put special effort into sourcing beautiful, best-in-class venues for our international guests. But our focus was also very much on finding and supporting local suppliers who are making a proactive difference within their spheres of influence. After all, big business spend is often the ‘make or break’ of smaller business success.
Can you make a commitment to putting spend where it is needed most?
Ordering conference items and corporate gifts online can be quick and easy. But how much do you know about where the items were made or who made them? What if that ‘click of a button’ could become a conversation with a local supplier in South Africa, learning more about what they do and what they can provide that fits within your budget and timelines? There are many local suppliers offering handmade goods at scale through their creative work, providing essential sources of revenue for families, and nourishing and developing communities through their project work.
In the spirit of the festive season, our last blog of the year provides a few ideas for extending your corporate gift (or personal gift) beyond the customer (family or friend), to a wider set of stakeholders. Here are a few options to explore.
Beautiful Bags: We have had no shortage of compliments on conference bags supplied to us by Baroka Basadi who focus on using plastic waste to create new products through a collective of women owned micro-businesses in a shared working space. Baroka Basadi, which means ‘Women Sewing” in Se Sotho, assists with mentorship, small business enabling tools and the support required for the success the businesses. The ladies manufacture items of all descriptions but tend to focus on bags for conferencing and corporate gifting. They also make bespoke items like back packs and sports bags for their private clients. Take a look at their beautiful gifts here.
The gift of a vegetable box or organic garden: can provide food security to a school in need. If you want to push the boat out, look at a solar panel or biogas digester tank, using sunlight and waste food to generate energy for cooking and other needs. For friends and family, how about an owl box or bat box, encouraging biodiversity conservation? The social enterprise EcoCulture can assist with all of this. They develop and implement environmental sustainability programmes in both schools and communities. Their programmes are designed to educate and improve environmental conditions.
Ditch the straw and go re-useable. Single-use plastics, like straws, are detrimental to marine life. Straws never degrade. This video from the Cape Town Two Oceans Aquarium shows the damage they can do. There are many local suppliers of these re-useable straws. We’ve seen sets of steel straws that can be branded through engraving that will last a lifetime. Raising awareness of this issue in a branded gift will stand you out for all the right reasons.
Your business and personal spend can make a difference this festive season. We hope this blog provides some different and very concrete options for you to explore. If you like this post, please share it with others who would like to see it too!
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