Shopping for presents, company recognitions, or promotional products or any kind of gift can be tricky. Most of the time it feels like an impossible endeavor to find the perfect gift for special people or important clients. They all are different people with different ages, interests, or preferences… Impossible!
Add the ever-expanding cost of bigger or better gifts, and you have to consider how you can get the best bang for your buck. While the hard cost or material value of a present can be appreciated, research has shown that a personalized gift inspires a different sort of gratitude.
Customized Gifts to The Rescue!
The research uncovered the reality that in a world flooded with cheap mass-produced items, personalized gifts have become extra meaningful to people when they receive them for any reason. They invoke a specific emotional response that psychologists call “vicarious pride”, which is when you feel pride in the achievements or qualities of another person… like, “Hey, your gift is so cool, it makes me more proud to be your _________ [family, friend, co-worker, employee, etc.].”
Also known as “reflected glory,” this emotion is the experience of feeling pride in one’s network, group, or community. So a thoughtful unique gift can create a powerful emotion that can strengthen social bonds to foster a stronger sense of connection. And when you share in the success or celebration of others, you can reinforce your bond with them.
Vicarious pride is felt when a recipient mirrors the sense of satisfaction the present giver feels after putting thought and effort into creating an extra special gift. For pride isn’t felt solely from our own achievements – it can also come from appreciating someone else’s accomplishments, including a well-conceived personalized present. The research suggests that the personalized gifts elicit delight and surprise in the recipient because they require a degree of sacrifice and altruism from the giver.
Furthermore, customizing something like a functional item like a cutting board or tumbler that they use over and over again transforms the gift from a mere object into a meaningful repetitive experience. This emotional boost also affects the recipients’ self-esteem, making them feel more valued and cherished.
Imagine, for instance, a friend customizing a wine glass or a mug with a memory of a joyful trip you shared together. The care and intention they have invested into crafting that gift will be felt deeply.
Custom Engraved Promotional Products
Today RAM Engraving offers many products, options, colors, and ways to customize promotional products, gifts, handouts or awards through a variety of combinations. You can customize phone cases, water bottles, flasks, etc.
For your brands or company, personalizing promotional products can be a good marketing opportunity, but it needs to be done well. That’s where we are a level above big biz that crank out cheap goods as fast as they can. We take the time to make sure designs are just right and quality is always under control. Gift recipients value personalized gifts regardless of the amount of time and effort it takes, but research suggests that personalizing a product for someone else is often a pleasurable experience. We get the same joy when we deliver products that are going to make many people happy.
This time, it’s personal
But simplicity matters for people with busy lives. So everything we do is to help make it easy for customers to add that personal touch. This could be as simple as a name, a short message, or simple image. These small additions can enhance the social connection between the recipient and the person or company giving it.
Research has also shown that receivers of personalized gifts are more likely to take care of the gift. The emotional bond with the gift leads them to cherish the item and look after it. They are more likely to handle the gift with care, repair it if it breaks and postpone its replacement. This means the emotional bond involved in a personalized gift can increase the gift’s lifetime and the message it delivers!
Sustainable Gifts & Products
Taking the lifetime of a gift into consideration, your gift-giving can more sustainable because a preserved and re-usable gift avoids waste and brings long-term satisfaction. A personalized water bottle for example, could be used for many years, replacing countless single-use plastic bottles, while also serving as a daily reminder of the company or person behind it. This combination of durability and sentiment helps create a sustainable and emotionally resonant exchange.
Gift-giving is a cultural thing and when you go a little further with a personal touch and creativity, the added thoughtfulness goes a long way. The true magic lies in the personal touch. Products, gifts, or awards crafted with care leave a lasting impact and create memories that outlast the wrapping.
Original research is available here: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11002-018-9472-7