If you’ve ever tried sending gifts to people in different countries, you know it’s not as simple as picking a mug and clicking “ship.” Local customs, shipping headaches, and product restrictions can turn a nice gesture into a logistical mess. This guide is for anyone using Corporategift and wants to actually get it right—especially when your recipients are scattered around the globe.
Let’s break down how to customize gift options in Corporategift so your international recipients aren’t left out or stuck with something they can’t use.
1. Get Clear on What "Customization" Means (and Doesn’t)
First off, “customizing gift options” doesn’t mean you can send literally anything, anywhere. There are real-world limits—product availability, import bans, and, yes, whether that tech gadget even works in another country’s outlets. In Corporategift, customizing is mostly about:
- Curating the catalog: Choosing what shows up for recipients in each region.
- Personalizing the experience: Adding messages, branding, and sometimes recipient-driven choices.
- Making it practical: Making sure gifts are actually deliverable, legal, and useful.
You can’t override customs laws, and you can’t make a U.S. snack box magically appear fresh in Singapore. But you can make sure your recipients see thoughtful, relevant options—and feel like you put some effort in.
2. Set Up Your Campaign: Start with the Basics
Before you get lost in the weeds, make sure you’ve got the foundations set:
- Define your audience: Know exactly where your recipients are. Don’t guess—ask, or use your HR/CRM data.
- Decide on gift type: Are you sending a single gift, letting people choose, or offering digital rewards?
- Set your budget: Prices, shipping, and taxes can vary wildly by country. Be honest about what you can actually afford per person.
Pro tip: If your team’s spread out over multiple countries, try to group recipients by region—this will save you headaches later.
3. Customize the Gift Catalog by Location
Here’s the heart of it: making sure people in France don’t see Starbucks cards (not accepted), and folks in Brazil don’t get offered wine (shipping alcohol is a nightmare).
How to Do It in Corporategift
- Use regional catalogs: Corporategift lets you build catalogs based on country or region. When setting up a campaign, select which products are shown to which locations.
- Filter out restricted items: The platform typically flags items with shipping or legal restrictions, but don’t rely on automation alone—double-check.
- Mix it up: Offer a variety—local snacks, digital gifts, or global brands that actually ship (Amazon, Uber Eats, etc.).
What works: Digital gifts (e-gift cards, subscriptions) are almost always the safest global option.
What doesn’t: Physical gifts that are bulky, perishable, or have batteries (customs love to block those).
4. Tweak Personalization and Branding
A gift feels more meaningful if it’s not just plucked off a warehouse shelf.
- Add personalized messages: Corporategift supports messages per recipient. Keep it simple and genuine. Avoid clichés.
- Include company branding—sparingly: Slap your logo on the packaging if you must, but don’t make the gift all about you.
- Let recipients choose: If you’re not sure what’s appropriate, let people pick from a curated list. It’s not lazy—it’s respectful.
Honest take: Overly branded “swag” is a global turn-off. People want something useful, not another stress ball with your logo.
5. Handle Language and Localization
Don’t assume everyone reads English or wants to.
- Set preferred languages: Corporategift supports multiple languages for emails and landing pages. Use the right one.
- Check translations: Auto-translation is better than nothing, but always check for embarrassing mistakes if you can.
- Time zones matter: Schedule delivery times that make sense locally. Nobody wants a “Happy Holidays” email at 3am.
Skip: Culturally insensitive jokes or references. What’s funny in Dallas might bomb in Düsseldorf.
6. Navigating Shipping, Taxes, and Customs
This is where most “great ideas” fall apart.
- Check import restrictions: Some countries are strict—food, alcohol, electronics, anything with lithium batteries. Corporategift has tools to flag these, but do your own research for peace of mind.
- Be upfront about delivery times: International shipping can be slow. Manage expectations.
- Handle taxes and duties: Decide if you’ll pre-pay these (best option) or leave it to the recipient (pretty awkward). Some platforms let you pre-calculate and pay at checkout.
What to ignore: “Guaranteed 3-day delivery” promises for international gifts. Customs doesn’t care about your promises.
7. Offer Digital-First Options When in Doubt
If you’re stuck, digital gifts are the lowest-stress global solution.
- E-gift cards: Choose brands with international reach (Amazon, Apple, Google Play, PayPal, major food delivery services).
- Charity donations: Let recipients direct a donation to a cause in their country.
- Subscriptions: Think streaming, learning platforms, or wellness apps that work worldwide.
Watch out: Not all gift cards work in every country, even for big brands. Double-check the terms.
8. Test the Experience Yourself
Before you hit “send” to 300 employees worldwide, run a dry run.
- Preview emails and catalogs: Use the platform’s test features. Make sure everything looks right in different languages and regions.
- Ask a colleague in another country to check: They’ll spot what you miss.
- Try the redemption process: If it’s confusing or buggy for you, it’ll be worse for a real recipient.
Pro tip: Keep support contact info handy for recipients. It’s inevitable someone will have an issue.
9. Don’t Overcomplicate It
It’s easy to get lost trying to wow everyone with hyper-customized gifts. Usually, simple and thoughtful beats fancy and forced.
- Start with a core catalog: A few well-chosen options that work for most regions.
- Iterate: See what works, gather feedback, and tweak for next time.
- Be transparent: If there are limits (budget, shipping, selection), say so. People are fine with it as long as you’re upfront.
Wrapping Up
Customizing gift options in Corporategift for global recipients is part planning, part common sense, and part knowing when to keep it simple. Focus on making it easy and meaningful—don’t get lost in the weeds of endless options or overpromise on what you can deliver. Start small, pay attention to what actually lands well, and build from there. That’s how you make gifting work, wherever your people are.