Author Archives: Leena Munot

5 reasons why you must use a notebook

Posted on by Leena Munot
09 Jun

We live in a digital world and increasingly are doing away with the need to keep notebooks handy. However, sometimes, it is a good idea to do away with the digital wave and clasp a notebook in your hands. Here are a few reasons why

1. Distraction free time

Working on your phone or computer is great, but is also a great distraction when you switch tabs almost involuntarily and before you know it, you have forgotten the report you were writing and instead are browsing through your mail or social media. Losing yourself in the pages of your notebook gives you focused time to do the job at hand and this naturally increase your productivity too. The mind feels calmer as you are doing only one thing at a time. 

2. Get away from the addiction 

Overusing your phone can lead to sleep issues, anxiety and decreased productivity. Put away your phone periodically during the day to break the cycle of checking and rechecking your notifications every few minutes. This saves a few hours of your time – daily! Committing to using a notebook for certain aspects of your life—say, your to-do list and ideas —can help wean you from your smartphone addiction.

3. You can use a notebook for many things! 

Notebooks beat most apps when it comes to versatility. They aren’t just for journaling but can be a repository for all the odds and ends you want to remember, from your monthly budget to your grocery list to sketches, doodles, and diagrams. And you can organize your notebook in a manner that works for you. There are some really good options available when it comes to notebooks! You may want to check them out. 

4. Good for the brain

Writing by hand has numerous advantages compared to typing, and keeping a notebook on hand is a great way to keep your script skills sharp. Studies find that writing by hand helps you process information better, remember more, and think faster compared to typing. Plus, it improves your spelling. Occasionally jotting down thoughts in a notebook is a handy way to reinvigorate the parts of your brain (and hand) that don’t get a workout when you type on a computer or a smartphone.

5. Your memory is unreliable

The faintest ink is more powerful than the strongest memory. A notebook is the perfect place to jot down a quick thought before you forget it. While you may think in the moment that the memory will stick with you, chances are, it won’t. You never know, which idea you jot down could be a game changer for you! 

Coming from a notebook lover like me, this list could go on and on. Truth be told, some of my smartest product ideas, concepts and content are a result of having a notebook that I can doodle, scribble and make notes in. In 2015, I authored my first book Goals Mantra, which is a simple and effective system to reach your life goals. The seeds of this book came from notes I made in my idea book in 2013 about having a group of people who would love to come together and find ways to achieve their goals. 

Among the plenty of reasons why a notebook can be your best friend, this one is the coolest – A NOTEBOOK WILL NEVER RUN OUT OF BATTERIES! (lol)

Leena Munot
Co-founder
The Giving Tree

3 tips to keep yourself hydrated this summer!

Posted on by Leena Munot
16 May

With the mercury levels in the country rising each day, summers are getting harsher every year. This trend is expected to continue until and unless something is done on a large scale to cut down global warming. So what can you do at an individual level to contribute to a greener and cooler planet, and keep ourselves hydrated at the same time this summer?

Here are 3 really simple tips for you to stay hydrated this
season:

Carry your own bottle of water – With the amount of commuting and travel that has become a part of our daily routine, having a bottle of water close to you is a great way to keep sipping on small amounts throughout the day – to keep your body well hydrated. This also avoids the purchase of bottled water – which costs a lot and adds to the landfills (Did you know, bottled water is not as safe as it looks!)

Infuse lime or mint in the water – Adding a citrus slice or some mint leaves to water is a simple way to jazz up the water flavor and also naturally alkalizes the water making it a healthier option! When it tastes good, it feels good too. Invest in a good infuser bottle to help you with this option.

Drink 3 litres of water per day – Make sure you have atleast 3 litres of water per day (Juices and other liquids do not count). This will ensure replacement of the water lost through sweat and the dehydration caused by an air conditioned environment.  As a bonus tip – bring down your caffeine consumption during the summers to keep yourself feeling lighter and brighter!

If you like what you read, remember to like, comment or
share and let’s create a healthier and happier version of ourselves!

Leena Munot
Co-founder
The Giving Tree

Every desk says a story!

Posted on by Leena Munot
03 May

Your desk is your give away!

What goes on your desk, tells us a lot about what kind of a person you are. How do you think, how do you work, what excites you, what you dislike and also how you maybe showing up in  the other areas of your life. After all, there is much truth in these lines – How you do one thing is how you do everything.

From the way I see it, I feel there are four kinds of desks you may come across. Each one indicates a different aspect about a personality and helping you change the way your desk looks could create massive impact in your productivity. Read on to know how.

1.A cluttered desk – This one is represented by an overload of things on the desk – right from stationery, to hanging wires from your computer, coasters, knick knacks like picture frames, layers of dust under your keyboard, a used coffee mug, sipper, a watch, maybe your wallet, a key chain – all left around in that one spot until the owner needs to move it or use it.

What it says about the user – This maybe a person who is high on procrastination, will focus only on what’s urgent, may have a confused mind, erratic thinking patterns and is usually restless, perhaps clumsy too.

2. A clean desk – where everything has a space of its own. You may see pen holders, small boxes to hold little things like pen drives, your visiting cards, a coaster appropriately placed below your coffee mug, picture frame kept straight, dust free table top, wires are neatly bundled to the side, nothing is strewn around for want of a proper place, but there is a lot on the table.

What it says about the user – Here is a person who is organized, stable in his thinking, has his priorities list at hand, is well dressed, carries himself with confidence, relaxes easily and has an overall pleasant personality.

3. A messy desk – things you need and those you don’t are all mixed into a spaghetti of sorts. You don’t have time to give away that which you no longer need, or dispose the unnecessary papers and discard old cables, defective pen drives, empty pens, pencil stubs and so on.

What it says about the user – This is a dangerous breed. You may find this user to be sporadic, short tempered or too lazy to even respond to a message on most days, with too many things on the mind, a confused list of priorities, low sense of time management and constantly rushing against time. Can you imagine some people you know with a messy desk? (lol)

4. A minimal desk – has everything you need, neatly placed in drawers, boxes and files. This is a distraction free desk. You may see only a picture frame with loved ones in it, a coffee mug, and a wire free desktop or laptop, clean table top is a given. The owner of this desk will have stringent acceptance rules for any item to go on the desk until and unless it is important, a must have or is beautifully designed, a gift from a loved one and meaningful.

What it says about the user – This is the kind of person everyone likes to be around. Always on top of things, the mindful and thinking kind, high on productivity, good decision maker, understands that a clean environment is imperative for creative work to happen.

The next time you see any of these desks, think of how you can make it a happy place. Come to us so we can help you with the perfect piece that stands out so beautifully on any desk and motivates the recipient to jump from a cluttered, messy or clean desk to a minimal desk with that one inspiring gift occupying the most prominent corner.

Our gifts help you create signature desks with aesthetically designed meaningful products that make you smile and keep you inspired. Our gifts are a reminder that you are special, significant and cared for.

Leena Munot
Co-Founder
The Giving Tree

3 reasons why you MUST plan your gifting…

Posted on by Leena Munot
07 Jan

As we make the New Year a year to count with hard work, deeper commitment and a higher drive to chase our purpose…let’s not forget to spend time nurturing those relationships that matter, spending time with self in introspection and making time to buy meaningful gifts that speak a different language. If a picture speaks a thousand words then a well thought gift speaks of how much that person means to you. 

Every time the occasion is around the corner, teams run helter-skelter to look for vendors who can offer something new, within the budget and also something that is different looking. Lack of time and resources come at a price! You have to settle for less by paying more. You get a not-so-ideal corporate gift, with the wrong branding or no branding (because it is last minute) and it would be asking for too much if you insist on gift wrapping. 

Here are 3 reasons why planning those gifts in advance is a great idea:

1.   Save time – Plan ahead at the beginning of the year so you can look for the right products, right vendors and share with them your list of gifting occasions, so together you can see many options, plan to procure them in the required numbers and give your vendor the delivery schedule. This can be a one-time exercise, which helps you save many man hours and stress during the year when it comes to getting those gifts. Every minute saved, is a minute earned and can be put to more productive use by focusing on your core business. 

2.   Better negotiation – When time is not a constraint, as a buyer you stand a better chance to negotiate and get a good deal, on win-win terms, both for you and the vendor, making it a happy working relationship. It also gives you the free hand to scan the vendor’s services and be assured about the quality of deliverables. 

3.   Impress your clients – A well thought out gift speaks a different language. It reaches you at the right time from the vendor, and you therefore are able to send the gift to the recipient on time. Eg., a new year Diary can reach your client around 25th Dec, so the recipient feels special and appreciates your timely gift, as opposed to sending him a diary around end of January! (it’s a fact!) The value of a gift increases when it reaches on time and depreciates drastically when it reaches late, can you think of a birthday gift you received a week alter? Did you make you as happy? 

Gifting is all about making people feel special. A little care and planning goes a long way in communicating the same to the recipient – be it a client, an associate, a colleague or your boss!  

Call us or meet us today to plan gift options for various occasions through the year, so we can help you make gifting a hassle free and happy experience. We’ve been doing it for over two decades now…it’s time you meet us soon! 

Leena Munot
Co-founder

www.thegivingtree.in

Why Calendars are a timeless option for doing New Year gifting? 

Posted on by Leena Munot
10 Dec

The corporate gifting market has been expanding exponentially over the last 5 years and new entrants flood the market each day. From a promotional pen that is priced at Rs. 1 to a Royal Enfield bike to an all paid one week vacation in the Bahamas….which runs into hundreds of dollars….the market has never been so overwhelmingly full with options. For an old horse like us who’ve been around for two decades we’ve seen all the cycles of this unorganized market…from pen drive hoarders going down under in one night ..thanks to fall in prices in the electronic chip market to the very basic pressure cooker and mixer sellers being forced out by new and snazzy products.

Clients are demanding more than ever – in terms of product range, high ROI, premium brands and what not. Among all the demands they have, the one item that for sure fulfills the Return On Investment criteria is a CALENDAR! The age old yet timeless and classic desktop product which still is the fastest running item despite the plethora of options.

Here is one reason, why calendars are the most sought after New Year Gifts!

This is the one gift that gives your brand a Continuous Presence for a full 12 months, if not longer. When you break down the cost over that amount of time, the price of each calendar seems nearly next to nothing, but the investment long-lasting.

This year send your calendars out to top-tier prospects in your industry to let them know that you’d love to create a mutually beneficial business relationship, thank a client, impress a new prospect or simply flaunt your brand. If you want to grow your business in an economical and effective manner, calendars are the way to go. With a new year upon us, promo calendars lead the pack all the way from the top!

https://thegivingtree.in/product-category/eco-friendly-gifts/calendars/

#business #retail #branding #planning #gifts #promo #calendars #stationery

Leena Munot
Co-Founder
The Giving Tree

 

How to buy a Diwali gift for your teams and clients this year…

Posted on by Leena Munot
22 Sep

Every country awaits the beginning of a festive season. In western countries it is usually around Christmas and you’ll see a buzz of activity in all retail stores, lifestyle stores, both online and offline, around that time of the year. In India, the celebration of Ganesha’s birthday (the famous Elephant head God) marks the beginning of the festive season. It also marks the onset of families and communities coming together to celebrate these festivals through some lip smacking cooking, new clothing and a whole lot of gifts.

The corporate communities have caught up with this very well in the last decade, making the corporate gifting industry go dizzy to feverish levels, by demanding for new and innovative products. Today with over millions of gifting options in the market, how do you know which one is the right one for you? Having been a main stream player in this field for over two decades, I’m excited to share my two cents on simple ways to find the right gift.

Think gift – not product
Start your search by looking for a gift – Remember that little red box gift wrapped with a ribbon, you got as a child? And you were squealing with joy and beaming smiles when you got to open it. Now hold on to that thought…that’s exactly how your recipient needs to feel when he gets your gift. The purpose of a gift is to make the recipient feel special, loved and significant. When go from this perspective, your search gets better and you start thinking more about how the person will feel when you give him / her a Bluetooth speaker, an AI enabled device, a picture frame or a box of chocolates. Try it!

Tip – Make sure you wrap the gift well and add a name tag on it! People love to see their name on a gift. Makes them feel special 🙂

Think emotion – only emotion
I know this one always faces a huge resistance. For a moment get into the recipient’s shoes and imagine getting a gift. What would it mean to touch your heart, to surprise you with the unexpected? No matter which corporate company it is and who the receiving teams are – at a basic level, your gift touches a person’s heart or it does not. It is from one person to another when you break it all down.

Tip – Inside the gift box, place a personal hand written note with genuine words of gratitude and appreciation. Happy emotions guaranteed!

Think value – not budget
Buying a gift is never about a budget – it is always about value. Even if you are the most calculative procurement head, I can challenge you to this one. When you think only budget and settle for a cheaper, sub-standard gift, in terms of performance, brand or features, I can assure you that gift is never going to be used by the recipient. It will land up in the hands-me-down list almost instantly and this rips off your chance of Return on Investment. If the recipient does not use it, your brand recall becomes non-existent.

On the other hand when you think of how the gift is going to add value to the recipient, there is a larger chance of the gift being appreciated, used and therefore serves as a great tool to grow your brand.

Tip – say no to Vouchers! Spend some time and look for that gift! Or call an expert!

Helping people and mother earth feel special is what we do, all day long! And that’s why we love what we do.

Leena Munot
Entrepreneur I Blogger

 

Why T-shirts are a classic promo gift choice!

Posted on by Leena Munot
29 Jun

We live in a day and age of constant struggle to keep our brand in the top of our customer’s mind. Companies across the world spend millions of dollars each year towards this one end. Why? The answer is simple. People are looking for a solution to address a certain need, desire or problem, almost on a daily basis. If your product or service satisfies these, then you ought to be the first person people think of. And how do you achieve that top place in their mind? By regularly indulging in various activities like personal meetings, seminars, exhibitions, networking events, social media and promotional gifts.

While speaking of promotional gifts the markets are flooded with a plethora of options that you can choose from. Gadgets to appliances, stationery to computer accessories and from premium gift hampers to apparel, the list is never ending.

Research shows that the usefulness of a promotional product is the recipient’s number one reason for keeping it.

I fully believe in this, and that’s why every gift we offer goes through this test of being relevant and useful. Speaking of useful gifts – T shirts take the cake! No recipient will find a reason to refuse a well-made T shirt!

Here are a few tips on choosing the right kind to ensure your recipients use these T shirts as a preferred outfit wherever they go, hence increasing your brand recall.

Cheap is Out – Value is In
Gone are the days when cheap sold. Today’s users make a direct correlation between you and the gifts you give. Giving out a cheap T shirt, with quality that does not even last 5 washes, is a sure shot way to wash out any possibility of finding a recall with them. They will have a negative recall about you, and that’s not the purpose of sending out the gifts in the first place. Make sure you indulge in giving out T shirts only when your promo budget can allow that extra spend on a good quality product. At the end of the day, every dime spent on this has to justify a certain Return On Investment (ROI).

Choose the Right Fabric
Pick a fabric that works towards adding extra comfort. Bio wash T shirts are increasingly in trend for this very reason. Bio Wash is a process that makes the fabric smoother, avoids pilling, gives permanent colour and allows your skin to breathe. In addition it is an eco friendly technique and is gentle on your skin, keeping it free from allergies that can be caused by fabrics that are chemically washed.

Keep Boredom at Bay
While you love your brand logo and are even paying for it, remember the end you have in mind – to ensure your brand gets visibility. This is possible only when you keep your logo at a size that is visible yet not overpowering; adding an element of a cool graphic will further align to the user’s preference of your T shirt – not only as work wear, but also as a lifestyle wear, making your brand get more eye balls!

Making some prudent choices can help you ensure that your gifting spends are an investment, not an expense! After all, gifting is about making someone feel special and significant. Do this with much aplomb and class to stand out in the market. I’d go a step ahead and dare you to make a gift that even your competitors want to own.

If you like what you read here and what you see, feel free to share this information and come back for more!

Co-Founder
Leena Munot
The Giving Tree

 

 

 

 

Gift Vouchers vs Hand Picked Gifts

Posted on by Leena Munot
06 May

With the advent of modern gifting ideas that range from simple pens to notebooks, from electronic gadgets to apparel and from snazzy branded stationery to premium corporate gifts, the gifting market has never been so over crowded. This is turning out to be a boon and a bane. Too much choice can also leave you confused. And then come the gift vouchers that are meant for the lazy, forgetful and shortcut bunch of people, who are last minute shoppers, don’t know what their recipient may like and honestly they don’t care too much about it.

Can you remember the best gift you ever got in your life? It was either an experience – like a holiday getaway, a surprise party or something that was a product like a watch from your favourite brand, a pen gifted by a special colleague or teammate and no matter how many years pass by, you continue to hold on to these things for the memory of the relationship you share with the person. Do you think you’d have the same feeling if these people gifted you a gift voucher instead? I can bet hands down….definitely NOT!

One cannot take away the joy of receiving a well wrapped gift. It wakes up the child inside,  as your eyes gleam and heart squeals with excitement when you unwrap the gift.

Here are 3 reasons why a voucher cannot replace a gift

Not personal – A gift voucher is a super impersonal and transactional way to gift something to someone. It’s almost like saying, I don’t know what you like and I don’t care, I don’t have the time…so here, take the voucher!

Defeats the purpose – A voucher gets spent on things like necessities, or pools into other general purchases the recipient makes. For eg., if it is an Amazon voucher, chances are people will use it to buy books, clothes, footwear, medicines or even home utilities – anything that is there in their cart, this voucher will be used to pay for the same. This dilutes the purpose of your gift in the first place and won’t necessarily remind the recipient you gave it to them.

Sizes you up– A gift voucher has a money amount mentioned on it. Like $20 or $50 – it gives the recipient an opportunity to raise his eyebrows and size up your giving capacity. Whereas a gift is more about how much you value the person and the relationship not what value you are spending on the gift.

Whenever you buy a gift, remember it has to satisfy these top 2 things.

It’s all about how you make them feel – It should make the recipient feel special because people don’t remember what you say, they remember how you make them feel. A well wrapped gift box with a sensible gift inside it will earn you a lot of brownie points! Add a dash of a personal note of appreciation and there goes the cherry on the cake!

Return on Investment – This becomes negative with a voucher! No memory, no recall, hence no impact. A hand picked gift is the perfect way to make your ad spend bring in recall and therefore nurture long term relationships.

The next time you think of gifting a voucher and getting away…think again! It’s not a good idea – financially and personally and will certainly not help you in building and fostering long term relationships.

Leena Munot

Co-founder
The Giving Tree

For gifts that make people feel special, significant and cared for, visit thegivingtree.in – your most innovative corporate gift house. Meet us or call us today for ideas that will never grow old.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Going green – whose job is it anyway!

Posted on by Leena Munot
09 Apr

With the growing awareness and media attention to global warming, days such as Earth Day and Environment day are soon picking up momentum and helping spread awareness about going green. Much is being said as most companies are indulging in research to reduce their carbon footprint. As individuals there are simple things we can do to make a start and build a lifestyle that is green!

Four simple ideas that can help you go green this year!

1. Replace paper cups with ceramic mugs – Paper cups come coated with wax which melts when you pour hot liquid in it. Ingesting this day in and day out can be hazardous to health. Also it adds to the landfills – even if it is paper – it is still trash!
Make a switch – Carry your own mug – ceramic, steel, glass, any of these are a good option.

2. While plastic bans come and go with the changing governments, what’s here to stay are people, you, me, our families and future generation.
Make a pledge – To carry your own cloth bag for shopping – whether it is to a swanky mall or to the local supermarket. Be the change our world deserves!

3. Nothing adds more beauty than nature. Artificial plants look good, require no maintenance and provide no value – bad return on investment!
Shift to nature – Get a real plant for your home and office today. Not only does it up the energetic vibration of a place, it also pumps in more oxygen in your space and the green adds to the joy and freshness each day!

4. Say NO to shopping for things you don’t need with money you don’t have! With retailers enticing us with better and newer products each day, it is becoming increasingly difficult to cut down on our spends. Credit cards offering EMIs and cash backs worsen this situation further.
Rewire to minimalist living – When you think before you shop, becoming aware of your real needs, you’ll swipe the card lesser, own fewer things, have more space at home and in your wardrobes, more free time – cause you don’t have to maintain and manage all the material anymore!

The Giving Tree has been in the space of green gifting for over two decades. Our love for all things green has been at the centre of our design and gifting philosophy over the years. It is this love for the planet that has helped us win the hearts of over 1000 corporate companies and 15 lac users globally! Our mission to contribute to a clean and green planet drives us each day to make sure we bring you gifts that make mother earth and you…happy happy!

Leena Munot
Co-founder
The Giving Tree

Why Promotional gifts are not Corporate gifts and vice versa!

Posted on by Leena Munot
03 Feb

Having been in the corporate gifting space for over two decades, we’ve seen a long list of promotional gifts, corporate gifts, conference gifts and so on make their way to prestigious corporate desks. And over the years, these words have become synonymous with each other. This is where a new set of challenges have shot up in the last few years. Buyers and sellers both often confuse between these and end up disappointing each other.

Corporate gifts are not promotional gifts and vice versa! Why? Here are a few key differences:

Use

A promotional gift is used to distribute to public, who are not yet your clients! And it is meant for them to get familiar with you, what you do, your brand and what it is that you are all about! It is a visibility tool.

A corporate gift is used to build long lasting, mutually beneficial relationships with existing clients and associates to remind them of your association with them and that you value the relationship.

Budgets

The budget you set aside for each of these will vary. Corporate gifts are useful in engaging in deep relationships – they will require a higher spend.

Promotional gifts are to be procured in bulk, since it is meant for mass distribution. It is prudent to go with low per unit cost items, so you can distribute freely.

Outcome

Promotional gifts are used for the purpose of generating brand awareness in different target markets – to create visibility.

Corporate gifts are used to remind the recipient of your world class service, create a relationship recall, make you smile, make you want to call, refer, meet for coffee, keep you top of the mind for the next gift occasion and be in continuous engagement with each other.

So the next time you want to buy a gift, you may want to use the above useful identifying steps to be clear about what you want to achieve through the gifting exercise! After all, every dollar spent on gifting has to bring in great Return on Time Invested!

Keep gifting, spread some joy and smile on a job well done!

Connect with us for clarity on the next gifting occasion you have and we’ll be happy to engage with you! Together let’s bring in more joy this season…to the giver, the receiver and mother earth!

Leena Munot
Co-Founder
The Giving Tree