Selecting a gift that matches the occasion is key. (Corporate Gifts & Event Planning Guide).

It is a pleasant surprise to attend an event and find a gift bag waiting for you on your chair, filled with little goodies that you can bring home. Chances are few people have thought about the lengths organizers go to provide mementos for the event. Nor do they consider the reasons why it is so important to have a specific gift for the occasion. But important it is, as reiterated by managers who share their perspectives on gift giving.

Keitha Robson, manager of the Timmins Chamber of Commerce, introduces her community by giving gift baskets filled with local fudge, chocolate moulds, pins and a mug to people who just moved into the community. She also gives away souvenirs like T-shirts to Timmins' residents when they come to sign up for sporting events.

"We want the gift to be appropriate for the event," Robson says.

Depending on the occasion, Robson tries to get the gift to fit the occasion.

For instance, the chamber held a membership appreciation barbecue for chamber members and volunteers, they gave away Frisbees.

"We wanted to promote networking and communication," Robson says

Passing the Frisbee to and fro imitates a verbal transaction between two people.

"We want them to be tools to create value and performance for the chamber," Robson says.

Another event sponsored by the chamber is a golf tournament. Participants of the event get a "boogle bag" filled with golf-related paraphernalia.

The chamber does not usually seek out businesses to donate gifts. Rather, businesses contact the chamber and volunteer their donations.

"We rely strictly on businesses soliciting to us." Robson admits.

Local establishments commonly give donations to the chamber to promote their business.

Often one will find a few main businesses sponsoring an event. The event theme is usually linked to the gifts delegates receive, says Gail Bruscia, director of membership development for the Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce.

"It's a way of saying thank you for giving something back toward the event," Bruscia says.

Just recently she came back from a trade show FedNor had sponsored. Since the main focus was business, they gave the delegates flashlights that hook on to the key chain. The holder can then attempt to see where the key should go even when it is dark- much the same as a business adopts bright ideas out of perhaps dark moments.

"Most businesses get these little gift ideas from wholesalers," she says.

"They market promotional material and have tons of catalogues."

The organizer chooses a gift within the price range, she says. They then personalize it by applying a company logo or a perhaps a motto. This is how companies can advertise and reach a large target market.

Jan Henna, manager for the Parry Sound Chamber of Commerce, knows how to advertise her community. She brings a carnation to greet out-of-town boaters.

She also gives them a city pin, along with discount coupons donated by the local businesses.

"We hope this will attract people to the establishments," Hanna says.

Attracting more business to the North was one of the reasons that Jay Aspin, North Bay Chamber of Commerce export development adviser, went with 18 other Northern Ontario companies on a FedNor-sponsored Team Northern Ontario trade mission to Atlanta. Before heading off, he brought along a few mementos to give away.

While down in Atlanta, Aspin sponsored an evening that was well received by the business people from both countries. During the night he gave the Americans a taste of northern heritage.

"We gave out maple syrup in four-ounce maple leaf-shaped bottles, and inukshuks," Aspin remembers.

The syrup was made in Powassan, while the inukshuks came from a little store in Elliot Lake, he says.

Although he felt the inukshuks represented a relationship between the First Nations and Northern Ontarians, he also realized the importance of the possible. connection to their new friends in the south.

"They were used as ice-breakers and they worked well."

On Tuesday evening Aspin hosted another reception for the business community in Atlanta. Syrup and inukshuks, as well as samples of northern fish were given to the southerners as a representation of Northern Ontario waters and vast wilderness.

"We had fresh lake trout, sturgeon, salmon and whitefish flown into Atlanta from Thunder Bay as gestures of our appreciation, and something that was highly Canadian," Aspin says.

Throughout the week outdoor wilderness experts made presentations on the Northern Ontario environment. Southerners were surprised by the amount of forest still intact, and made comments about spending some time in Northern Ontario on fishing trips or camping excursions.

Although Aspin could not gauge how many of their American friends will come up for a visit, he says both felt the mission was a great success.

"We may consider having it up here (in Northern Ontario) next time, who knows."

Various community members represented eight different sectors from Northern Ontario.

"We branded ourselves Northern Ontarians. We kept our Northern Ontario hats on," Aspin says.

Points to consider when selecting corporate gifts

1) Are the gifts suitable for both men and women?

2) Should the gifts relect the region they are presented from?

3) Are the gifts handcrafted? If so, and if large numbers are required, the supplier must give the craftperson plenty of time to produce the order.

4) Consider second and third choices in case the first choice is not available.

5) Must all the gifts be identical?

6) Do the gifts need to be boxed or wrapped?

7) Does a bulky, heavy or fragile gift pose a problem? Is the recipient travelling?

8) Do the gifts need to be engraved or customized? If so, leave extra time for this.

9) Make the gift selection as far in advance as possible so the supplier can guarantee delivery.

Points provided by Marion Pitkethly, owner of Pits House of Treasures in Sudbury.