From history-defining wars, and industrial revolutions to political, economic, and cultural influence, Germany holds black belts across all spheres and punches through various makiwaras to ensure that its citizens reap the fruit of its hard labor throughout history. Situated in central Europe with landscapes as beautiful as its trajectory through history, Germany occupies many top pedestals, including that of Europe’s economic superpower and the world’s third-largest economy.
From Romanesque Cologne to eons-forward Frankfurt and vastly urban Ruhr, Germany is more than meets the eye, and anyone that’s had the pleasure of creating memories in the 80+ million populous nation is fortunate.
Germans are a culturally-versed people with a deep regard for time, law, and communal living. They believe that the rules and regulations put in place create an opportunity for harmony and mutual respect, and are worth following. While enthusiasts of beer and sausage, they also enjoy the great outdoors, oompah folk music, and holiday making.
Their gifting culture isn’t too different from the rest of Europe’s, but an emphasis is placed on due formality, respect for boundaries, and overall wholesomeness.In this blog, we take a look at the German corporate gifting culture, explore some interesting facts about the German culture, and walk through some gifting dos and don’ts.
Popular Gifts Your German Recipients Will Appreciate
Germans and celebrations should be synonymous because they embrace any and every chance to get together and be merry. Did you know that the Christmas tree tradition has its roots in Germany? Neither did we! Let’s look at some popular gift item options for your German recipients:
Book and poetry collections: Germans are considered very artistic, literarily inclined, and creative, so offer your German recipient a well-themed book, a poetry collection, or a biography.
Christmas-themed gifts: Since Germans initiated the Christmas tree tradition, festive season festivities are an important aspect of holiday life in Germany, so beautiful tree ornaments, customized Christmas-themed sweaters, cups, and other items are an absolute win.
Beer packages: Ever heard of the popular event, Oktoberfest? It’s an international beer-centered festival that celebrates the German beer brewing culture, music, and everything in between. So, surprising your German-based recipients with our European Beer Assortment will guarantee smiles and cheers all around.
Gourmet gift baskets: Germans love delicious and traditional snacks as much as they love their beer, so offering an all-inclusive gourmet snack, or chocolate gift basket is a home run.
Football merchandise: The sport is big and widely celebrated in Germany, so getting your recipient their favorite team’s customized jersey is a great idea.
There are so many other popular gifts your German prospects, clients, staff, and associates will love, so use your imagination and remember to align your gift item choices with your recipients’ interests.
Fun Facts About Germany and Its People
- Beer is considered a staple food in Bavaria, Germany.
- Germany is home to more castles than any country in the world.
- The Hamburger was named after the German city, Hamburg.
- Germans would appreciate an actual piece of the Berlin wall as a gift.
- Oktoberfest, the biggest beer festival in the world takes place in Germany.
- German is the third most widely taught language in the world.
- Gummy bears are a German invention.
- Germany was the first to do daylight saving.
- A third of Germany is covered in forests.
Gifting Dos and Don’ts
While traditional and a tad reserved, Germans are a generally pleasant bunch with a creative outlook and eagerness to explore outside their backyard, so there aren’t too many rules to follow when gifting, both in business and personally. However, there are a few things to consider when initiating your corporate gifting campaigns to ensure success. Let’s look at a few:
DO practice formality when choosing gift items. Germans respect rules and boundaries. Keep your gifts professional and well-meaning, never too personal or suggestive.
DO offer experiential gifts. Germans love exploring the outdoors.
DO offer beer varieties as gifts. Most Germans love their beer.
DO NOT offer gifts that are too pricey, personal, or suggestive. Gifts create a sense of obligation, so make sure your recipient can reciprocate without breaking the bank.
DO NOT offer gifts with religious or political connotations. Be as neutral as possible in your gift choices.
DO NOT offer gifts that are too generic, it may be seen as not having put enough thought behind them.
Make Use of German Public Holidays for Tactical Gifting
- 1 January: New Year’s Day (Neujahrstag)
- 15 April: Good Friday (Karfreitag)
- 18 April: Easter Monday (Ostermontag)
- 1 May: Labor Day (Maifeiertag)
- 26 May: Ascension Day (Christi Himmelfahrt, 40 days after Easter)
- 6 June: White Monday (Pfingstmontag) – the seventh Monday after Easter, also called Pentecost Monday
- 3 October: Day of German Unity (Tag der Deutschen Einheit)
- 31 October: Reformation Day (Reformationstag) – generally a regional holiday in Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and parts of Thuringia.
- 25 December: Christmas Day (Weihnachtstag)
- 26 December: Saint Stephen’s Day (Stephanstag) – also known as the second day of Christmas
- 31 December: New Year’s Eve
Why Use a Corporate Gifting Platform To Send Gifts to Germany?
When launching your campaigns to Germany through the Giftsenda corporate gifting platform, guesswork is eliminated from the process, and you can be sure that culturally inappropriate gifts will not make it into your cart. This is because:
- The Giftsenda team has 20 years of international gift delivery experience and a deep understanding of the gifting cultures, norms, and traditions of every region we service.
- Gift items are sourced locally in Germany. This way, items align with cultural preferences and adhere to general gifting etiquette rules.
- With our automated gifting tools, recipients have the option to choose from a variety of gift items available in our Gift Catalog, and this eliminates chances of inappropriate or offensive gift item selections.
Ready to get started with corporate gifting campaigns to Germany or on a global scale? Book a 30-minute demo with one of our Gift Campaign Managers to see how our gifting platform works.
