Two weeks until Halloween so it must be time to shop for the holidays. I was in Drug Mart today picking up a few things and the workers were busy putting Christmas decorations on the shelves. I haven't finished sewing my daughter's Halloween costume yet!

And then I came home and my son is selling fruit and candy as a fund raiser for the music department. So I started thinking about holiday gifts for my customers. Was there something in the fund raiser flyer that would make a good gift for my customers?

It reminded me that one thing I don't miss about working in a corporate headquarters is the constant need to collect money for someone's birthday or baby or wedding or retirement or other special event. I love the idea of recognizing special moments but was never a big fan of the need to give $5 or $10 every time I turned around for another gift.

Are business gifts even appropriate?

Whether for a customer or employee or boss - what is the answer?

I found this article on Giving Gifts at Work, What's Right and What's Wrong which offers good advice on what is appropriate and what isn't, but it doesn't answer the bigger question: Do we really need to give gifts at all?

I know that when the envelope was passed I felt obligated to give, no matter what my relationship was with the intended receiver, because I was afraid that if I didn't they might feel that I "meant something" by not participating. I didn't want to hurt their feelings.

Now as a business owner I want to say thank you to my customers but I wonder if sending fruit or candy or flowers is really the right way to go.

So I open it up to you: two questions: do you give customer's gifts as a way of saying thank you?

And what do you think about gift giving in the corporate office?

Deborah Chaddock Brown
Writer