Businesses give gifts, including flowers, to major clients or when major deals are made. When a large tech company wins a case, they may send flowers or chocolates to a firm to thank them. Attorneys that refer clients to another colleague may receive a gift in return, such as breakfast or a bottle of wine.
There are a lot of times when flowers are given to show appreciation.
You're not under obligation to give a gift, but in business, it can make you stand out from the crowd. We've seen businesses send flowers to Rome Italy after closing a deal. But any gift will work well.
There's a certain etiquette when sending flowers, and it's important to be aware of these unspoken rules.
When Flowers Are Not Appropriate?
Sending flowers needs to reflect a special occasion. If you send flowers, especially roses, to a business or colleague for no specific reason, it will have a romantic connotation, which can sour the relationship.
You do not want to send flowers for no reason to:
Clients
Colleagues
Bosses
A general rule of thumb is to only send flowers when the time is appropriate.
When You Can Confidently Send Flowers
You can confidently send flowers in a few occasions:
Retirement
Departure from a company
Birthday
Marriage
Child birth
Sympathy gifts
Promotion
Know the office etiquette on flower giving. Some offices will forbid the act due to harassment issues and rumors if the wrong flower type is sent. If a team has closed a big deal, you can send a group gift that is less awkward and less likely to start rumors.
If a business associate has opened a new office in Austria, sending flowers to Austria to the new office is acceptable.
You do have to be sensitive of other cultures. If an office is opened in Japan, the wrong flower or the wrong number of flowers may be seen as bad luck. Flowers have an intense meaning in Japan, so be very cautious of the types of flowers sent to overseas offices.
Pay Attention to Colors
Colors will be a major part of choosing the right flowers. If you choose the wrong colors, you may regret it in the end. Roses, for example, are not a good option to send to a boss or anyone in the office.
Red roses indicate love or romantic interest.
Pink roses should also be avoided. If a person is getting married, you can confidently send any rose color to congratulate them on the wedding.
Birthday colors are yellow or gold. Yellow flowers are almost always a good option because they convey the meaning of friendship and good health. Orange is another great choice and will convey a meaning of gratitude and enthusiasm.
If someone lost a loved one or has had a child, white flowers will do the trick.
Sympathy gifts can be a bouquet.
When sending flowers, make sure to include a card that will better convey your message. Cards can be used to cut through most of the confusion. If a person receives red roses because they're getting married, a card that says "Jen and Joe, I am so happy for your union..." will clear up any confusion as to why you sent flowers.
