Industry Outlook for 2019
Merchandise, Gift Card, and Event Gifting
November 2018
Survey Overview @ The Incentive Research Foundation (IRF) sponsors regular trends surveys covering topics of current interest to those in the incentive industry. Incentive providers, suppliers to the industry, and corporate incentive merchandise and travel buyers. This report summarizes findings from data collected August 2018 through October 2018.
Industry professionals invited to participate in survey by: • • • •
IRF List IESP/IMA List Maui Jim Independent Research Panel
498 participated
53%
Corporate (e.g., Buyer, Planner, Sales, HR)
10%
Supplier (e.g. Hotel, Airline, DMC, Merch)
37%
Third Party (e.g., Incentive Company, Travel Agency, Consultant)
2
Methodology Considerations Audience
Weighting
The current IRF Outlook survey was distributed to several industry databases, including those of the IRF, the IMA, and Maui Jim. Additionally an independent research panel was utilized for additional respondents. Results predominantly represent the outlook of industry professionals for the U.S. market
No weighting is done on the data to control for variances in response counts across the three stakeholder groups – Corporate, Supplier, and Third-Party. Totals reported are simple totals across all survey respondents.
theIRF.org
3
Non-cash Reward & Recognition: Merchandise/Gift Cards
theIRF.org
4
Considerations for Non-Cash Program Design Internal factors, such as financial forecast and opinions held by indirect stakeholders, are much stronger considerations for program managers than external factors, such as public perception and competitive activity. 84%
93%
86% 75%
75%
73%
63% 47%
77% 61%
81%
64%
52%
64%
45%
40% 31%
69%
85% 74% 64%
49%
64%
39%
43%
61%
42%
41%
68% 55% 44% 44%
74%
75%
62%
56%
48%
85%
89%
84% 70%
59%
45%
51%
49% 40%
87%
83%
18%
38% 26%
52% 29% 24%
9%
57% 35% 24%
68% 34% 34%
54%
55%
41%
43% 32%
20%
Sep-08 Oct-08 Mar-09 Jul-09 Nov-09 May-10 Oct-10 May-11 Oct-11 Mar-12 Sep-12 Apr-13 Nov-13 May-14 Aug-14 Aug-15 Oct-16 My company's financial forecast influences the design and implementation of incentive programs Our competitors' programs directly impact the design of our incentive program(s). Perception of the public significantly influences the design of our incentive program(s). * Perception of internal (non-incentive) stakeholders significantly influences the design of our incentive program(s). Please indicate the level of your agreement or disagreement with the following statements as they relate to your most recent incentive program. Base: Corporate respondents
Jul-17
Oct-18
Net Optimism – Impact of Economy on Programs 42% 43%
43%
36%
Fall 2018 Optimism Index
43%
40% 36%
35%
28% 19%
21%
22%
Percentage Points from Summer 2017
22% 17%
14%
1%
Net Optimism
In the coming year, what impact will the factors below have on your/your clients’ non-cash reward and recognition program planning and execution: The economy
6
Sep-18
Mar-18
Sep-17
Mar-17
Sep-16
Mar-16
Sep-15
Mar-15
Sep-14
Mar-14
Sep-13
Mar-13
Sep-12
Mar-12
Sep-11
Mar-11
Sep-10
Mar-10
Sep-09
Incentive merchandise and gift card programs are expected to continue enjoying positive benefits from the economy, as the degree of optimism increased considerably over the past year.
-8%
Net Optimism by Audience Total
Corporate
Supplier
Third Party
47% 43% 38%
37%
Corporate optimism regarding the impact of the economy on incentives programs overtakes that of suppliers and third-party providers in 2018, but there is a consistent positive outlook among all industry audiences.
25%
13%
Suppliers and third-party providers anticipate that the regulatory environment will have a negative impact on the incentives industry, while corporate respondents are more optimistic.
-3% -12% ECONOMY
REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT
7 In the coming year, what impact will the factors below have on your/your clients’ non-cash reward and recognition program planning and execution?
Net Optimism Compared to Prior Year by Audience Economy Fall 2018
Summer 2017
47%
43%
22%
Fall 2016
38%
35%
37% 34%
20%
14%
13%
0%
The incentive merchandise/gift card industry is notably concerned about the regulatory environment. All segments expect negative impacts to their incentive merchandise programs. All segments have a more optimistic outlook regarding the economy and the regulatory environment compared to last year.
-21%
Regulatory Environment
25%
13%
-21%-18% TOTAL
-7% -30% CORPORATE
-12%
-3% -18%
-24%
-25%
SUPPLIER
In the coming year, what impact will the factors below have on your/your clients’ incentive merchandise and gift card programs?
-19%
THIRD PARTY
8
Average Per-Person Spend – Non-cash Reward & Recognition Programs $1-$50
The average per-person spend for Fall 2018 is $824, a considerable increase from prior years. This is largely explained by the increase in respondents spending over $5,000. A large proportion of respondents are spending $250 or less – nearly 60% in 2018.
8%
$51-$100
$101-$200
$201-250
$251-$500
$501-$1,000
$1,001-$5,000
Over $5,000
$1-$250 = 57%
42%
53%
Average = $824
$522
$563
23%
20% 17% 15% 12% 12% 6%
FALL 2018
13%
10% 2%
25%
24% 16%17%
4%
13%
11%
3%
0%
SUMMER 2017
10% 1%
FALL 2016
9 What is the average per-person rewards spend for your/your clients’ non-cash reward and recognition programs?
19% 17%
Merchandise Prevalence by Audience 77% 75% 80%
Logo'd brand-name merchandise Electronics Clothing/Apparel
59%
Sunglasses
Logo’d brand-name merchandise and electronics are the most common rewards with corporate respondents, while sunglasses and electronics are the most popular among third-party providers.
66%
63%
46%
Sporting/Golf Items
48%
57%
88%
77% 89%
70%
52% 52% 52%
Food gifts (e.g. fruit baskets, Omaha Steaks -… Watches/Jewelry
49%
36%
Plaques/Trophies
47% 45% 50%
Office accessories
46% 43% 51%
Luggage
41%
21%
Local handmade goods or crafts
32%
Housewares
15%
39%
28%
7% 4%
11%
10
What types of merchandise and gift cards are used within your/your clients’ reward and recognition program(s)? Check all that apply.
69%
70% 48% 48%
16% 13% 20%
Flowers Other (please describe)
73%
63%
Total
Corporate Third Party
Average Value of Merchandise Reward $1-$100 = 51%
The most common dollar value of a merchandise reward is $100 – half of respondents indicate the typical reward is $100 or less. Due to some respondents who spend more, the average is somewhat higher - $160.
Average = $160 24% 18%
16% 11%
6% 1%
1%
$10
$15
$25
9% 4%
$50
$100
What is the dollar value of the typical merchandise reward used in your/your clients’ programs?
$150
$200
$250
$300
1%
2%
$350
$400
4% $500
2% More than $500 (please indicate average value)
Usage by Gift Card Type Consistent with other industry studies, this year’s Outlook survey finds high utilization of both open and brand-specific cards, while restricted-use cards and gift card vouchers continue to gain wider acceptance.
OPEN LOOP
BRAND-SPECIFIC
RESTRICTED USE
VOUCHER
76%
73%
30%
24%
See notes for detailed descriptions used in survey.
Brand-Specific Merchant Types Coffee
74%
Dining
60% 57%
Exclusively-Online Retailers General "Big Box" Stores
47% 43% 41% 41% 40% 40%
Electronics Music/Movies
Gift cards for use at coffee houses dominate the branded card landscape, followed by dining and online retailer gift cards.
Department Stores Home Improvement Sporting Goods Sunglasses
36% 34% 33% 32% 30% 29% 26%
Gas Clothing/ Apparel
Travel Beauty Bookstores Accessories & Jewelry Grocery
20%
Drugstore Other
16% 5%
Which of the options below best describes the types of merchants selected when your company buys BRANDED gift cards for your non-cash rewards programs?
Average Gift Card Denomination $1-$100 = 79% Average = $100
The most common denominations for gift card rewards are $25, $50, and $100 – three quarters of respondents are using one of those values most commonly. Due to the impact of some respondents who utilize high-value denominations, the average gift card value is $100.
26%
28%
22%
5% 2%
2%
$10
$15
What is the average gift card denomination/value used in your/your client programs?
$25
$50
$100
$150
6%
$200
3%
$250
1%
0%
$350
$400
3%
$500
1% More than $500
Local Retail Sourcing for Gift Cards Purchasing at Retail Corporate respondents were asked if people in their organization are visiting local retailers to purchase gift cards for use as employee reward and recognition. More than two-thirds indicate this is occurring in their organization.
69%
Does anyone in your organization ever purchase directly from local retailers (such as Target, Walmart, Walgreens, CVS, or a supermarket) gift cards for the purpose of giving to employees as non-cash rewards?
Non-cash Program Design Goal-based Rewards
82% A majority of corporate respondents use goals or objectives to determine non-cash reward earnings. Do you typically use achievement of specific goals/objectives to determine reward payouts? Do you typically use rewards points as the means of issuing, tracking, and redeeming for rewards?
Reward Points
40% Forty percent of corporate respondents are using points systems as the mechanism for issuing rewards.
16
Outlook for Rewards Budgets – Net Increase Total
Corporate
42%
There is agreement and strong optimism regarding the fate of non-cash reward and recognition budgets in 2019. Net increases are expected by all segments across all spending categories, with corporate respondents some of the most positive. There is also a shared expectation that the number of participants earning rewards will increase.
Supplier
41% 40%
38% 34% 27%
38%
33% 30%
29%
27% 22%
30%
Third Party 40% 31% 30%
40% 38% 37% 35%
29% 24%
22% 21%
17%
17%
17% 9%
Overall budgets for reward and recognition programs
Merchandise spend
Gift Card Spend
Budget for Communications Administration Number of program budget budget participants technology (e.g. earning a reward platform, mobile apps, etc.)
17 In the coming year, do your/your clients generally anticipate the following program elements will increase, decrease, or remain unchanged?
Outlook for Rewards Partners – Net Increase Total
Corporate
Supplier
Third Party
60%
There is an expectation across all audiences, especially so for suppliers, that the involvement of procurement or purchasing will increase in 2019. Corporate stakeholders have a more moderate expectation regarding increased involvement and fees from third party providers.
28%
11%
Third-party planner/ incentive company involvement
25%
25%
9%
Third-party planner/ incentive company fees
Involvement of procurement/purchasing
18 In the coming year, do your/your clients generally anticipate the following program elements will increase, decrease, or remain unchanged?
Net Increase in Use of Rewards by Audience Total
Corporate
Supplier
Third-Party
43% 38%
38%
34%
33%
Expectations for increased use of noncash rewards are strong across all reward types. Corporate audiences have the highest expectations for increased use of gift cards, while suppliers and third-party providers also expect experiential reward use to increase considerably.
30%
30%
28%
28%
24% 20%
Gift Cards
20%
Merchandise
Experiential rewards (spa, event tickets, etc.)
19 In the coming year, do you generally anticipate your/your clients’ use of the following reward types will increase, decrease, or remain unchanged?
MERCH
Programs Include Non-U.S. Participants One half of the incentives industry includes international participants in the non-cash rewards programs they operate. On the corporate side, a little more than one third have an international audience. Canada, Europe, and Mexico are the most common regions, with Asia, Australia/New Zealand, and South America also prevalent. All regions are at least somewhat represented in the industry.
Canada
69%
Europe
Total
51%
56%
Mexico
46%
Asia
Corporate
35%
Australia or New Zealand
IF YES, WHERE? Supplier
39%
79%
32%
South America
30%
Caribbean
24%
Central America
Third Party
71%
Do your/your clients’ reward and recognition programs include participants outside of the U.S.? Please indicate which geographic regions your/your clients’ non-U.S. participants are in. Check all that apply.
Middle East
Africa
21% 18% 12%
20
Use of Partners (Direct Working Relationship)
42%
Corporate buyers are often working directly with brands for either merchandise or gift cards. Incentive houses and gift card resellers each represent about a quarter of corporate buyers.
37%
24%
23%
Incentive house, marketing agency, consulting firm For your non-cash reward and recognition programs, do you work directly with… Base: Corporate buyers
Merchandise brand (e.g. Gift card brand Gift card reseller (sells TUMI, Maui Jim, Bose, etc.) (e.g.Starbucks, Bed Bath & multiple brands of cards) Beyond, Home Depot) 21
General Program Outlook
theIRF.org
22
Program Enhancements 41%
RECOGNITION PLATFORM SOCIAL RECOGNITION
About 4 in 10 corporate buyers are using a recognition platform as part of their non-cash program, and a little more than a quarter are using a mobile app to support that program. Suppliers and third parties, working across a broad client base, are more likely to see programs that are using these enhancements.
31% 28%
MOBILE APP
CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY COMPONENTS INTEGRATION WITH SALES MANAGEMENT TOOLS (SALESFORCE.COM, ETC.) GAMING OR GAMIFICATION TECHNIQUES INTEGRATION WITH HCM PLATFORM (SUCCESSFACTORS, WORKDAY, ETC.) DON'T KNOW/DOESN'T APPLY ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
Are you/your clients using any of the following as part of your non-cash reward and recognition programs(s)? Check all that apply.
45% 43% 41%
37% 34% 31% 42% 32% 33% 19% 35% 30% 28% 35% 32% 24% 14% 35% 37% 13% 13% 15% 14% 10% 8% 23% 11% 8% 6% 15% 8%
SOCIAL MEDIA TO COMMUNICATE PROGRAM BEFORE/DURING/AFTER
23
49% 54%
60%
51% 50%
59%
Total Corporate Supplier Third Party
Typical Length of Program 33%
The most common length of an incentive travel or merchandise program is 12 months. Other prevalent lengths are 3- and 6-months, as well as perpetual programs.
17%
3%
3%
Less than 1 month
1 month
14%
8%
6%
2 months
What is the typical program length for your/your clients’ non-cash reward and recognition program(s)?
13% 2%
3 months
theIRF.org
6 months
9 months
1% 12 months
24
18 months
Ongoing
Don't know/doesn't apply
Reporting & Analysis - Types 67% 59%
One half of corporate respondents indicate they do not do any reporting or analysis for their non-cash program. Thirdparty providers are commonly reviewing earning and redemption reports, participation reports, and behavior-change analysis.
27%
54%
53%
26%
25%
24%
5% We look at We look at participation reports earning/redemption to understand who is reports to see how using the program participants are earning rewards and what they are redeeming for
We conduct analysis to look at how the program(s) are changing behaviors
Corporate
Thinking about reporting and analysis for [Field-whose] programs, which of the following are used: (Select all that apply.)
Third Party
4%
Something else
We don't use reporting and/or analysis for our program
Reporting & Analysis - Usage 81% 69%
63% 45%
When analysis is done, it is mostcommonly used to make adjustments to program design and to determine future program investments.
22%
27% 8%
1%
We use program We use program It's generally an "fyi" - We don't use analysis results/analysis to results/analysis to interesting to discuss of program results make adjustments to determine but may not drive program design investments for the changes in design or next program period investments Corporate
How is the analysis of program results typically used? (Select all that apply.)
Third Party
1%
1%
Other
Program Metrics - Activity
Third-party providers most commonly use participation to demonstrate program success, and are also likely to point to executive satisfaction, rewards earned, and participant energy as success factors. Corporate managers are most likely to be assessing participation and number of recognitions given.
High level of participation by target audience
57%
Number of recognitions given
57% 57%
Executive team is pleased
47%
Number of rewards earned
47%
74% 66%
42% 42%
High level of sponsorship by managers 32%
Number of e-cards sent 22%
Number of hits on program website Other
71%
45%
General "buzz" among program participants
87%
3%
41% 54%
Corporate Third Party
8%
Below are some activity metrics which might be measured by a program owner. Which of the below is information that you have used to assess your program's success? Select all that apply.
Program Metrics - Outcomes
For corporate audiences, customer satisfaction and employee engagement survey results are the most prevalent outcomes assessed, while thirdparty providers also look to overall sales lift/growth as an indicator.
Customer satisfaction
59%
Employee engagement/satisfaction results (from survey)
58%
Employee retention
50%
Overall sales lift/growth
50%
Overall product sales growth
49%
Revenue improvement
49% 33%
Survey specifically measuring satisfaction with program Market share
21%
Customer acquisition rates
20% 14%
Number of safety incidents Other
69% 76%
57% 74% 67% 60% 63%
33% 41%
20%
2% 3%
Below are some outcomes which might be measured by a program owner. Which of the below is information that you have used to assess your program's success? Select all that apply.
Corporate Third Party
Activity Metrics – Leading Indicators Increase in sales productivity (number of sales calls, new leads, etc.)
75%
Increase in CSR productivity (calls resolved, calls per hour, average call time, etc.)
41%
Sales productivity is used by a majority of respondents, both corporate and third party, to establish the impact of a program.
54%
23%
Training test/quiz scores
Corporate Third Party
26% 26%
Presentee/absentee rates
Other
49%
32%
Training participation
93%
46%
3% 1%
Below are some leading indicators which might be measured by a program owner. Which of the below is information that you have used to assess your program's success? Select all that apply.
Cancelled a Program Past 12 Mos. 6%
13%
Most corporate respondents have not cancelled a program in the past year. Nearly one-third of supplier and a quarter of thirdparty providers have had a client cancel a program in that time period.
23%
46%
81%
69%
31% 18%
Total
53%
25%
13%
Corporate Yes
In the past year, have you/your clients discontinued any merchandise/gift card program(s)?
22%
No
Supplier Don't know/doesn't apply
30
Third Party
Top Reason Program Discontinued LOST EXECUTIVE SUPPORT
Programs are canceled for a variety of reasons. On the corporate side, respondents point to a lack of results, along with participant feedback and lost executive support. Third-party providers feel that lack of executive support and budget are the key factors in programs discontinuing. *Supplier sample size too small to report on.
NO BUDGET
LACK OF RESULTS PROGRAM-SPECIFIC PARTICIPANT FEEDBACK (SURVEYS, FOCUS GROUPS, ETC.) COMPLIANCE/HR/LEGAL CONCERNS DON'T KNOW/ DOESN'T APPLY Total
What is the top reason for discontinuing the program?
33% 15%
13%
22%
11% 11%
7%
11%
22%
3% 6%
0%
15%
5% 4%
7% 2%
Corporate
37% 25%
11%
OTHER PROGRAM ACHIEVED OBJECTIVES AND IS NO LONGER NEEDED
26%
15%
Third Party
31
GENERAL
Overall Outlook MY COMPANY WILL HAVE STRONG FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE NEXT YEAR.
Industry stakeholders have very strong expectations for the financial performance of their own organizations in the coming year. The outlook for the U.S. economy is also strong. The regulatory environment makes it challenging to be knowledgeable about requirements that impact their incentives programs.
84% 83% 88%
31% 70% 71% 67% 71%
U.S. ECONOMIC OUTLOOK IS STRONG.
56% 53% 63% 59%
IT IS DIFFICULT TO STAY INFORMED ABOUT ALL OF THE FEDERAL, STATE, AND INDUSTRY REGULATIONS THAT IMPACT OUR PROGRAMS.
45% 47%
THE REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO QUICKLY LAUNCH OR MAKE CHANGES TO PROGRAMS.
39% 50% 47%
GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS ARE MAKING IT MORE DIFFICULT TO DESIGN REWARD AND RECOGNITION PROGRAMS. Total Looking ahead to the next year, to what extent do you agree with the statements below?
Corporate
50% Supplier
Third Party 32
58%
71%
Event Gifting
theIRF.org
33
Event Gifting – Meeting Types 60%
Incentive trips
46%
Internal meetings
35% 38% 34% 41%
Senior leadership/board meetings
Advisory boards
28% 25% 30% 19% 20% 14%
For what types of meetings and events are you/your clients using attendee gifts? Select all that apply.
86% 87%
51% 47% 53%
Conferences and tradeshows
Product launches
80%
56% 52% 59%
Customer events
While suppliers see event gifting across a broad range of meeting types, corporate audiences are most likely to be using gifts for incentive trips, internal meetings, and customer events.
70%
80%
52% 53%
67% Total
40%
Corporate Supplier
40%
Third Party
Event Gifting – Gift Types 71% 66% 67%
Nationally-recognized branded merchandise (e.g. Movado, TUMI)
Branded merchandise with national recognition is the most common gift used by corporate audiences, followed by locallycrafted foods. Thirdparty providers and suppliers are most likely to be including custom-fitted gifts in their client events.
Items custom-made or fitted on-site (e.g., Maui Jim sunglasses, custom-fitted jeans, shoes, gloves, hats, photos etc.)
Locally-relevant goods and crafts (e.g., scarves or jewelry made by local crafters)
Which of the below do you/your clients use as part of your/your clients’ meeting/event gifting? Select all that apply.
59%
47%
67%
56% 60%
Food and beverage crafted locally (e.g., wines, honey, spices, coffee)
47% 52%
33%
80%
80%
Total Corporate
Supplier
49% 43%
Third Party 63%
Event Gifting – Gift Types Total Corporate
Sixty percent of corporate buyers say the cost of gifts is offset by sponsors, most usually through sponsorship fees, although about a quarter receive merchandise donations or discounts.
Supplier
58% 53% 45% 41%
Third Party 42% 37% 35% 30%
26%27%
25%
8%
26% 24%
20% 8% 1% 1% 0% 0%
No
Do sponsors cover some of the cost of your/your clients’ event gifts?
Yes, through sponsorship fees
Yes, through Yes, through discounts merchandise donations
Yes - other
Event Gifting – Gift Sources There is a high incidence of corporate buyers using retailers to source their event gifts, although corporate sales teams are used by about half of respondents. *Lists used to source survey responses likely skews these findings.
National retailer (e.g., go to local Target)
54%
Corporate sales (such as Bose, TUMI, Maui Jim)
51%
Online retailer (e.g. Amazon, Overstock)
51%
Incentive merchandise rep
40%
Merchant or crafter local to the event
37%
Event sponsor
25%
Meetings/events services partner
23%
Destination management company
22%
Incentive house partner Other
From which of the sources below do you purchase event gifts?
14% 3%
Corporate
Event Gift Distribution Total
80% 71%72% 68% 65%
Event gifts are most commonly distributed at the registration desk. About a third of corporate audiences have incorporated a gifting “marketplace” experience into their event.
Corporate 64%
64%
55%
Supplier
64% 59% 52% 47%
57%57%
Third Party
43% 35%
4% 3% We place gifts in We place "room Gifts are incorporated We have a "swag bags" that are gifts" in attendees' or into an activity "marketplace" where distributed at the speakers' hotel attendees can select registration desk rooms their preferred gifts
Which of the following describe(s) how you/your clients distribute event gifts?
7% 0%
Other
Average Per-Attendee Gifting Spend Median = $100
Attendee gift spend is most commonly around $100, but many respondents are spending $10 to $50 per attendee. A small proportion are making significant investments in attendee gifts – these are most likely for small events for key clients or highperforming salespeople.
Average = $210 32%
30%
22%
12%
3%
$10 - $50
$51 - $100
What is your approximate per-person spend for event gifts? - For attendees.
$101 - $250
$251 - $500
2%
$501 - $1,000 $1,001 or more
Average Per-Speaker Gifting Spend Median = $150 Average = $270
The median perspeaker spend is $150, although some are spending considerably more.
28%
29%
19%
17%
4%
$10 - $50
$51 - $100
What is your approximate per-person spend for event gifts? - For speakers.
$101 - $250
$251 - $500
2%
$501 - $1,000 $1,001 or more
Average Per-VIP Gifting Spend Median = $200 Average = $375 32%
VIP attendees command a higher spend rate than attendees – on average $375.
21%
21%
12% 8% 5%
$10 - $50
What is your approximate per-person spend for event gifts? – For VIPs.
$51 - $100
$101 - $250
$251 - $500
$501 - $1,000 $1,001 or more
Priorities When Selecting Event Gifts 45%
Budget
For corporate buyers, the top considerations when selecting event gifts are budget, attendee delight, and meaningful gifts. Suppliers and thirdparties emphasize budget and attendee delight considerably more than corporate buyers do.
40% 36%
Attendee delight
45%
Meaningful
23%
60%
50%
29% 32% 29%
25% 24% 29% 27%
Memorability
Direction given by leadership
13%
On-topic for event
Sponsored gift
50% 50%
10% 0%
19% 22% 21%
19% 19% 14% 21%
Total
14%
Third Party
3%
What are your/your clients' priorities when selecting event gifts? Percent of respondents placing priority in top 2 most important.
Corporate Supplier
Event Gifting Budgets - Net Increasing for 2019 All segments anticipate event gifting budgets to increase in 2019, although suppliers and third-party providers have a more optimistic outlook than their clients.
TOTAL
CORPORATE
SUPPLIER
THIRD PARTY
38%
34%
54%
42%
Which of the below best describes your expectations for event gifting budgets for 2019?
Net Optimism by Audience Total
Corporate
Supplier
Third Party
50%
The overall outlook for the coming year is positive for professionals charged with event gifting. Corporate respondents have a net optimism of 39%, and suppliers are even more optimistic as a group.
36%
39% 31%
12%
The regulatory environment does create a cautious outlook for the marketplace, particularly among event gift suppliers.
7% 1%
-14% ECONOMY
REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT
44 In the coming year, what impact will the factors below have on your/your clients’ event gifting?
Thank you to the following organizations for their support of this research: • Incentive & Engagement Solution Partners (Incentive Marketing Association SIG) – Research Advocacy Partner & survey distribution • Maui Jim – survey distribution
