The Case for Corporate Gifts That Get Used

Corporate gifts are universally terrible. Branded stress balls, acrylic tombstones, and logo'd fleece vests usually go straight from the presentation box to the nearest Goodwill donation bin. Yet, year after year, companies continue to order them, hoping this time will be different. It never is.

Private Equity deal toys are perhaps the worst offenders in this category. They cost upwards of $200 per set, take 4 to 6 weeks to produce, and ultimately end up pushed to the back of a shelf behind a monitor. They are expensive paperweights that fail to capture the energy and effort of the deal itself.

There is a better way. We make the case for functional closing gifts—things people actually want to wear, carry, and use daily. A gift should be a proud reminder of a successful transaction, seamlessly integrating into an operator's weekend wardrobe or daily commute.

Enter the Sponsor Backed Closing Crate: the definitive solution to the deal toy dilemma. It features a custom washed chino cap, a monogrammed 16 oz heavy duck canvas boat tote, and a full-grain Chicago Horween leather key fob. It's everything a deal team wants and nothing they don't.

The economics make sense, too. Thanks to IRC § 263(a) treatment, these functional items are capitalized as transaction closing expenses. At $145 to $185 per set compared to the $200+ for an acrylic block, it's a superior product at a better price, with a 7-day turnaround instead of 4 to 6 weeks.

If your next closing date is on the calendar, so is ours. Stop giving your deal team plastic shapes and start giving them something they'll carry to the golf course.