Poland: Gift Giving

From ExecutivePlanet.com

Selecting and presenting an appropriate business gift

According to Polish business etiquette, gifts are given at the beginning of a relationship, especially when contacts are made for the first time, and at the end of a collaboration. In the first case, you should handle gift giving with care if you do not want to be misunderstood.

If someone invites you for dinner or supper at a home, you should be aware that small gifts such as a bottle of wine or a bouquet of flowers for the hostess are expected. Do not forget to send a hand-written card to your host/hostess thanking them for their invitation and time.

The best gifts are always items which are typical of your culture. If you are from Switzerland, you could buy some carefully chosen chocolate or a fine Swiss wine. Another good present is, for instance, a book describing your country or the region you are from.

Remember, if you cannot find any appropriate product which is representative of your country, you can always give a book (a bestseller, written in English rather than something from the belles-lettres shelf), CD's, DVD's or exclusive writing accessories. These will always be welcome gifts.

Do not give an extremely expensive gift. It is safe to spend not more than about 200 EUROS.

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