Mar 6, 2025
In the competitive world of B2B sales, while cold emails can generate decent open rates, replies often remain disappointingly low. Breaking through crowded inboxes to land valuable meetings may be simpler than you expect—and it might just cost you $20.
The Oracle Rep's Breakthrough Moment
Zach Wright, cofounder of Syft AI, shared how Alex, an Oracle sales rep, spent months trying to connect with a key CIO through traditional emails and calls without success.
He discovered the target CIO had appeared on a podcast
He listened to the entire episode, searching for personal insights
He noticed the CIO mentioned being a fan of Edgar Allan Poe
Alex sent an Edgar Allan Poe-themed mug with his business card and a handwritten note
This small, thoughtful gesture finally opened the door that countless cold emails couldn't.
"It was an account that he had been trying to break into forever, but he got creative and got his attention." — Zach Wright, Syft AI
Why Gifting Transforms Cold Outreach
Personal Touch: A well-chosen gift feels genuine compared to mass emails
Unexpected Moment: A physical item stands out when prospects are accustomed to ignoring sales messages
Emotional Connection: Thoughtful gestures spark trust and curiosity
Pattern Interrupt: As Wright notes, "It's a pattern interrupt and that's how you create a relationship"
How to Add Gifting to Your Sales Strategy
Do Meaningful Research
Go beyond LinkedIn—listen to podcasts, read interviews, check social profiles
Match the Gift to Prospect Value
Tier 1 (High value): Premium items ($100-300)
Tier 2 (Mid value): Thoughtful gifts ($50-150)
Tier 3 (General leads): Simple tokens ($15-40)
Send Gifts at Key Moments
Practice progressive gifting throughout the relationship
From first outreach to post-meeting follow-up
The Psychology Behind a Thoughtful Gift
"It doesn't have to be expensive, but it's thoughtful," explains Wright. When you send a gift based on genuine interests, you demonstrate investment in understanding who the prospect is. This stands out among generic messages and positions you as a potential partner rather than just another salesperson.
RevSend: Making Gifting Scalable
Wonder how to manage personalized gifts at scale? RevSend connects with over 10,000 apps through Zapier and Make.com. Whether you use Salesforce, HubSpot, Outreach, or Salesloft, you can trigger gifts when updating CRM records or scheduling meetings, then track deliveries and follow-ups in one place.
Find your own "Edgar Allan Poe" moment. Book a demo today