Gifts cement port's relationships

KELLY KEARSLEY; The News Tribune
Last updated: October 18th, 2005 05:51 AM (PDT)

The Port of Tacoma's community relations manager Evette Mason hugged a large raku vase, wrapped in red cloth. She made her way to the stage as the chairman of Yang Ming shipping line finished his speech during Monday's grand opening of the port's Olympic Container Terminal.

It was time for presents.

Gift-giving ceremonies have punctuated each of the three terminal grand openings at the port this year. To some, the presents might seem like the last hurdle between the ceremony and the much-anticipated catered lunch. But to port officials, the gifts are a chance to honor the cultural traditions of their customers and cement key business relationships.

“It may not seem critical when compared to multimillion deals, but it is a piece of the relationship,” said Mason, the port's unofficial gift finder. “You are trying to show your customer prosperity, caring and good will, and you want to give them something that has meaning.”

The gifts aren't your typical pens or coffee mugs emblazoned with a red, white and blue logo.

The port has spent a considerable amount of time and money from its budget – $11,800 for gifts given during the three grand openings this year – on these presents. For Yang Ming's gift, a rotating committee of port staff researched the meaning behind the company's colors, red and gray. They visited local art galleries and selected a dozen possibilities, including the vase Mason spotted while shopping at a Tacoma shop.

Mike Fowler, the director of a consulting company for U.S. companies doing business in Japan, said the effort is undoubtedly appreciated by the port's Asian counterparts. He and his wife also teach a Chinese language and business etiquette class through the World Trade Center Tacoma.

“The gift-giving takes on more importance (in Asian cultures) than it would in Western festivities,” Fowler said. “It's important and shouldn't be taken lightly, and certainly your Asian counterparts don't take it lightly.”

The tradition of gift-giving goes back thousands of years, when states on the border of China would bring gifts to the emperor.

Though sometimes difficult to find, the presents should represent something unique to the person receiving them and be symbolic, Fowler said.

For sister ports, cities and companies, the port has given totem poles, series of paintings, historical pictures and sculptures of blown glass in the company's colors.

For Yang Ming, the port chose a fire-red raku vase by Port Orchard artist Christopher Mathie, with a gray pedestal to be added later. The colors matched Yang Ming's hues.

The red stands for the company's philosophy of sincere service; the gray represents teamwork, innovation and honesty, according to the company's Web site.

W.H. Huang, chairman of the Yang Ming group, gave the audience a detailed explanation of the company's gift to the port, a stainless steel sculpture by artist Yo Yo Yang. The metal globe with two arcs on top represents harmony with Yang Ming and the uninterrupted operation of the company's ships around the world.

It will join dozens of gifts the port has received, from a metal sun dial-type sculpture that now decorates the Ruston Way waterfront to paintings, pottery and Chinese-style multicolored glass. At least 15 of the gifts are on a rotating display at the port's administration building, Mason said.

After 20 years of traveling to Asian countries, Port Commissioner Connie Bacon is used to the requisite gift exchanges.

On her last trip to China, she brought an extra bag filled with Starbucks coffee, Almond Roca and books about Tacoma. It's all part of doing business in a global marketplace.

“It's a courtesy to (bring) and be prepared to receive gifts,” she said. “It would be like going to India, and there's people sitting on the floor, eating with their hand – you wouldn't insist on having a table and eating with a fork. It's a respect for their culture.”

Kelly Kearsley: 253-597-8573

kelly.kearsley@thenewstribune.com

The Olympic Container Terminal

What: The Port of Tacoma celebrated a container terminal opening Monday, its third this year. The Husky Terminal for “K” Line ships and the Pierce County Terminal for Evergreen ships opened earlier.

Who: The Taiwanese Yang Ming shipping line will call at the new terminal. The shipping line, the port's first new customer in almost a decade, will send one ship a week to the port. Marine Terminals Corp. operates the terminal. Yang Ming chose the Tacoma port to avoid congestion in Southern California.

How much: The port spent $18.7 million to renovate the 54-acre terminal. The construction will be completed in November. Yang Ming has the option to expand the facility to 76 acres.

What's new: The renovated terminal includes updated truck gates, remodeled administration buildings and towers, and fresh asphalt across much of the facility.

What else: The terminal has four cranes, 300 plugs for refrigerated containers, one berth and on-dock rail access.

Originally published: October 18th, 2005 12:01 AM (PDT)