Last year, I attempted to give my officemate a scented candle for Secret Santa. I knew she loved anything that smelled nice, so I picked out a lovely lavender-vanilla one from the store. When she opened it at the party, her face fell. She politely said thanks, but I could tell she hated it. Later, I found out she was highly allergic to lavender! Major gift fail!
Picking out gifts for co-workers can be tricky – you may not know them well or know all their interests, allergies, or preferences. But having the right gift can help build positive connections. This guide will walk you through finding the perfect gift for everyone in your office, no matter your budget or how well you know them!
Understanding Your Co-Workers
First, think about your relationship with the recipient. Are they more of an acquaintance you see occasionally in meetings or breaks? Or have you bonded over years of working side-by-side?
For closer office friends, an inside joke or deeply personal gift may delight. But for co-workers you don’t know as well, keeping it friendly yet neutral is key. You probably don’t know about their cat allergy or secret dislike of chocolate.
In general, observing their work style and interests that come up in conversations can provide clues about a good gift. Let’s explore some different personalities and important milestones to match your gift-giving accordingly.
Artistic/Crafty Co-Workers
1) A set of fine artist markers or paintbrushes
A top-range artist’s markers or a quality paintbrush is what is needed to widen the possibilities of amazing illustrations.
Select the one that will provide a variety of colours ranging from dense primaries such as true red to combinations like cerulean blue so they can master a vast spectrum of shades and tones. Choose bristles composed of such natural materials as sable hair mixed with synthetic ones on a limited basis to achieve the finest textures.
2) DIY Craft kits
Quirky DIY craft kits offer stimulating new projects for crafty makers looking to expand their repertoire. A jewellery-making kit provides all the essential tools like pliers, wire cutters, jump rings, beads, and cords so creators can handcraft their necklaces, bracelets, or earrings.
3) A subscription box with monthly crafting projects
Consider gifting a subscription box that delivers monthly crafting projects tailored to their skill level and interests. From crochet to felting to embroidery, these crafty collections include designer recipes and pre-portioned high-quality materials needed for that month’s endeavour. Boxes often have creative themes like “knitting your sustainable sweaters” or “upcycling t-shirts into throw pillows” that educate artisans on new techniques.
Hardworking and Busy Colleagues
1) Laptop bags/backpacks
What about leather laptop cases featuring multiple pockets for stowing cables, a mouse, and pads while comfortably cushioning devices during transit? Select rich chestnut shades with buttery soft interiors or bold prints resembling vintage travel stamps from faraway lands.
2) Coffee mugs
Sturdy stainless steel reusable mugs hold caffeine fixes for long hours at the desk. Opt for built-in infusers to conveniently brew loose-leaf teas or boasted double insulation to keep beverages steaming for hours. Engrave uplifting mantras like “You Got This!” or cheeky jokes to keep spirits high on stressful days.
3) Planners and notebooks
Planners in cheerful shades provide much-needed organization with style. Choose weekly or monthly views depending on scheduling needs. Seek ones that offer both analogue pages for scribbling notes by hand coupled with digital integration, like syncing calendars across devices, setting reminder alerts, or embedding goals frameworks to satisfy Type A tendencies.
Food-Loving Co-Workers
1) Care packages stuffed with beloved regional treats
Those with Southern roots may enjoy pimento cheese spreads, salted pecan rolls, or fiery hot sauces. Midwestern transplants could delight in fluffy cornbread mixes, cherry chip cookies, or Chicago-style snack mixes encasing Chex in hometown flavours.
2) Restaurant gift cards
Restaurant delivery gift cards encourage sampling hip new dining spots close by without blowing the lunch budget for a month. Offer a spread spanning Thai, Greek, and Brazilian cuisines beyond the usual pizza joint delivery.
3) Monthly subscription box featuring exotic snacks
Broaden colleagues’ palates via crates of Portuguese almond cookies, Korean seaweed chips, Ghanaian cocoa bars, and other imports they’d likely never discover alone.
Travel and Adventure Junkies
1) Luggage tags or passport holders
Monogrammed luggage tags neatly identify bags on convoluted baggage claims. Craft sturdy leather tags embossed with initials or even better – laminated vintage postcard prints from favourite destinations like Parisian cafes, Japanese zen gardens, or Mexican tropical beaches to fuel future trips.
2) E-readers loaded with bestselling novels
E-readers conveniently stash whole libraries for perusing on the go. Load the device with inspiring travel memoirs like Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert or genre-specific guides like World Food By Mary Ellen Snodgrass to enrich overseas explorations. Include portable e-reader cases boasting integrated lights for reading anytime, anywhere.
3) Polaroid cameras
Polaroid cameras revert to nostalgic days that capture vacation memories as they happen, enabling one to collect beautiful moments instantly beyond smartphone snapshots. Modern Polaroid variants like Instax Mini by Fujifilm print sticky-backed squares ideal for scrapbooking while retaining backup digital files through SD cards.
Bookworms and Bibliophiles
1) Beautiful bookends
Ornate hand-carved bookends, like bronze bird silhouettes or flowering vine filigrees, keep prized titles upright in style. For the organization-minded, opt for stackable bookends, allowing sorting volumes by colour or subject.
2) Kindle or Audible subscriptions
Kindle and Audible subscriptions grant unlimited access to extensive online libraries for perusing anywhere via app-connected devices. Complimentary titles span genres, including self-help essays, enriching biographies of historical figures, and relaxing fictional beach reads.
Coffee and Tea Connoisseurs
1) Coffee club subscriptions
Monthly coffee club subscriptions deliver monthly sample artisan roasts from around the world, like Ethiopian Yirgacheffe or Colombian Supremo beans, keeping cupboards freshly stocked with artisan grounds.
2) Mugs and thermoses
Whimsical mugs boasting splash guards, comfortable handles, and tapered rims in your colleague’s favourite colours or patterns enable sipping steaming beverages without spilling a drop. Pick ombré tones fading from white to slate to resemble subtle storm cloud formations.
3) Gift cards for local cafes
Gift cards for neighbourhood cafes encourage trying seasonal signature drinks like honey citrus peppermint teas or eggnog lattes topped with whipped cream and cinnamon without breaking budgets.
Pet Lovers
1) Custom pet portraits
Custom pet portraits immortalize furry best friends stretched on sunny windowsills or playing fetch through waist-high grass using artist-quality oil paints on canvas.
2) Cozy pet beds
Plush orthopaedic pet beds provide ergonomic alignment for ageing joints during cat naps and doggie dreams. Select easily cleanable covers like faux sheepskin and high-density egg crate foam cores, offering breathability.
3) Healthy treat sampler packs
Perfect for their four-legged bestie, gourmet pet treat sampler packs like chicken jerky offer nutritious variety for pleasing picky palates. Seek USDA-approved ingredients free of artificial preservatives.
New Parents
1) Monthly milestone baby blanket
Monthly milestone blankets commemorate developmental stages in plush fabrics like minky dotted with fancy prints like woodland creatures or hot air balloons.
2) Baby baskets
Newborn baskets overstock diapers, wipes, onesies, and other essentials like hypoallergenic lotions and nail care kits for establishing care routines. Include playful onesies sporting clever quips for parents overwhelmed by endless laundry.
3) Personalized children’s books
Custom bedtime tales starring little ones as main characters or aspiring astronauts make cherished mementoes. Choose hardcover bindings with archival paper to endure years of eager re-reads.
Retirement and Farewell Celebrations
1) Unique guest books signed with memories and well wishes
You can distribute sentimental guest books amongst colleagues for inscribing cherished memories, inside jokes, or gratitudes for the honoree’s service before signing off with whimsical doodles and witty quotes.
2) Senior center memberships
Senior centre trial memberships encourage staying active post-retirement through aerobics, carpentry workshops, or guest lecture series while forging new friendships.
3) Luxury throw blankets
Cosy cotton throw blankets while stargazing on patio swings feature nostalgic patterns resembling vintage national park posters.
Work Anniversaries
1) Custom planter boxes
These are personalized planters made of upcycled wooden pallets planted with succulents or flowers equaling service tenure – like five charming plants for every lustrous year.
2) Custom digital illustrations
Digitally illustrated scrolls recount colleagues’ journeys via playful iconography, such as jungle maps for navigating office politics or conquering mountains of paperwork as heroes of productivity.
3) Sentimental paperweights with inspirational quotes
Inspirational crystal paperweights embed motivational quotes about grit and perseverance.
Budget Considerations
Giving gifts to the whole office? Or don’t know the recipient well? You’ll want to stick to an affordable budget. Here are some great inexpensive ideas under $25:
1) Colorfully decorated cookie or doughnut platters
Surprise offices with decorated sugar cookies or speciality doughnuts piled high with joyful sprinkles and shimmery edible glitter sure to spark sweet smiles all around.
2) DIY hot cocoa kits
Whip up DIY hot cocoa packets to pair with cheeky “You Melt My Heart” mugs, including whisks, fixings, and recipes listed on tags for easy assembly.
3) Savory snack crates
Overstuffed metal lunchboxes with favourite nostalgic snacks like buttery popcorn, tangy cheese curls, or spicy meat sticks are perfect for munching at desks when energy lags.
Wrapping up!
“Last holiday, our team drew names for a gift exchange with a $10 limit. I had just met my recipient and knew nothing about her interests. Panicked, I grabbed a silly “World’s Best Boss” mug filled with chocolate candies at the last minute. It turned out the chocolate was her absolute favourite; she had just been promoted to senior manager, and the mug’s humour made her heartily laugh out loud! My hapless gift turned out more perfect than I could have ever planned, ” says an employee.
The result reminds us that perfection lies not in painstaking plotting but rather in embracing gifting’s unexpected magic!
