business gifting Archives

Holiday Gifts for Employees: 12 Amazing Picks to Lift Office Spirits

We all know how challenging it can be to shop for the holidays, especially when it comes to those you work with. Whether it’s a gift that’s useful, indulgent, or just for fun, giving gifts to your employees should be more about showing you care than checking a box.

Below are 12 amazing gift ideas for the holidays that will seriously impress coworkers with your thoughtful and creative gift-giving.

Focus on the experience with a holiday gift

Some of the most memorable presents foster an immersive experience. From delicious food to comforting gifts that evoke feelings of warmth and well-being, try one of these thoughtful gift gestures that tap into all the senses. Our curated picks transform corporate gifting with presents that aptly show employee appreciation.

holiday gifts for employees Holiday Mug Blanket Cocoa and Cookie Gift Set

It’s nesting season — encourage your team to cozy up and relax on the weekends with this plush sherpa fleece-lined blanket, one of four holiday-themed mugs, and some eatable and drinkable goodies to warm them up. It’s the perfect recipe for self-care.

Virtual Flower Arranging Workshop

Farm-fresh flowers: check. Stylish vase: check. Putting it all together: not yet. Give the gift of knowledge with a virtual master class from Alice’s Table. It comes complete with a flower kit and on-demand video lesson on how to create a beautiful floral arrangement.

holiday gifts for employees Eggs Benedict Box

Gourmet Eggs Benedict Box

Rise and shine! Just add eggs and you have all the fixings for a delicious gourmet breakfast. The Eggs Benedict Box serves around four people — perfect for a lazy, Sunday morning feast.

Holiday gifts for employees that they wouldn’t buy themselves

The most undervalued gifts are ones that your recipient didn’t even know they needed. It’s not necessarily a luxurious splurge, but it’s the practical and useful gifts that are high on beauty and fun, too.

Cherry Blossom Spa Gift Set

This gift set lets your employees know that they’re covered when it’s time to clock out and unwind. The essentials spa kit includes such self-care favorites as a luxurious shower gel and lotion set, packaged in an artisanal wooden cabinet that has a second life as a display case.

Magnetic Succulent Trio

These three small succulents go beyond basic desktop accessorizing and will add a bit of life to unexpected places. The trio of magnetic, stylish containers can be affixed to file cabinets, refrigerators, you name it, for a surprising pop of plant.

Hand Cream Gift Set

Keep hands smooth from the car to the office with this kit that’s rich in oils but also absorbs very quickly, leaving no stickiness behind. Rich scents of lavender, coconut, aloe, jasmine, honey almond, jojoba, and green tea will delight the senses as well.

Surprise and delight with holiday gifts for employees

Opening a gift should be a moment of unexpected happiness. These gifts are fun, festive, and, above all, memorable.

Deluxe Christmas Gift Box

A holiday-styled box full of gourmet treats will put a smile on anyone’s face. It’s stuffed with some of the very best, such as Royal Riviera® Pears, dark chocolate, and Christmas tree shortbread cookies.

Holiday Flower Tree

This classic flower tree brings festive flair to any space. It’s got fragrant evergreens, decorative ornaments, and a merry red bow on top for an original and surprising holiday gift.

Traditional Bakery Gift Tower

This festive assortment of baked favorites is sure to be a treat! With a variety of holiday cookies and bite-sized snacks, anyone’s eyes will widen when they see this festively wrapped gift tower.

Give gifts with personalized meaning

It’s indeed the thought that counts. The best gifts share a personal message or meaning and amp up the sentimentality.

Jar of Smiles

Words matter. Each jar is filled with 31 encouraging messages to help put a smile on their face and make their day just a little brighter.

Money Tree

Brighten up someone’s desk with a beautiful money tree. Not only do live plants boost happiness and air quality, according to feng shui enthusiasts, but the seven leaves also are said to bring extra luck and attract the energies of wealth and prosperity.

Magical Unicorn Truffle Cake Pops

Got a one-of-a-kind employee? Show them their unicorn abilities by gifting them impeccably crafted truffle cake pops. These decadent and adorable treats are lovingly made by hand, and will convey to your employee how truly unique they are.

Corporate Gifting Trends & Tips for the New Year

There’s an undeniable joy when you receive a thoughtful gift. A present can say thank you, I value you, and you’re appreciated all at once. When done right, giving gifts in the workplace can have the same positive impact. And now, with the rise of distributed teams and hybrid workforces, the power of the business gift has reached new heights.

corporate gifting for the new year with Businessmen holding gift box

“Workplace culture has changed dramatically in the last two years, leaving a lot of space for social cohesion,” says Monika Kochar, CEO of SmartGift, the Brooklyn-based startup that partnered with 1-800-Flowers.com to create Hero. “Typically, we would have all celebrated at a company end-of-year party, but now gifting brings these connections to real life. The emphasis on events has moved toward giving meaningful tokens.”

The Hero gifting platform’s recommendation engine allows companies and managers to send personal, authentic, and meaningful gifts based on user preference and data. It makes it a seamless process, allowing recipients to choose which gift to receive and where to send it. Hero eliminates the gifts that collect dust on a shelf or end up in a landfill by offering products and services that matter to today’s workforce.

Business gifting at work can confuse even the most thoughtful gifter: Should I get my boss a gift? How much should I spend? Is it tacky to get everyone on my team the same thing? Do clients talk about the best and worst gifts they receive?

Here’s what you need to know — and shop for — to make a mark this holiday season.

1. Lists are getting bigger

Virtual work environments have led to more collaboration across departments and cities, fostering connections that may not have previously existed. “Traditionally people would send big gifts to their clients and employees,” Kochar says. “But now, because of the increased connection between a broader set of employees, people are sending gifts to everyone, from the executive assistant to the boss.”

2. Spending per person is getting smaller

With the increase in the number of giftees, the amount being spent per gift is decreasing. For the VIPs on your list, expect to spend in the $125 range; for everyone else, $25 does the trick, Kochar says. And those VIPs aren’t necessarily your clients. They could be team members or colleagues who have gone above and beyond. Your best strategy is to start with your overall budget, make your recipient list, categorize them by price point (high, medium, low), and do the math to figure out how much to spend per person.

3. Personal is preferred

Don’t send the same gift to everyone because it eliminates the human touch. It’s OK to give all your coworkers a bottle of wine or beautiful plant, but choose specific iterations of that gift that feel more personal (i.e., a red Italian for the person who loves to cook Sunday night pasta). If you’re not familiar enough with someone’s preferences, try to give them a choice in the gift selection. “That’s why HERO’s intelligent automation is so great, because the recipient gets a link to a collection of items that they can choose from, eliminating the one-size-fits-all strategy,” Kochar says.

4. Don’t send a gift card

Gifting is an opportunity to create loyalty and closeness, and the impersonal nature of gift cards defeat the purpose. “Gift cards remove that creation of bonding and say that you couldn’t be bothered or didn’t have the time to pick up something personal,” Kochar says.

As you think about what to send each group of people, ask yourself: What am I trying to convey with each gift? Thank you. Take time for yourself. Splurge a little. That will help guide you toward the perfect pick for each person.

Need ideas? Here are Kochar’s guaranteed gift pleasers.

For the people who went above & beyond ($100+)

corporate gifting for the new year charcuterie and cheese collection

Charcuterie & Cheese Collection

If your end-of-year party is looking a little different this year, send them a gourmet feast with food they can share with their team or those they love. The Ultimate Charcuterie and Cheese Collection will make for a memorable night.

Deluxe Hearthside Gift Basket

Brighten up someone’s home with a sweet-and-savory collection of premium treats. The Deluxe Hearthside Gift Basket arrives in a handsome basket adorned with a hand-tied bow.

corporate gifting for the new year Magnificent Roses Preserved Roses

Magnificent Roses® Preserved Red Roses

Got a one-of-a-kind employee? What’s better than an everyday reminder of your appreciation? These stunning roses will last for up to a year and are the perfect desktop decor.

For those meaningful connections ($50-$100)

Wood Star
Succulent

Long-lasting plants make a great addition to your workspace and a wonderful thank you gift. Send those superstars a Star-Shaped Succulent garden.

Simply Chocolate Nuts & Confections Basket

Re-create the New Year’s Eve party at home with the help of the Simply Chocolate Nuts & Confection Basket. The combination of fun and festive sweets will keep the celebration going well into the new year.

May You Find Joy
Gift Box

Give time to relax and rejuvenate with the Gift of Joy Box filled with notecards, essential oil, and crystal. The box includes a selection of self-care items to create a daily practice of intention, mindfulness and well-being

For the everyday heroes (under $50)

Personally Yours Custom Paper Note Cube

Monogrammed gifts, like this custom paper note cube, always feel personal, at every price point.

Fleur de Chocolate® Thank You Bar & Truffles

Let the sweets do the talking. These thank you chocolate truffles and bar are a literal and delicious way to show your appreciation.

Smile Farms® Hot Sauce

Some of the best gifts are the ones that give back. With every purchase of Heat with Heart™ hot sauce, you’ll benefit Smile Farms, a nonprofit that creates creating meaningful employment solutions for people with different abilities.

The Guide to Business Gifting for the Holidays

The holidays should be a time of joy and celebration, but they can often come with stress and uncertainty when it comes to exchanging gifts at the office. It’s great to recognize the efforts of those who helped make your business a success over the past year, but where do you start? If you’re feeling generous and want to spread some cheer, here is a guide to business gifting for the holidays.

Before you can select a gift, you must first understand your company’s policy on gift giving. Staying within those parameters will help make your hunt for the perfect gift much easier. It’s also important to understand simple business etiquette when it comes to holiday gift giving. Avoid purchasing a gift that is too expensive and elaborate and not in line with your recipient’s interests, as your good intentions can be deemed inappropriate.

Christmas gifts for your boss

If you feel funny giving your boss a gift for the holidays, you’re not alone. But that doesn’t mean you should avoid doing it altogether.

How much should you spend on Christmas gifts for your boss?

Determining a budget is the first place to start when deciding on a Christmas gift for your boss. While your personal finances and company’s limit will certainly factor into your decision, a good rule of thumb would be to keep gifts between $20 and $50. Chipping in with a fellow coworker is always a good idea, as gifts that are too expensive will make your boss feel uncomfortable.

4 Christmas gifts to get your boss

1. Cookies

Who doesn’t love a sweet treat? Gifting your boss delicious cookies is a great way to let them know how much they are you appreciated, all while satisfying their sweet tooth.

2. Chocolate & wine

Nothing goes together better than chocolate and wine, and wine gift baskets take the guesswork out of finding the perfect pairing for your boss to enjoy.

3. Breakfast

If you have a boss that loves breakfast, then this berry breakfast box is the perfect gift. It comes with an abundance of fruits and gourmet breakfast delights that will put a smile on anyone’s face — even those who aren’t morning people!

4. Engraved business card case

This gift checks off all the boxes on your gift list for your boss. The combination of being personal but still professional ensures this practical present will be enjoyed by all the bosses out there.

Christmas gifts for coworkers

Buying gifts for your co-workers might be easier than deciding on one for your boss, as you’ve most likely developed a bond with the people around you. Undoubtedly, there will be some co-workers that you’ve grown closer to, but whenever possible try to include everyone on your gift-giving list.

How much should you spend on Christmas gifts for coworkers?

Depending on the number of co-workers you have to buy for, gifts should be kept between $10 and $30. Of course, if you have your special work lunch buddy that you spend time with every day, you can spend up to $50 — but be sure to give them this gift away from the rest of the staff so no one feels less important.

5 Christmas gifts to get coworkers

1. Candle

A candle is a universal gift that is bound to bring some festive light and holiday fragrance to anyone’s home. This holiday candle gift set will make the candle-loving co-worker in your life a very happy camper.

2. Coffee & tea

Tazo Tea Gift Basket from 1800Flowers.com

Do you like grabbing a coffee or tea with your co-worker during the work day? Give that person the gift of caffeine this holiday season. A collection of coffee or tea is a most delicious way to give them the energy boost they need to get through a busy work day or a pick-me-up at home.

3. Bath products

Bath products are practical and useful gifts, but they can also be special and unique. Finding a specialty shop that makes soaps and lotions with a unique scent is a great way to go. And if you’re looking for a tried and true favorite, your coworker will be thrilled to relax and pamper themselves with a spa gift basket.

4. Plants & flowers

You can never go wrong with a bouquet of flowers or plant to brighten up any space — especially the office. Spread some peace this holiday season with Christmas plants that your coworker will be able to enjoy for months to come. If you want to add a pop of color to their desk, send a classic Christmas poinsettia to really put them in the holiday spirit.

5. Fruit

Forego giving individual gifts for all your co-workers and get a delicious fruit bouquet for the whole department to enjoy. Christmas tree-shaped pineapple slices and an assortment of juicy fruits with a touch of chocolate will be a real crowd pleaser in the office. Or, opt for a festive chocolate covered strawberry box that will spread holiday cheer in the sweetest way possible.

Still unsure about what Christmas gifts to get your coworkers? You can’t go wrong with an e-gift card. Since the holiday season can be overwhelming with gifts, an e-gift card allows your boss and co-workers the opportunity to get their favorite floral arrangement or gourmet gift basket after the holiday craziness settles down. And don’t forget to include a nice message in your card, thanking them for their guidance and support this year and wishing their family a very happy holiday.