We recently asked readers about holiday gifts they had  received (from customers, colleagues or vendors) that they especially liked. Some of their responses:

1. Home made goodies.

2. A huge can of flavored popcorn for our department to share.

3. Top quality chocolate.

4. I really like holiday baskets, it sets the mood.

5. A gift card to a gourmet store.

6. Invitation to lunch … not just a gift card but enjoy some food and fellowship together.

7. Dinner at one of my favorite restaurants.

8. A nice dinner out with our spouses.

9. When I lived in China, I used to get Moon Cakes from several suppliers which was quite fun as they came in nice fancy boxes.

10. I have received flowers and a really pretty gift basket.

11. Insulated coffee cups. The really good kind that does not leak and is substantial enough to be dropped without breaking.

12. Pictures of colleagues in a setting other than work.

13. A good book.

14.  Something unusual or quirky.

15. Socks – people make fun but who doesn’t need more socks!?!

On the giving side, we asked if there was a particular gift and/or source for that gift that you would recommend giving to clients and colleagues. A few responses:

16. I provide breakfasts (juice, doughnuts and bagels) for my larger clients and baskets of sugar cookies for smaller clients (turkey shaped cookies at Thanksgiving; snowman shaped cookies in December). We are in the printing business, so we print thank you cards and gift tags and include packages of them in the baskets as well. These are economical and useful gifts that most people love.

17. We provide breakfast bagels or a sandwich tray.

18. Simple is good…a gift bag with holiday goodies (homemade if possible) is always a hit. Things like Chex mix, cookies, muffins, Russian tea mix, hot chocolate.

19. Nice holiday gift baskets from Harry & David.

20. Cards with individual handwritten notes.

21. With only 1% of our population eating their fruits and vegetables, I send a month’s worth of some nutritional item that might get them started in the right direction.

22. Gifts from A Southern Season, Trader Joe’s, Williams-Sonoma, Target.

23. Whatever you buy, buy local!

Great ideas! Thanks again to all who contributed.

We combined your responses with a list we created through some virtual brainstorming….and also provided some links for browsing and/or shopping.  Yes – you could do all your shopping right here!

©2008 – Jan Bolick, Business Class Inc The author gives permission to distribute copies of this article as long as it is copied in full – including the box below.

Jan is Chief Learning Officer of Business Class Inc. She has thirty years of sales and management experience and loves sharing it (plus her love for solving problems and for making work fun) with business owners and managers so that they can get through tough situations, make big goals and celebrate these achievements.

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