Thanks to all who have responded to our Holiday Gift Survey over the years.  We took your responses, did some additional brainstorming and voila!  You’ll see the results below – separated into three categories – food related, non-food related and donations.   

Great ideas in a wide price range from a few dollars on up.  For many of them, you will also find links for browsing and/or shopping.  Yes – you could even get your shopping done right here!

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In the food & beverage category:

1.  Holiday gift baskets, bags, cans or crates containing one or an assortment of:   

• popcorn
• chocolate
• an assortment of teas 
• coffees
• nuts
• fresh fruits & vegetables
• breads 
• OR if you have time for this, people LOVE homemade! If you need recipes, a great source is: www.recipes.com

2.  A gift card to a nearby coffee shop like Starbucks or Caribou Coffee.

3.  Fruit of the month club

4.  Steaks, turkey, ham –  just be sure the recipients are meat eaters

5.  Meals  

• Deliver breakfast or lunch trays for the staff from their favorite bagel or lunch spot.
• Invitation to lunch … not just a gift card but enjoy some food and fellowship together.
• Dinner at their favorite restaurant – spouses too if appropriate and applicable!
• A gift certificate to their favorite restaurant.

Note:  See comments #6, 7, 8,16 & 17 below for specific reader preferences.

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In the non-food & beverage category:

1.  Plants

• A floral arrangement
• A poinsettia of any size – great making any office area more festive
• A Christmas Cactus or other plant that will live on beyond the holidays
• A tree

2.  Gas cards and other gift cards through Amazon

3.  Framed items

5. Cool pens, pencils or pen & pencil sets

6. Cool notepads, business card holders

7. Notecards or stationery

8. Umbrella – especially if they are always losing theirs

9. Fun socks (see reader comments #14 and 15 below) 

10. A good book (see list of business best sellers)

11. A gift certificate to buy a good book at your local bookstore.

12. A desk calendar or wall calendar (with a theme in line with their interests)

13. A year’s supply (or a large supply) of something they love but are always out of like pens, post its, legal pads, paper clips, etc

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The list of places to donate could go on and on!

Full disclosure: The first two are groups we are working with right now.

• Blanket Orange County (NC) by way of the Interfaith Council (under Gift Designation, check the box beside Blanket Orange County)
• Samaritan Colony, a residential treatment facility for people diagnosed with substance abuse disorders
• Habit for Humanity
• Hospice Foundation of America 
• World Central Kitchen

Whatever you choose to give, as you know, it’s the thought that counts.

A handwritten note that shares those good thoughts may be the most appreciated of all!

Happy Holidays!  

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Reader Comments on Holiday Giving & Receiving

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

1. Homemade 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. Flowers and a really pretty gift basket.
11. Insulated coffee cups that don’t leak and don’t break.
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!?!

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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:

1.  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.
2. We provide breakfast bagels or a sandwich tray.
3. 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.
4. Nice holiday gift baskets from Harry & David.
5. Cards with individual handwritten notes.
6. 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.
7. Gifts from A Southern Season, Trader Joe’s, Williams-Sonoma, Target.
8. Huge poinsettia!
9. Whatever you buy, buy local if at all possible!