Employer's gifts

[DreamingOfSoftWhiteSand]

If you get Christmas gifts from your employer, what was the one you liked best? I've been asked to buy gifts (the same for everyone) for our staff. Currently it's all women (30 - 50 age range) and the budget is £100 per person. Apparently they've already done make up bags, passport covers, scarves, candles, vouchers, etc. Please do not suggest money as they also get Xmas bonuses already. Help please as I have no idea what to get! Thank you.

Bettys

so… blah. And most drowning in jams, shortbreads and stuff like that at Christmas time anyway.

£50 donation to charity of their choice
£50 loce2shop vouchers

I do wonder OP, how old are your colleagues?

We have a huge range of ages and personal circumstances. Lots of the things mentioned on here would be seen as useless for the ones younger ones, living in flat shares or with parents (no space for expensive mugs) or seemed far too old for them (scraves and gloves) or too generic for their tastes.

The older ones will most likely be very fussy about their tastes and while I assume they would appreciate the gesture, an expensive scarve/throw etc in colours they don't like or don't match anything is just a thing which will end in the cupboard, regifted or send to a charity shop.

I also love the fact that most here do assume the recipient is female, DH would fall over if presented with some of the present ideas.

If the company is determind to give a physical gift, then setting up 5-6 itmes and people can choose is the only way. Ideally, also add the option to give to a charity if all the options are still pointless for you.

Last year we got custom hampers from Dp's company (he's the boss but outsourced this to the admin manager so it was a surprise) she put them together herself in jute bags (so reusable) and bought things from different supermarkets so for the £100 budget we got a much larger amount and things we actually eat. She's a great listener and definitely knew what he likes, plus knew I loved margaritas so put in the ingredients to make them!

@reluctantbrit Did you even read the OP? It’s in there that the recipients are all women aged 30-50.

Aspinal so lovely refillable leather notebooks, which I think are on the same lines as previous gifts (passport cover, make up bags):

www.aspinaloflondon.com/products/a5-refillable-journal-in-heather-pebble

You could also personalise them with their initials, and stay within budget.

Fair enough, I skimmed the opening post.

But, even my 30 year old colleagues would not like the idea of a £85 set of mugs or a scarf.
And unfortunately with living in London, some still aren't able to afford a flat on their own.

I always like it when the company supports a local business for the staff Christmas gift. I particularly liked it when we got an iced box of delicious fresh cherries.

What planet must you be on to think that a good use of £85 in this day and age is a notebook?

I got a Cross pen for my 50th. I was underwhelmed, to say the least.

But I absolutely love using it. It's lasted years and writes beautifully. I can't tell you how different it is to a run-of-the-mill biro. I bought myself a leather pen case to protect it in my bag.

I've no idea if that meets the budget, but maybe worth looking into?

Honestly there is nothing that everyone will like. It's a fool's errand to try and find that holy grail. Is there no way to give vouchers or just more cash?

^
Agree.

You can tell by the responses on here what an impossible job you have.

My husband's work arranged with local businesses for staff to choose from a few options. There was a butcher, a cake maker, some kind of alcohol thing... you filled a form in and were sent a voucher to claim the item.

It worked brilliantly. We got a meat hamper through it and it meant we didn't have to buy any for Christmas as it came with the stuff for Christmas lunch! Was also nice to be supporting local companies near their individual workplaces.

Only works if there's a small number of offices though or the companies can post!

Aesop gift set

Surely posting anything into Europe will be difficult now post Brexit, not just food and drink?

Not much of a surprise then to the admin manager? I hope all these admin people who are trailing around multiple supermarkets and getting different gifts depending on individual preference get fully appreciated.

I'm amazed that companies spend £100 on their employees!!!! Personally I'd prefer vouchers.

@DreamingOfSoftWhiteSand Op look up sustainable hampers and get one which is good for the environment or supports communities in some way. Everyone is happy with a hamper but everyone will be delighted if it's sustainable and from a small business.

It's a gift you miserable people

If you think it's overpriced and useless, sell in ebay or give it away

I dont envy you OP

I can’t believe you haven’t heard of Betty’s 😱

A pom-pom bag pompomlondon.com/collections/bags

Really good value and am sure the majority of the recipients would be happy with it.

My brother lives in Australia so I use their websites to make it more affordable.
I know you said no gift cards, but there is a fantastic one that covers so many restaurants out there.

Perfume

I think you need to go back to your employers and tell them it’s virtually impossible.
can the employees have 3 options to choose from?

1. flowers every month
2. a butchers meat box
3. hamper

I'm just pulling things out of thin air, but could this be an option?

Please go with vouchers. I'd hate a hamper as I don't drink and can't eat sugary items so I'd be fairly pissed off at a hamper. Vouchers would be amazing, especially ones you can use on Amazon as it means I can treat myself to tons of books.

"can’t believe you haven’t heard of Betty’s 😱"

Until this thread, I hadn't heard of them either