Presents for team. Is there really anything better than chocolate or booze?

[Nyedilemma]

Or maybe biscuits or a plant?

I have about 10 people to buy for so £10 each is about the budget.

I can try and get thoughtful individual gifts, but I know some of them better than others and the ones I know best, I don't think I know on a choose something they'll love level. I know one runs, one plays golf, one is a foodie, I know how many kids they have and what their husband's names are, but I don't claim to be good friends with any of them. I do think think they'd want me to be.

So on that basis is it best to go for chocolate/wine/plant which shows little thought and which they may or may not like but is at least easy to pass on or put more effort into trying to do something thoughtful, which is also unlikely to be a huge hit?

Wow. I have read the whole thread and the takeaway from it is that there is no 'perfect gift', or even a 'great gift' because people are so different.

@Nyedilemma not sure it's been recommended but local raw honey.

It looks as if a nice idea is virtually impossible to please everybody!
I would do a £10 voucher for M&S / Boots / Tesco / Amazon
Then they can choose what they like
But somebody will come on saying they only shop at independent shops!
£10 cash?!

OP

Could you send an email with a few options, a would you prefer:

Wine
Plant
Chocolate
Biscuits
Voucher

ANd go from there.

Are they all hot drink drinkers? Could you get them a selection of nice teas/coffee/hot chocolate depending on their preference?

M&S voucher each to buy alcohol or a food treat to suit them. I don't drink so would hate alcohol!

I'd hate a Costa or Greggs voucher. How about a love2shop voucher, ,they work in loads of shops including Iceland, Waterstones, Boots, Wilkinsons etc

Lots of food allergies in my team so last year opted for nice Parker pens in gift box and a Christmas deco item which was also around the £10 mark

I came on this thread to get some ideas for my team, and I have to send their gifts by post, so the added postal expense eats into my budget. I spent 20 on them each last year but now have x9 to buy for and 20 now feels too expensive!

I could really do with free postage on a 10/15 gift and think I can only get that via Amazon. I would prefer to use a UK based company though. Arrrrgh.

I've changed my mind. Pens is the best idea! I've got a cupboard full of preserves, honeys and chutneys I've never used. I chuck it all out about every three years. Or... you could just give them the tenner in a card? Cash is a bit of a novelty these days...

I've done a bit of both this year. I'm buying for 12 at work. I've mainly gone chocs and prosecco but for my immediate team who I am close to, I have gone more personalised with their gifts. Don't think anyone will compare or care but it's been nicer choosing for me with their interests in mind.

Booze is a really insensitive/thoughtless gift IMO.

An M&S (or similar) voucher or biscuits (without nuts) are fine.

hell no, not a plant! Biscuits or chocolate are fairly safe options if you don't know that everyone drinks.

Oh no, I only like surprise gifts! This would be very disappointing.

I’d definitely appreciate a nice pen - and everyone will use a pen.

All this “I can’t have…”, “I don’t do..” - it shouldn’t matter what you give! It’s a gift and the receiver should be gracious - you can’t nail it got everyone, it’s just a token of appreciation. If they don’t like it they can pass it on…fancy being miffed at being given something totally standard because you personally don’t like it 😂

Actually I'd rather not have anything than a token standard gift that I don't want.

@jellydaydream so what would you suggest that the OP does? What would you do in their position?

Giving each recipient a different personalised gift opens up a can of worms in terms of comparisons and takes a huge amount of planning and execution. It also requires in-depth knowledge about each recipient. That may not be possible depending on how well the OP knows them especially if they are relatively new, or choose not to share much about themselves in the work environment.

Eeh! I've just realised how cantankerous that sounds! Sorry. Think it's a combination of being 60 and utterly fed up of token presents, absolutely hating Xmas, trying to declutter, being on an endless diet and trying not to drink.

I think we've established that there's no perfect gift. Give them anything. It really doesn't matter.

£10 voucher for Costa / M&S / a book shop. Anywhere really. It's too difficult to pick a gift that everyone likes otherwise.

Yep, I like this AND suggest you get a mix of vouchers, wrap them, and offer them as a lucky dip. Then they can do swaps without feeling awkward 😊

A panettone (bulky for you to carry 10 in, though)
A box of florentines
Book token

Oh I like the idea of Panettone. If it's in a nice box, do I need to wrap it.....?

Sadly it completely depends on the person. I like candles and would give away chocolates, only like certain booze.

Gift cards go well - Costa Starbucks as they sell food if they don't like coffee

We were given an m and s voucher and a personal message in a card, I really appreciated it 👍

I think that a voucher is ideal in the current climate - the person could use it for something nice or re-gift it as they choose. And most people already have too much food etc. at Christmas.