Favours for Christmas work party

[reluctantbrit]

We have a fully paid three course dinner dance each year and I am one of the organisers.

In the past we had silly gifts, around £10/person but we found that lots were left behind, was kind of useless after the intital joke was over.

So last year we did little Santa boots filled with chocolate and that went very well.

Any idea what can we do this year? I thought a small ornament but we have some Muslim, Hindu and a Jehova’s Witness so while they come to the party they do not celebrate. We have two gluten free ones so biscuit mix are out as well. It is a good mix of male/female and age wise beginning 20th to nearly retirement.

I am feeling it will be chocolates again.

I went to a Christmas party once where there were a load of those really long balloons and balloon pumps on the tables.

Much hilarity all round, they all get used up and the pumps are really cheap so it doesn't matter if most get left behind.

Are they needed? How would you feel about charity donation with pin badge? you could even do a doodle poll to choose the charity.

The balloons sound great, I may need to check with the venue, they made noises about having snowballs around for a pretend fight.

No, they are not necessary but it is a nice idea to lift the mood, we had a bad year thanks to Brexit. The company does support lots of charity events and always doubles what is collected so it is not really something which would stand out.

I definitely want something people can use, no way to do plastic tat or just throw away items.

Mug
Nice pen and/or notebook
2020 diary
One of these little bottles each www.moltonbrown.co.uk/store/gifts/wedding-gifts/explore-luxury-womens-bath-body-collection/MBG735/ and www.moltonbrown.co.uk/store/gifts/wedding-gifts/explore-luxury-mens-bathing-collection/MBG734/

Just don’t buy more crap for landfill! Chocolate sounds fine - you could go
to a chocolate shop with a counter and buy without any packaging. Good luck!

What about a pick and mix table with little scoops and paper bags so everyone can take a bag of sweets home with them?

A pair of Christmas socks each?
Next etc usually do them in multipacks so you could separate them out.
At least they would be worn.

Lottery ticket
Book token/Waterstones voucher
Posh tea or coffee (with a mug?)

Could you do a sort of raffle - 3 bags of numbers (1 alcohol, 2 chocolates, 3 smelly stuff or whatever suits your workplace) so you choose which one you want a prize from and then pick your prize number off the main table - perhaps with one prize in each selection a bit bigger?

The best small gift from a manager I have had was a mug. It doesn't sound like a particularly exciting gift, but they had found a different mug to reflect the interests of each member if the team. It was very sweet.

Reverse Advent Calendar where you all donate Christmas food/gifts for food banks.

What about a nice reusable mug? Or a coffee shop voucher? Or both together?

Hot chocolate spoons - as in a spoon in a lump of choc covered in marshmallows and you just add hot milk.
Fidget toys.
Maze toys - amazon sell a good range with large amounts.
Funny coasters that double as hanging on your nose to reveal a funny facial expression.
Nice pen & note pad.
Handkerchiefs.
Small token jewellery - earrings/ rings/ cufflinks/ dogtags.
Travel games.
Keyrings.
Gloves.
Craft set - scratch art, or paint your own plantpot type thing.

Thanks. We have a meeting tomorrow and will brainstorm.

I would go for the reusable mug, we have free coffee/tea in the office but some are hardline Costa/Starbucks fans, so too many disposable cups still around.