Team Christmas gifts

[Someaddedsugar]

In previous years I've had a team of 3-5 people which has been manageable re Christmas gifts and I've bought them all some thing approx £10, with a similar theme but each personal (eg last year was a little tea or coffee hamper depending on their preference and a mug that I knew they'd like).

This year I've got a team of 9 at a minimum and potentially 15.

I can't afford £10 a head but want the gifts to feel thoughtful.

We don't all work in the same office but will have a wider department meeting in the run up to Christmas where I would usually give the gifts for them to open whenever they choose.

Please can you share your ideas?

I manage a team of 12 and I have done a huge staffroom hamper to share (they have their own kitchen)

I've ordered decorated gingerbread biscuits (they went down really well)

Christmas bath bombs and face masks- just put into little gift bags

Travel mugs with coffee bags and nice biscuits. Rex do some lovely bamboo ones for a few pounds.

Bottles of prosecco.

I think it is the thought that counts and the face that you e remembered them.

I had 18 last year, I wrote each a personal Christmas card thanking them for their work making it specific to them and got everyone a Lindt Medium size Santa chocolate which were £3.50 each. It's a token , I don't think you need to over think it when you start managing bigger teams.
My boss who manages 3 teams the same size as mine brings a big tub of chocolates into the office for each team to share and gets me and the other two team leaders a bottle of wine , it's the thought and gesture that is appreciated.

May I shout out for the Kew Gardens gift shop?
There is a lot to look at, lots under £10, some beautifully wrapped chocolate bars among other things. 15% off your first order, free postage over £50, and a free tote bag.
Yesterday in M and S I bought several tall thin 35cl bottles of liquer for £5 each, reduced. If your team would not be offended by alcohol, between now and Christmas you will see lots of decent wines reduced to £7 -ish. If they were in a gift bag, people could take their pick.

I get each of mine a selection box and add a (cheap) christmas tree ornament

I'm in the same boat. My team's jumped from 6 to 21. I usually get them a mini poinsettia and a small box of nice chocolates.

Please don't, I know it's a nice thought but it's just more "stuff".

Thank you for these ideas! I did see the little cocktail cans in M&S (think they're about £3) but will go back and have a look for the liqueurs as they sound nice and the majority do like receiving drink 😂.

I agree with the more stuff @AgnesX - I do usually try and find something food/drink linked that I know they'll like, and re the mugs I bought last year they all use them as I've seen them on many team calls.

I also like the idea of a selection of bottles that they can pick from, and then I can get something non-alcoholic for the two I have who don't drink.

I also take the point that it's the thought that counts - I think it's more that I wanted them to think I've thought about them individually but there really are just too many (esp. if there's 15!).

I'll also do the individual cards too - love this idea.

AgnesX · Today 09:32
Please don't, I know it's a nice thought but it's just more "stuff".

This is the Christmas thread, where people will ask advice on presents. OP has said that she likes to personalise the gifts. It's not more 'stuff', it's a token of her appreciation.

If it were me, I’d write a personalised card to each of them, maybe with a scratch card in it if it isn’t going to offend or cause problems for anyone, and spend the rest of your budget on chocolate, biscuits and snacks for the office.

Last year I put a scratchcard in a Christmas card!
This year I’m going to take advantage of Sainsbury’s 25% off 6 bottles or more of wine.

I made organza bags last year with a few little christmas sweets (got packs from Aldi and split them) and a key ring or pin badge or pair of earrings that was funny or pertinent to the person in some way. And wrote a personalised thank you on a little bit of card I put in there.

This year I have bought some multi packs of lip balms and face masks to split - there will be sweets again, and I still have some of the organza bags (got a cheap multipack off Amazon). There are a couple of blokes tho, so possibly I will have to think of something different, tho having said that I do know plenty of blokes who use face masks and lip balm - it just feels weird to give to colleagues I don't know that well? No idea why and really that's a bit sexist of me I guess.......

Secret santa 🎅

These all sound like lovely gifts. Thank you for the inspiration. @Ilovelurchers I'm also struggling with a new female/male split - used to only buying for women!

Secret Santa is a separate team tradition unfortunately 🤦🏻‍♀️.

I think that a really pretty card is a genuine pleasure to receive- you can get 3D ones or ones that fold out for an extended scene. TKMAXX usually do good ones. And perhaps Christmas decoration, something you can hang from a tree?

I bought tiny poinsettia's in pots (from Homebase £2.50 each but 3 for 2) last year and stuck a chocolate Christmas character lolly in each (£1 Sainsbury's) and left one on everyone's desk. My thinking was the lollies could be passed on to any DC or DGrandchildren, the plant was cute and no issues if alcohol is not consumed. I used to give Costa gift cards but, as the company grows it was becoming ££££££'s.

Surely people who don't want to get "stuff" from their companies are allowed to say so and bow out of the christmas (or any) gift exchange?

We did corporate calendars last year and people liked them just fine! Two years ago there were thermo mugs with company logo, these were also received well.

We got a customised gingerbread in form of a boot last year. Was very tasty.

To be honest, I would be happy with a chocolate Santa, small bottle of wine/processo/drink and maybe a tiny ornament or a Poinsettia, small enough to carry home on a commuter train.

We can't have candles in the house, most multipack facial things don't agree with me, I have more mugs or waterbottles than I can use.

I think keep it simple . A nicely written card containing a scratch card and a Lindt bunny. Put the bunny on the card on each desk and it'll be a lovely little treat for the team to arrive to .

I give my team a £5 Costa/Starbucks voucher each for Christmas - I know they all drink coffee, and it started off as a bit of an in joke in the pre- covid days someone said make sure Chryssy's had a coffee!

It's just a little token - I take them out for lunch at Christmas (but there is only 5 of them)

Please don’t do scratch cards I know a few people with gambling issues and obviously that’s a lot harder to say than I don’t drink

What about a nice card and a half day off in Jan, or the option to come in or leave work 1-2hrs later/earlier one day?

Oh I love the half day off in Jan idea! And that is totally within my gift to do that!

I also like the mini poinsettia too... and the wine mentioned previously.

These are all fab ideas that you. And noted re scratch cards. At least with a bottle of wine you can pass that on if you receive it and it's not to your taste as the thought was there.

You are all amazing at this - I knew I'd get some fab answers!