Token gifts for my work team

[Becles]

Looking for ideas for what to give my team for Christmas.

I have a budget of about £5-10 per head and obviously the lower end the better!

I've tended to get Christmas ornaments with their initials from Oliver Bonas and such, and last year for a few who'd pretty much carried us, I added bottles of their favourite spirits. This year I'm completely out of ideas any suggestions appreciated 💡

I have 11 people:

Female: 50s 2x, 40s 2x, 30s 1x
Male: 50s 1x, 40s 1x, 30s 2x, 20s 2x

It might not be the most exciting gift but I would honestly appreciate a £5 gift card for a coffee shop, or even a supermarket more than anything else mentioned here. The opportunity to treat myself to a coffee or some biscuits or anything else I want would be really welcome.

Last year my manager said she wasn't buying useless small gifts for the team, and instead spent the equivalent of what she'd spend on toys for the local toy appeal. I thought this was lovely instead of some tat that we don't need.

A coffee spoon/clip combined

My one at home is from m and s ... a lovely brass one. Amazon also does them

However here's a link to a site where you can personalise if you wanted to.....

https://myleelondon.com/products/personalised-coffee-spoon-and-bag-clip?variant=44083971621117

Reading this thread makes me realise you definitely can't please everyone and people are difficult to buy for.

OP I'd personally choose something you like but that your team member can register if it doesn't suit them.

Chocolate. Consumables are the way to go here.

Other good gifts I've received are hand cream.

I usually get chocolate Xmas crackers from our local chocolatier, works out about £3 each and they each get a couple of really nice chocolates.

To be really honest with you I'd rather have an Amazon token or one for the local 'naice' supermarket.

I really don't want tat (not to be disparaging about ideas or suggestions at all because they're very well-intentioned) and as nice as it is in theory to give/receive a gift, pretty much everyone has everything they want or need these days, and if they don't a random candle/key chain/mug/whatever won't help that. If you don't have a lot of extra funds at least £10 on a gift card gives you the means to spend on something nice, just a little treat that you actually want, for yourself at a time of year when lots of people spend on everyone else but not on themselves. Or, if you have plenty of funds, you can easily pass the voucher on to someone who would get use out of it.

I agree - unless you know them well enough to buy their favourite biscuits/chocolates

@Birdsongsinging - L'Occitaine are cruelty free - the problem is that they sell into China and the Chinese government test everything on animals (diseases on bats spring to mind...). Worth reading this - it doesn't exonerate them as they should stop selling to China until it's resolved, but there we go:

https://img.loccitane.com/ocms/img/lib/_staticcontent/57189.pdf

Home made marmalade is good too - https://thecafesucrefarine.com/easy-orange-cranberry-christmas-marmalade/
https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/user/4531666/recipe/christmas-spiced-marmalade

Totally.

I don't want something to stick in a drawer or an ornament/decoration that's probably not to my taste.

I'd respond better to consumables or a voucher. Because it's not a huge budget, probably more satisfying to get a box of biscuits or something fancier than vouchers.

Alternatively use the budget to buy in a buffet on the last working day or the first round at drinks somewhere.

I agree with those who say a £5/£10 voucher is best.

The older I get, the less I want "stuff" – in fact I throw something out every day – so a Chr tree ornament, personalised socks, fridge magnet would not be wanted.

But I would love it if someone got me a voucher that meant I had to go to Costa, sit down and have coffee and a cake. You could maybe tailor them to colleagues’ likes to make it more personal. Pretty sure I could tell you where my colleagues would like a voucher for so I am sure you could do the same – Greggs, Starbucks, Dunkin’, Pret, M&S...

Yes, there are a lot of people who are problem gamblers and of course it's anti islamic too.

I would love to receive Biscuit tea and border ginger biscuits .

My manager gives us usually like high end but body/barh stuff which I’m not into like Jo Mallon white co etc. honestly I’d rather have a £5 Starbucks gift card to get myself a nice coffee. Definitely wouldn’t want tat like a magnet or socks.

That makes them not cruelty free though!

Coffee gift card - they'll all use them and be pleased.

I'd rather not have chocolate or alcohol. We have way too much of this at Christmas as it is.

Some of the best gifts I have received are
Marks and Spencer's hot choc, tea or coffee in their Christmas shaped tins. ( spending on preference.
With a small pack of biscuits. Left it in work and enjoyed it over the Christmas period.

A hamper for the team to share in January.

One boss have us all a £10 supermarket voucher which was great fully received by all, some used against their Christmas shop others for lunch.

Personalised lanyard for work passes.

Personalised pen and note book for work.

A tree decoration

I've been pondering this myself as I'm managing a team for the first time. But they are spread around the country and wfh, so would need to be something easily post-able.

My employer already sends everyone an Amazon voucher over email in leiu of an Xmas party of any sort.

Candle from local business