When the holidays roll around, it is nice to mark the occasion with gifts for your colleagues, your employees or your business partners. However, finding the right gift can be a challenge. There’s no doubt that gift-giving during the holiday season can strengthen work relationships, so it is worth finding the right present. Here are just a few of the best holiday gift ideas for the business world.
Book That Relates to Your Industry
Unless you know the exact reading habits of the recipient, it’s best to steer clear of fiction. However, the right book could make the perfect gift. Look for nonfiction titles that are relevant to your industry. Just avoid self-help or tutorial books, which could be taken the wrong way.
Donations in Their Name
What can you get for the business professional who already has everything? If you’re really stuck, then sometimes the best gift is a charitable donation in their name. Supporting a local charity or a cause the recipient really cares about can make a big impact.
Gourmet Popcorn
Just about everyone will appreciate a sweet treat during the holidays. Gourmet caramel popcorn is one of the most popular business gifts year after year, and it is easy to see why. It is a universally appealing snack that can be shared, taken home and enjoyed over several days.
An Experience
You don’t necessarily need to buy a gift for your business partner that he or she can unwrap and use right away. For the person who can’t travel with heavy items, or who doesn’t need any more stuff, an experience could be a better choice. You might treat your colleague to a special meal, or you could buy a gift certificate for a tee time or a ride in a helicopter.
Engraved Office Items
One of the best business gift ideas is an item that is engraved with the recipient’s name or initials. These items can be things that are used around the office, such as high-quality pens or desk plaques. This is a particularly good choice if you’re shopping for a boss and you want to avoid overly personal gifts.
Monthly Subscriptions
The gift that truly keeps on giving is a monthly or weekly subscription gift. If you have a business partner who loves cooking, then a monthly chef’s subscription box could be ideal. There are curated monthly boxes relating to sports, food and pets, among countless others.
Avoid Company Branded Items
One of the worst holiday gift ideas is providing partners or peers with promotional items branded with your company’s name. This isn’t a gift at all: It’s marketing. If you absolutely must give someone company-branded items over the holiday season, keep it small and add in something with a more personal touch as well.
Gifts For the Whole Family
If you’re shopping for someone with a family, and particularly someone with young children, then including them in your present can be a meaningful touch. Someone with teens, for example, might appreciate a family pass to a local theme park. Or, you could buy some snacks and a few board games for a fun family game night.
Stationary
If you’re not entirely sure what a person’s personal hobbies or tastes are, it is best to play it safe and keep it simple. Stationary is a classic choice because it is always well received. Your partners and co-workers will thank you after receiving specialty notebooks, calendars or pens to use at the office.
Classes
Have a coworker who loves cooking? Sign them up for a Thai cooking class. Have a business partner that adores golf? Get them a gift certificate for a one-on-one class with a local golf pro. Classes can be a great gift, just be sure to let the recipients schedule the classes themselves.
Coffee, Tea or Related Accessories
Just about everyone drinks something caffeinated in the morning so tea and coffee can make wonderful holiday gifts. Some ideas include fancy whole-bean coffees, syrups, and flavorings, mugs or even specialty teas in an attractive display box.
Tickets to a Local Event or Game
Sometimes, the perfect business gifts showcase your company’s hospitality and the appeal of the local area. That’s when splurging on tickets to a local event or game can be suitable. Box seats to a baseball game or front-row seats at an upcoming concert are all savvy ideas to get you started.
Finding the perfect business gifts for the holidays doesn’t have to be a struggle. There are some wonderful choices out there, and most recipients would be thrilled to receive the items on this list!