Organising an office Kris Kringle or Secret Santa gift exchange can be a great way to get everyone into the Christmas spirit. But sometimes it can also be nerve wrecking. Trying to find the right gift for a colleague that is work-appropriate and comes in under budget can be tricky, especially if it’s for a colleague you’re not particularly close with. But don’t worry – we’ve put together a few ideas to help you find a present your co-worker will enjoy.
Gifts for men
To ensure you’ve found the right gift, you’ll have to do a little bit of covert research on your colleague. This will make finding the right gift much easier.
Does your colleague love sport, or enjoy playing outdoors with his kids? A bocce set is a fun, slightly quirky gift that is sure to be used! If he’s spoken about his regular barbeques, find a nice set of utensils and a new apron to go with it. A copy of a book by his favourite author or in a genre you know he enjoys is another great, cheap secret Santa gift.
If you don’t have any special knowledge about what your co-worker likes, there are some generic gifts that always go down a treat too. A pack of boutique beer, a set of nice schooner glasses, classic games sets – cards, magnetic darts, mini pool – or a set of cufflinks are all safe, thoughtful choices.
Gifts for women
Often at Christmas there are more gifts targeted to women, making finding a secret Santa gifts for your female colleagues a little easier. But it’s always nice to receive a present with a personal touch.
If you’re thinking of buying a nice bottle of wine, find out if your colleague prefers white or red. Does she love to cook? Maybe find a cookbook in a new style for her to try. Have you seen her wear lots of different earrings? You could add a new pair to her collection.
Again, if you’re not sure what your colleague enjoys and don’t want to blow your cover by asking, try giving her something a bit less specific. Good quality moisturizing cream, a few different coloured nail polishes or a scarf in a colour you’ve seen her wear a lot will all go down a treat.
Unisex gifts
Some offices do a gift swap, where everyone buys a gift, puts it under a tree and everyone picks an anonymous gift. In this case, unisex gifts are the best way to go, since you don’t know who will end up with your pick! Some great gift ideas include a nice journal or diary for the following calendar year, a travel mug, good quality chocolates, scented candles or a set of quality condiments.
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