party favors for grown ups
August 6, 2018 12:52 PM Subscribe
Recommendations for fun/funny but mostly work-appropriate party favors for grown ups.
My very small office is on the cusp of an exponential growth in size. We're having our very last (before we explode and get more corporatey) small-office party next week, at a mini golf place, and I'm theming it kind of birthday party-ish since it's like we're growing up now. There will be balloons and cake.
I'm also toying with the idea of sending folks home with party favors, if I can find something that feels right. Budget is just a couple of bucks per person and the timeline is short so this can't get crazy.
(I thought about buying nips, like the tiny alcohols, but I don't drink and would be buying blind and also with the budget constraint...I feel like there are better options I'm not thinking of.)
Anyway, I live in Chicago and have Amazon access so most things are accessible.
Thank you!
My very small office is on the cusp of an exponential growth in size. We're having our very last (before we explode and get more corporatey) small-office party next week, at a mini golf place, and I'm theming it kind of birthday party-ish since it's like we're growing up now. There will be balloons and cake.
I'm also toying with the idea of sending folks home with party favors, if I can find something that feels right. Budget is just a couple of bucks per person and the timeline is short so this can't get crazy.
(I thought about buying nips, like the tiny alcohols, but I don't drink and would be buying blind and also with the budget constraint...I feel like there are better options I'm not thinking of.)
Anyway, I live in Chicago and have Amazon access so most things are accessible.
Thank you!
Mini bottles of champagne, with cute little straws/ribbons, depending on time limitation. ~$4ish pp. Binnys could probably help you out with this, or here is one place to get a case.
posted by Fig at 1:09 PM on August 6, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by Fig at 1:09 PM on August 6, 2018 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Searching "cute office supplies" on Amazon, I found animal-shaped paper clips, smiling binder clips, bunny pushpins, and many other possibilities. You could make little favor baskets with a collection.
posted by FencingGal at 1:09 PM on August 6, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by FencingGal at 1:09 PM on August 6, 2018 [6 favorites]
First, this party sounds like so much fun!!
Since you mention your office being so small, what about doing party favor bags with a little item representative of each of your colleagues. (I'm assuming there are ten people or fewer: if they're more, just ignore this or do it more generally by department.) For example, a packet of gum to represent the person who's always chewing gum and offering it to others, a marigold packet in honor of the colleague whose desk is covered with plants, etc. Of course, you want to be careful but people like feeling recognized and special, and it could be fun for people to guess.
posted by smorgasbord at 1:19 PM on August 6, 2018
Since you mention your office being so small, what about doing party favor bags with a little item representative of each of your colleagues. (I'm assuming there are ten people or fewer: if they're more, just ignore this or do it more generally by department.) For example, a packet of gum to represent the person who's always chewing gum and offering it to others, a marigold packet in honor of the colleague whose desk is covered with plants, etc. Of course, you want to be careful but people like feeling recognized and special, and it could be fun for people to guess.
posted by smorgasbord at 1:19 PM on August 6, 2018
I recently received a leftover party favor via my mom. The theme was baseball.
It was the size of a small jar candle or package of candy, wrapped in white tissue paper and tied with a red pipe cleaner that had little baseball beads affixed to the ends. I undid the ties and opened it up.
It was a single-serving cup of applesauce, with a baseball stitching pattern drawn onto the top foil in red Sharpie.
In short, I vote for little applesauce containers decorated like golf balls!
posted by Carouselle at 1:23 PM on August 6, 2018
It was the size of a small jar candle or package of candy, wrapped in white tissue paper and tied with a red pipe cleaner that had little baseball beads affixed to the ends. I undid the ties and opened it up.
It was a single-serving cup of applesauce, with a baseball stitching pattern drawn onto the top foil in red Sharpie.
In short, I vote for little applesauce containers decorated like golf balls!
posted by Carouselle at 1:23 PM on August 6, 2018
Best answer: Mini puzzle cubes
Stress balls
Office friendly snacks (to share with the new employees?)
I'm also feeling like some kind of awkward middle school style class photos should happen...
posted by jenquat at 2:14 PM on August 6, 2018
Stress balls
Office friendly snacks (to share with the new employees?)
I'm also feeling like some kind of awkward middle school style class photos should happen...
posted by jenquat at 2:14 PM on August 6, 2018
Koosh balls.
posted by slateyness at 2:19 PM on August 6, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by slateyness at 2:19 PM on August 6, 2018 [1 favorite]
God no not koosh balls.
And booze is ok only if you know none of your colleagues is abstaining.
A few bucks a person hardly feels like worth the bother. I'd either skip it and give them more videogame tokens or spend more money and get something they can actually use.
But, if you must, one way to "grow up" is to be old enough to drive, yes? So fun keychains might be nice. If they are also functional (have a light or a bottle opener on them) they could actually be a good gift.
posted by emjaybee at 3:43 PM on August 6, 2018 [1 favorite]
And booze is ok only if you know none of your colleagues is abstaining.
A few bucks a person hardly feels like worth the bother. I'd either skip it and give them more videogame tokens or spend more money and get something they can actually use.
But, if you must, one way to "grow up" is to be old enough to drive, yes? So fun keychains might be nice. If they are also functional (have a light or a bottle opener on them) they could actually be a good gift.
posted by emjaybee at 3:43 PM on August 6, 2018 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Adults and kids both love these little half-sphere poppers.
Shop around, they are dirt cheap and tons of fun. You can have artillery wars or make dares regarding sticking them to yourselves and making hickies.
Anyone who leaves one on their forehead for a half hour will have a harmless mark for days!
posted by SaltySalticid at 3:53 PM on August 6, 2018
Shop around, they are dirt cheap and tons of fun. You can have artillery wars or make dares regarding sticking them to yourselves and making hickies.
Anyone who leaves one on their forehead for a half hour will have a harmless mark for days!
posted by SaltySalticid at 3:53 PM on August 6, 2018
Company colors m&ms or something else consumable?
posted by brilliantine at 5:21 PM on August 6, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by brilliantine at 5:21 PM on August 6, 2018 [1 favorite]
Just go to the dollar store (or Daiso if you have one) and get whatever looks fun. Party favors, office supplies, maybe weird candy. At this price point, shipping will kill you. The dollar store will also have gift bags and ribbon.
Edit to add: different stuff in different bags is okay if it's not assigned, folks can swap, which can be fun.
posted by momus_window at 5:50 PM on August 6, 2018 [1 favorite]
Edit to add: different stuff in different bags is okay if it's not assigned, folks can swap, which can be fun.
posted by momus_window at 5:50 PM on August 6, 2018 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Red staplers, really nice gel pens in interesting colors, fun/funny post-its, chocolate truffles, Nerf balls, Lego minifigs(my fave).
posted by theora55 at 6:01 PM on August 6, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by theora55 at 6:01 PM on August 6, 2018 [1 favorite]
Hie thee to the Unemployed Philosopher's Guild. Mugs, notebooks, sticky notepads, etc. - all quite clever and not that expensive. (They have an Amazon storefront, if that's the route you're looking to go.)
posted by tzikeh at 6:54 PM on August 6, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by tzikeh at 6:54 PM on August 6, 2018 [1 favorite]
Something that follows the "growth" metaphor? Little succulents in pots for their desks?
posted by ersatzkat at 7:13 AM on August 7, 2018
posted by ersatzkat at 7:13 AM on August 7, 2018
Response by poster: I used several of these ideas!
Office supplies:
-race car pencils (there are also go karts)
-the smiley binder clips
-washi tape
-metallic gel pens
-post it pack
Classic party favors:
-bubbles
-press on dinosaur tattoos
-ring pop
-rice krispy treat
(And I'll add those rubber poppers if I can pick them up for that price when I get the balloons from the party store, I love those.)
All bundled in a cello bag and tied with ribbon in our company colors.
Total price per person: $3.48. If I get the poppers probably closer to $3.75 each.
I worry about several of yall's budgeting abilities if "a couple bucks a person" sent you some of those links.
posted by phunniemee at 7:33 AM on August 7, 2018 [4 favorites]
Office supplies:
-race car pencils (there are also go karts)
-the smiley binder clips
-washi tape
-metallic gel pens
-post it pack
Classic party favors:
-bubbles
-press on dinosaur tattoos
-ring pop
-rice krispy treat
(And I'll add those rubber poppers if I can pick them up for that price when I get the balloons from the party store, I love those.)
All bundled in a cello bag and tied with ribbon in our company colors.
Total price per person: $3.48. If I get the poppers probably closer to $3.75 each.
I worry about several of yall's budgeting abilities if "a couple bucks a person" sent you some of those links.
posted by phunniemee at 7:33 AM on August 7, 2018 [4 favorites]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by brookeb at 12:58 PM on August 6, 2018 [3 favorites]