Non-cheap, non-cheesy gifts for an office.
December 3, 2011 8:36 AM Subscribe
Do you work in an office? What's the best gift you've gotten from a vendor?
I'm a freelancer, and I have just a few clients who I work closely with that I like to get Christmas gifts for. I prefer to give something collective that everyone in the department/office can appreciate (I'm never certain I'm not leaving someone out if I do individual items).
I'm leaning towards some kind of snack/food item as unoriginal as that is, so if I go that route I'd like it to be either pretty unique or just really awesome. Have you gotten any corporate-ish gifts that you really enjoyed, or were at least useful?
Because I'll only be getting a few (and they're really good clients) I'm willing to spend a little money for something nice.
I'm a freelancer, and I have just a few clients who I work closely with that I like to get Christmas gifts for. I prefer to give something collective that everyone in the department/office can appreciate (I'm never certain I'm not leaving someone out if I do individual items).
I'm leaning towards some kind of snack/food item as unoriginal as that is, so if I go that route I'd like it to be either pretty unique or just really awesome. Have you gotten any corporate-ish gifts that you really enjoyed, or were at least useful?
Because I'll only be getting a few (and they're really good clients) I'm willing to spend a little money for something nice.
(Ms. Vegetable):
Once we got fancy popcorn. That was great. I don't even like popcorn, and there was something with almonds and white chocolate popcorn that was just fantastic.
posted by a robot made out of meat at 8:42 AM on December 3, 2011
Once we got fancy popcorn. That was great. I don't even like popcorn, and there was something with almonds and white chocolate popcorn that was just fantastic.
posted by a robot made out of meat at 8:42 AM on December 3, 2011
One of our clients arranged for a local restaurant to cater a lunch for the entire staff of the office during the holiday season, and that was terrific.
posted by xingcat at 8:47 AM on December 3, 2011
posted by xingcat at 8:47 AM on December 3, 2011
Make sure you specify on the card that it is for the whole office. I have watched fruit rot rather than get shared at one of my previous jobs.
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 8:55 AM on December 3, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 8:55 AM on December 3, 2011 [3 favorites]
I agree with hazyjane that fruit is nice, though I prefer a high-quality basket of whole fruit to the ones that are arranged to look like flowers.
I would skip anything like cookies or cake that is sweet and needs to be eaten immediately - there's too much sweet stuff in offices at this time of year already. Candy is fine, since you can save it for later.
posted by insectosaurus at 9:13 AM on December 3, 2011
I would skip anything like cookies or cake that is sweet and needs to be eaten immediately - there's too much sweet stuff in offices at this time of year already. Candy is fine, since you can save it for later.
posted by insectosaurus at 9:13 AM on December 3, 2011
Best answer: Mixed nuts and things like flavored pistachios always seem to go over well. Bonus: healthier than most holiday treats but you don't have to eat them right awy.
posted by jabes at 9:21 AM on December 3, 2011
posted by jabes at 9:21 AM on December 3, 2011
Best answer: There's a company I work with that always sends us good quality chocolates local to their office. We're in Oregon and they're in Boston area. I know there's nothing different about making chocolate on one side of the country from the other, but it seems like a nice personal touch to receive some "local cuisine" like that, rather than random popcorn. The chocolates are also individually wrapped, which is a plus this time of year when it seems like half the office has a cold.
posted by Secretariat at 9:22 AM on December 3, 2011
posted by Secretariat at 9:22 AM on December 3, 2011
Well some of our best gifts have come from local printers, because it's stuff they make in-house: calendars, wrapping paper, notepads.
A vendor once gave me a big gift basket thing with all sorts of packaged fruits, sweets, nuts, crackers, etc. There was something for everyone, but it wasn't perishable. Also it was in a great metal bin that I now use at home for umbrellas - my boss has his on top of his desk hutch with plants inside.
If you do candy, I highly recommend Sees. I grew up in California and it's the de-facto awesome gift to give. It's not as common in other parts of the country but everyone loves it. Also, a friend gave my fiance a gift box from Southern Candymakers for his birthday, and we've really enjoyed that. It had a variety of pralines, turtles, etc.
posted by radioamy at 9:23 AM on December 3, 2011 [1 favorite]
A vendor once gave me a big gift basket thing with all sorts of packaged fruits, sweets, nuts, crackers, etc. There was something for everyone, but it wasn't perishable. Also it was in a great metal bin that I now use at home for umbrellas - my boss has his on top of his desk hutch with plants inside.
If you do candy, I highly recommend Sees. I grew up in California and it's the de-facto awesome gift to give. It's not as common in other parts of the country but everyone loves it. Also, a friend gave my fiance a gift box from Southern Candymakers for his birthday, and we've really enjoyed that. It had a variety of pralines, turtles, etc.
posted by radioamy at 9:23 AM on December 3, 2011 [1 favorite]
Back in the early 90's I got an ice chest with cheese and paté, and a basket of related crackers and whatnot. I was working for Apple on eWorld and I made a logo for one of the vendors that was much better than the one they had.
posted by doctor_negative at 9:24 AM on December 3, 2011
posted by doctor_negative at 9:24 AM on December 3, 2011
A 10 pound bag of pistachios. We love that... it's a break from all the sweets, and they last a while. We put a stack of paper cups next to the bag, so people can scoop out a helping and take them back to their desk.
posted by kimdog at 9:25 AM on December 3, 2011
posted by kimdog at 9:25 AM on December 3, 2011
goodnessgracie was a favorite at our office one year. Soooo tasty. They offer both sweet and salty things but I don't believe allergens and vegan concerns are listed. (They are somewhat nearby but I have no connection.)
Another good gift was a party bucket filled with fancy sodas, snacks, movie & bowling passes, puzzle books and such.
posted by mightshould at 9:29 AM on December 3, 2011
Another good gift was a party bucket filled with fancy sodas, snacks, movie & bowling passes, puzzle books and such.
posted by mightshould at 9:29 AM on December 3, 2011
Nthing fruit basket, and agreeing with it being whole fruit.
My husband and I got a Harry & David's basket one year that had the best pears I've ever had.
posted by luckynerd at 9:39 AM on December 3, 2011
My husband and I got a Harry & David's basket one year that had the best pears I've ever had.
posted by luckynerd at 9:39 AM on December 3, 2011
I have gotten baskets from Harry and David, containers and containers of fancy ass popcorn, chocolates, and a whole host of fruit type baskets, but by far the best thing we got delivered to the entire trading floor was the 400 sliders from White Castle. Not sure how they did it, through a franchisee or the main office, but 400 piping hot sliders was a huge hit. (We were told that for some building security tests, food/lunch deliveries were not going to be accepted that day as a way to keep the surprise and keep us hungry.)
I say cater them a really nice lunch one Friday from a local upscale restaurant.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 9:40 AM on December 3, 2011
I say cater them a really nice lunch one Friday from a local upscale restaurant.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 9:40 AM on December 3, 2011
We've gotten baskets with wine and cheeses/crackers/saugages as well as popcorn bins. We've also gotten really nice Christmas tree ornaments...like one really nice ornament wrapped in a pretty box, but my favorite of all was the year all the women in the office got a $50 gift certificate to a really nice spa/salon. Maybe you could get something like that for the women and think of something else for the men.
posted by daydreamer at 9:44 AM on December 3, 2011
posted by daydreamer at 9:44 AM on December 3, 2011
I send local muffin baskets to vendors in my immediate location and gift cards to the rest.
posted by Ideefixe at 9:53 AM on December 3, 2011
posted by Ideefixe at 9:53 AM on December 3, 2011
Two food gifts vendors have given me/my office in the past that went over really well:
-Animal Crackers gift set. They came in the fancy circus-y boxes, there were a variety of flavors, and the presentation was really net.
-Huge tin of shortbread cookies, just because I love shortbread cookies, and we all grazed on them forever after Christmas.
posted by litnerd at 9:55 AM on December 3, 2011
-Animal Crackers gift set. They came in the fancy circus-y boxes, there were a variety of flavors, and the presentation was really net.
-Huge tin of shortbread cookies, just because I love shortbread cookies, and we all grazed on them forever after Christmas.
posted by litnerd at 9:55 AM on December 3, 2011
High end business card holders--they sort of looked like old-timey cigarette cases. One design was red, the other blue, so fairly gender-neutral. They were sent all in one box, so everyone chose which color they wanted. I actually do use it!
posted by lily_bart at 9:56 AM on December 3, 2011
posted by lily_bart at 9:56 AM on December 3, 2011
My favorite vendor gifts were unique/interesting office supplies. The Museum of Modern Art Shop, Cooper Hewitt, and Uncommon Goods all carry these sorts of things. My favorite ruler and calculator were vendor gifts, and I have to say, every time I used them I thought very nice things about the vendors who gave them, even though they were not emblazoned with logos, etc.
posted by apparently at 10:07 AM on December 3, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by apparently at 10:07 AM on December 3, 2011 [1 favorite]
Really, really nice chocolates -- like the grey and smoked salt caramels from Fran's -- is always a treat.
posted by cider at 10:46 AM on December 3, 2011
posted by cider at 10:46 AM on December 3, 2011
Two things two different years, both from the same vendor. 1) Some locally (to them) made chocolate covered potato chips. They were very strange, but the fact that they were from the vendor's town made them really cool. 2) A mug with a pithy saying, also local to the vendor's location. We had a good relationship with them, and see local stuff made it extra nifty that they sent us something.
posted by Gorgik at 10:58 AM on December 3, 2011
posted by Gorgik at 10:58 AM on December 3, 2011
One of our design vendors gave us tins of Carol's Cookies one year, which are insanely good.
posted by Bron at 11:14 AM on December 3, 2011
posted by Bron at 11:14 AM on December 3, 2011
Best answer: Hands down the best office gift I ever got was a small box of Gearharts Fine Chocolates. They were so amazing I started giving them as gifts to people myself even though I am located nowhere near them. I have no connection to this business other than thinking they are fucking amazing.
posted by bq at 11:28 AM on December 3, 2011
posted by bq at 11:28 AM on December 3, 2011
First place: a basket from Manhattan Fruitier (I got the little wooden box of chocolates which included their darling chocolate mice with satin ribbon tails). Tied for first place: Pears from Harry and David.
posted by Anitanola at 11:28 AM on December 3, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Anitanola at 11:28 AM on December 3, 2011 [1 favorite]
I liked it when a vendor showed up with a bottle of wine for me. Nothing fancy, but saved me a trip to the grocery store.
Second the Edible Arrangements. I love those! Especially when the chocolate covered strawberries are involved.
posted by olinerd at 11:56 AM on December 3, 2011
Second the Edible Arrangements. I love those! Especially when the chocolate covered strawberries are involved.
posted by olinerd at 11:56 AM on December 3, 2011
Response by poster: Thanks for all the suggestions! I love the idea of something non-perishable like nuts, and I had no idea people loved those fruit bouquets. These should tide me over for the next couple of Christmases at least.
posted by TallulahBankhead at 2:54 PM on December 3, 2011
posted by TallulahBankhead at 2:54 PM on December 3, 2011
Flavored popcorn! http://www.thepopcornfactory.com/ - this place will get you tins that are split into different types - caramel, cheese, butter, chocolate. Mmm.
posted by namesarehard at 4:46 PM on December 3, 2011
posted by namesarehard at 4:46 PM on December 3, 2011
I'm sure that you won't reach the threshold, but just wanted to call out that some firms (especially larger companies and government agencies) have policies on gift receiving. For example, if you get a gift above $X you need to let your manager know - if you get a gift above $Y you must decline.
You may want to become familiar with your clients to see if they have policies like these.
posted by secondlife at 5:01 PM on December 3, 2011
You may want to become familiar with your clients to see if they have policies like these.
posted by secondlife at 5:01 PM on December 3, 2011
As the holiday season wears on, my officemates and I become increasingly appreciative of non-sweet options. Nuts, crackers, non-sweet popcorn, and other crisp or crunchy savory items are a nice relief from the cookies/candy/cake/more candy/more candy/more candy cycle. Fresh fruit is also nice; when we get a box of Harry & David pears everybody seems happy to get one.
(Personally I don't like the fruit bouquets because I think the fruit they use is 100% unseasonal at this time of year. Of course, going with seasonal fruit would mean "kiwis and persimmons" around these parts, and "nothing at all" in colder areas, so...)
posted by Lexica at 4:23 PM on December 4, 2011
(Personally I don't like the fruit bouquets because I think the fruit they use is 100% unseasonal at this time of year. Of course, going with seasonal fruit would mean "kiwis and persimmons" around these parts, and "nothing at all" in colder areas, so...)
posted by Lexica at 4:23 PM on December 4, 2011
Zingerman's makes great gift baskets. Here's one.
posted by frescaanddietcoke at 2:32 PM on December 5, 2011
posted by frescaanddietcoke at 2:32 PM on December 5, 2011
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posted by hazyjane at 8:41 AM on December 3, 2011 [4 favorites]