Thanks UK Boss, Sincerely US Employee

September 7, 2006 2:38 PM

My future boss has been extremely helpful and considerate about my upcoming move to the UK, so I'd like to bring him a gift as a thank you. What would a Brit like from the States/California/San Diego?

Restrictions to keep in mind:
- Easily accessible since I leave very soon.
- Packable, it will have to be checked in my luggage for my flight
- ~$20-$30

Suggestions so far but I wasn't really stuck on them:
- Spicy Hot Chocolate : I like it, but not sure if this is a worldwide taste pleaser.
- Chocolates: Like what, Hershey's? I personally prefer European chocolates anyway.
- Trader Joe's snacks: This is more for me though as I'm hoping he'll share. :P

Realllly do NOT want to get a San Diego/Sea World/Wild Animal Park themed hat/sweatshirt/tshirt, I think that would be pretty lame.

posted by like_neon to Human Relations (28 answers total)

A pound or two of good local coffee, maybe?
posted by pdb at 2:41 PM on September 7, 2006

When I think California, I think wine. Could be because I live a couple hours form Napa, but there you go... and I've packed bottles on a number of occasions (lots of soft clothing around them in the center of my suitcase), never a problem with breakage...
posted by hwickline at 2:42 PM on September 7, 2006

A genuine cap from the california baseball team of your choice. It's a real American gift and Brits get a kick out of that kind of thing. There are a gazillion people that I see in Britain that wear a Yankees cap without realizing that it's a team cap and it doesn't mean New York City, so a genuine cap with an explanation of what the team is would make a cool smallish gift...
posted by ob at 2:48 PM on September 7, 2006

I think the cap is far too specific. Wine is neutral whilst still being of quality. Buy a nice red and a nice white and you're laughing.
posted by 0bvious at 2:50 PM on September 7, 2006

Best answer: I have family in the UK, whenever I come they ask for the same things:
1. good coffee
2. bourbon (they can get the standards there but they're wildly expensive--the small batch stuff is nowhere to be found)
3. mexican foodstuffs (real tortillas, hard to find in the UK chiles, etc)
4. reefer.

of course, the 4th never happens, but they ask nonetheless. I'd recommend against wine unless you know what you're doing--england is, afterall, quite close to france--unless you're getting an American wine that is representative and unique, i'd stay away.
posted by markovitch at 2:56 PM on September 7, 2006

Wine is good. I like the baseball cap idea -- easy to pack. How about a Hawaiin shirt?
posted by BitterOldPunk at 2:59 PM on September 7, 2006

4. reefer.

They don't have pot in the UK?
posted by TheOnlyCoolTim at 3:11 PM on September 7, 2006

Best answer: A Padres cap.
posted by veedubya at 3:13 PM on September 7, 2006

I'm a brit/american hybrid living in California and I go back to UK several times a year - my family/friends in UK always love getting a decent, hard-to-find bottle of California red wine. So add me to the wine pile for this one.
posted by cubedweller at 3:18 PM on September 7, 2006

ixnay on the Hershey's, sorry its awful chocolate to a Brit. Agreed on the wine or coffee. Coffee is easier to pack of course. or you could take some local microbrewery type beer if they sell it bottled.
posted by Joh at 3:24 PM on September 7, 2006

I would nix the chocolates--Brits are usually proud of their own chocolates, and if they don't like their own I'd think they'd go for something from Europe.

Trader Joe's seems like a coin flip to me.

The wine or bourbon seems like a good idea. If you can get an idea of his liquor preferences you could match them to something from the US. It would be cool to get something he hadn't even heard of, if you had a good idea he'd like it.
posted by lackutrol at 3:26 PM on September 7, 2006

Much British choclate is nothing to brag about either. Something fancy, like Ghirardelli might be nice though. And another vote for a quality California wine.
posted by GuyZero at 3:26 PM on September 7, 2006

Many of my British friends like me to bring U.S food items over -- which can be difficult to find over there. They have their favorites such as A&W Root Beer, Blueberry Muffin Mix, Buttermilk Pancake Mix, Hershey's Chocolate Syrup, Jif or Skippy Peanut Butter, Kraft Thousand Island Dressing, Marshmallow Fluff, Mike & Ike Candies, Nestle Chocolate Chips, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and Salsa Verde. They, their friends and especially their kids get a kick out of these products, just as I get a kick out of having them bring me Cadbury Chocolates, Double Devon Cream, Frys Chocaltes, PG Tips Tea Bags, Robertsons Golden Shred Marmalade, Rowntree Fruit Pastilles and Smarties.

BTW -- I second the Bourbon and 'hard-to-find' Califonian wines.
posted by ericb at 3:28 PM on September 7, 2006

Buying reefer for your new boss is surely not a good idea.

I'd go with a nice bottle of Californian wine. Simple, something he or she can enjoy, not too ostentatious.
posted by afx237vi at 3:29 PM on September 7, 2006

I don't know if this is a thing in the UK, but it's a little tricky to give your boss a gift. I got excellent advice from a mentor in my career and one of the many things she told me is "never gift up."

I never understood it until I became a "boss" -- I find it to be a little weird if someone who I'm above on the ladder gives me a gift. I can't tell if they're "sucking up" or just genuinely wanted to give me something.

So I'd go against the grain and suggest giving your future boss a card that thanks him sincerely, but doesn't have any giftiness about it.
posted by pazazygeek at 3:29 PM on September 7, 2006

As a brit Im seconding Bourbon.

My buddy from kentucky brought me soma "Makers Mark"

Joy....
posted by gergtreble at 3:38 PM on September 7, 2006

SOME! Damn my leather fingers....
posted by gergtreble at 3:39 PM on September 7, 2006

I know you don't want to do a t-shirt, but I have had great success with Wild Animal Park mugs. They are nice, they are clearly San Diegan, and they are a gift without being uncomfortably so-- they're so practical. Heck, you could tell him they're for the office!
posted by posadnitsa at 3:41 PM on September 7, 2006

I think a baseball cap is a better idea than wine, certainly. UK supermarkets have tonnes of californian wine already - unless both you and he really know and appreciate wine of course...

gregtreble A gramme is better than a damn...
posted by prentiz at 3:52 PM on September 7, 2006

Yes to California wine or to California chocolate (*not* Ghiradelli but Scharffen Berger).
posted by ClaudiaCenter at 4:25 PM on September 7, 2006

Yes to bourbon. Wine: yawn.
posted by Flashman at 4:40 PM on September 7, 2006

One time I had a friend in the UK ask me to ship him a sixpack of Anchor Porter.
posted by Steven C. Den Beste at 4:50 PM on September 7, 2006

Response by poster: Thanks everyone! Depending on time constraints I'll probably go with the Padres cap or bourbon. I don't know enough about California wine to pick a "quality" one but I know where to find Maker's Mark. The Padres cap did cross my mind but I didn't know they were generally worn over there.

I've already got some Scharffen Bergers in my suitcase but that's for me and the 10 hour flight. ;)
posted by like_neon at 5:06 PM on September 7, 2006

A bottle of wine from the Coppola estate.
There are some in your price range.

Every European I know enjoys the story of a bottle from the Godfather's director wineyard.
posted by bru at 8:26 PM on September 7, 2006

And good luck with the move!
posted by athenian at 11:49 PM on September 7, 2006

The baseball cap is a really good choice, because outside the ubiquitous Yankees and perhaps Red Sox it's rare to find other teams' caps on sale. You'll need to know your boss's head size, though, for a proper fitted cap. (Cue jokes.) The adjustable ones aren't the same.
posted by holgate at 12:12 AM on September 8, 2006

Heartfelt Card will do fine; anything else is OTT unless you already have a relationship of giving gifts.

Flowers would be acceptable to a Female boss regardless though, although that's a personal perspective for sure...
posted by DrtyBlvd at 11:55 AM on September 8, 2006

Probably too late, but I love this silver dolphin bottle opener -- it's inexpensive but I love using it. I got it from some SD relatives, and it seems to fit the vibe of the town.
posted by mdiskin at 8:25 AM on September 10, 2006