Hi!

I'm looking for suggestions on what to buy my staff of 10 (8 women, 2 men) for christmas. I'm looking in the 15-20 range pp. The ages run from 30 to 58. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!
Peggy

Hmmm, how about some Godiva or Yankee Candles? Perhaps a fine writing instrument. How well do you know the employees? Perhaps something unique for each one based on their interest/hobbies/likes and dislikes. My last suggestion would be something personalized for each & every one of them.

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We're off to never never land

Don't buy a gift card...because they aren't really a gift!! LOL

I say get gift cards.

I had a boss that used to buy us each a whole frozen turkey. He brought them in on a flatbed cart. Another gave us realy nice huge poinsettas. Another gave us gift cards to cinemark (movie theater). Last five years have received nothing. I think if it is for your staff, you should stay away from personal type gifts, and stick with giftcard, poinsetta, cookie tray from bakery and keep it professional.
One year, a client sent the staff (us) a chocolate bourbon cake. I ate one small slice, my eyes turned red, throat burned and it felt like I did a shot. Too funny

DH is getting $25 restaurant gift cards for the people who work for him. He wanted to get each of them a more personal gift but that would take a lot of work on his part. I suggested he put the personal part into the handwritten card and say something nice.

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"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” ----Edmund Burke

money, money, money

if you don't want to do that, then personalized note paper?

If you decide on a GC, let me give you my opinion. I've worked for a man that has given us all the same thing every year and WE HATE IT!!! A $50 GC to TJ Maxx. He has a staff of about 15 and not one person looks forward to this GC. I always hand mine over to one of my kids to use. This year the manager of the store brought the store and its her turn to start giving out presents and she ask me the other day (this was her favorite store that's why we got them all the time) if everyone was tired of getting TJ Maxx and I told her the truth...Yes, so this year she is giving us a GC to Target...at least we can shop with a little more variety.

I was going to give my 17 DD a GC to Hot topic but our conversation the other day has me thinking differently. I'm going to give her a GC to the entire Mall. That way she can shop in any store she wants too. Just a suggestion, but if you have a huge Mall around you, at least they could shop in any store and get something they like.

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Proud Single Mother to 18 year old Twins Ashley/Davey, 14 year old Shawna, 5 year old Emma, and my Boo Bear, "Angel Hope" (1996-1997) RIP Boo.

the problem is that a lot of the malls charge you for the gift card so instead of getting say $50 you are getting $46. I prefer to give store cards where usually at least you get to spend the whole thing - or cash! cash always works!

I used to get $10 gift cards to Panera or Starbucks. I loved them. Dh got one to Starbucks from his boss for his birthday and he loved it. We rarely go to Starbucks, but with the gift card, we'd treat ourselves more willingly.

Lisa

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"It's not having what you want,
It's wanting what you've got"

suzyr,

Thank you for this heads up. I went online and found out that $2 fee is taken off the card and after 12 months, there's a $2 fee every month. WOW! I can't believe they would do this but I'm glad you let me know. I know my DD would use the card WAY before 12 months, but the $2 fee is uncalled for so I WONT be getting one for my DD. The stores in the Mall also has to accept American Express in order to use the card and I don't have time to go to everyone there and make sure they do accept that card. I'll stick to Hot topic and a few of the other stores I know she shops in.

Thanks for the information!

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Proud Single Mother to 18 year old Twins Ashley/Davey, 14 year old Shawna, 5 year old Emma, and my Boo Bear, "Angel Hope" (1996-1997) RIP Boo.

A gift that might go along with the gift card idea is to do a pre-paid Visa, Mastercard, etc. type of card. They can use this anywhere. When I receive one, it allows me to "treat" myself to things I might not normally purchase. And it doesn't hold you down to one store.

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Think about helping out with cancer...
Join the Relay for Life

I get Amex Cards every year and love them as I can use them for anything. I wouldn't mind Target or TJ Max either but I can even buy food with the Amex Cards or OIL!!!

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Without Health you have no Wealth!

I made milk chocolate and white chocolate covered pretzels and cherries as well as miniature candy for the 8 people under hubby. I got 2 pound boxes and put them in and put a bow on top. They LOVE them. It cost me less than $30 for all the stuff I needed (plus my time, which was about 5 hours).

What about taking them all out for lunch? Hubby's done that a few years, too.

I'm not much help.

I'd get them gift cards to a local restaurant, donut/coffee shop or something like that. If money wasn't an object for us, that's probably what we'd do...buy them all gift cards.

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Amy
Mom to Lauren, Eryn, Naysa
and announcing......
Gavin Michael Chase, 9 lbs 10 ozs
and 21 3/4 inches long on 10/13/09!

I just dont like getting home made food gifts from people I dont know well. Once I was presented with some home made candy, ate it, later visited this person at home to discover her standards of cleanliness were not up to my standards. I could actually almost barf thinking about it. There were pets, bad smells, trash and a general state of yuckiness. If someone gives me a home made food gift I dont know well, it goes in the trash. My aunt is a teacher and she throws all the food gifts away for the same reason (I have heard its common practice among teachers).
Just thought I would mention it

we do gift bags filled with Ghirardelli chocolate squares (about 20 squares in 4 flavors). Big hit and between $10 and $20 (if you do a larger bag or box). I would never give home made food. It almost always goes right into the trash (in my experience). I know my MIL used to teach school and would get homemade gifts of food and toss them and I know I have gotten them and tossed them. Unless you are a VERY close friend, don't give homemade items.

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Proud to say I haven't shopped at a Wal-Mart since Sept 2003

a nice gift basket with fruits and cookies or coffee and biscuits.

I like the idea of the gc's too

How about buying lunch for everyone -- either at a local restaurant or having it brought into the office. Or, bring in coffee, bagles, etc. or a fruit basket or something like that for everyone to share.

Otherwise, I like to give Starbucks gift cards or if your co-workers aren't coffee drinkers (my DH is not, but I am so he brings me Starbucks gift cards he gets from work sometimes), I would give Target cards or maybe Home Depot or Lowe's for the men.

Sarah.......mom to Jason & Devin

I have to chime back in here as far as giving homemade food. There are 8 people under hubby at his work. There are a total of maybe 50 in the whole company. None of the people who get the homemade candies from us would throw them out. We know them well enough, the 8 are like extended family members, so they appreciate the thought.

As far as giving homemade food to teachers, the mail carrier, ect, I wouldn't do that because they don't know us that well and probably would just throw it out.

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Amy
Mom to Lauren, Eryn, Naysa
and announcing......
Gavin Michael Chase, 9 lbs 10 ozs
and 21 3/4 inches long on 10/13/09!

I am wondering if he paid for the gift cards out of his own pocket? No offense but if it's out of his own pocket then he sounds very generous. My dh pays for the gifts out of our own money which is not always easy but he wants to show his appreciation for all their hard work.

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"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” ----Edmund Burke

I like the lunch suggestion.

My dad used to be a mail carrier for years. At Christmas time he would bring home baskets of homemade goodies each week. He appreciated them all and never threw them away just because they were homemade. The whole family loved them.

Lisa

__________________
"It's not having what you want,
It's wanting what you've got"

Hosting a nice luncheon or dinner is always appreciated. It is also a great way for employees to mingle, get to know each other better and bond. My new principal (former one retired last year) hosted "happy hour" after work for all of us. We had an appitizer bar and our choice of up to 2 alchoholic drinks or unlimited soda/tea. Almost the entire staff came and everyone agreed that it was, by far, the best gift we had ever received from a principal.

My husband's company always gives the employees one of those catalog gifts ~ where you have your choice of 50 or so different things. DH says he wishes they would just cater in a nice lunch (steak!).

Hi Rookie68:
I own a business that has products that would be perfect for you to give, and in the right price range. We do many corporate orders this time of year. We have gourmet dipping oils, bread mixes, and flavored pastas. I can't give my website link but if you want to PM me, I can link you to my website. We were just featured in the Cincinnati Enquirer.
Thanks!

We just had our "group lunch" at work yesterday. A couple of years ago my company (big, giant corporation) started giving each of the groups a set amount (currently $20) that they can spend on a "holiday lunch" which can either be catered through the on-site catering company or spent off-site (with the understanding that the cost can only cover employees - guests can come if there's room but they have to pay their own way, can not include alcohol, etc....we're a government contractor, so there's all sorts of random rules). Somehow, someone worked out a deal with a Brazilian steakhouse (Texas de Brazil) to do a slightly limited lunch menu that works out to (with tax and tip) exactly the $20 per person that each group leader can spend. So, we all had an amazing lunch yesterday (and spent the afternoon in a meat coma, but that's just a fun side effect). We all appreciate this lunch much more than any other gift the company has ever given us or anything they might come up with. It truly is something that people talk about, plan for (people will put off leaving for Christmas vacations until after their group lunch) and really enjoy.