Need ideas for presents for employees

[Maleficent13]

I usually get my employees a little token for Christmas. I have 25 of them, so I can't spend more than $2-3 per person. Anyone have any ideas? In the past, I have bought them Christmas ornaments, mugs, and candles. I am stumped for ideas this year, and I have to go shopping tonight as our party is tomorrow.

TIA!

 

[kdibattista]

Scratch off lottery tickets?

 

[TEENEE]

I like the ornament idea.

 

[Aidensmom]

I like the ornament idea too.

 

[Maleficent13]

I guess I could do ornaments again...I was hoping to think of something I hadn't done before. Maybe mini stockings with some candy in it...I don't know.

 

[NMAmy]

I have to find something myself and I was hoping for some ideas here! I got my co-workers each a handpainted, personalized ornament but I need something for those in the other department whom we share an office with. They help out occasionally but don't work directly for me so I usually get them something small or make cookies or something. I need to get cracking.

I have to say, though, I got the best office gift EVER today. Due to high heating costs, they've turned the heat down considerably in our office. There are days when we are all bundled up. One of my co-workers got each of us one of those small fleece lap blankets. I know I've seen them on sale in the $3 - $5 range. I have it on my lap right now and I LOVE this thing. Just an idea if your office is as cold as ours!

 

[barkley]

do you have a see's candy store near by? if so-they will make up little goodie bags for you at no additional charge (beyond the cost of the goodies). you can get their chocolate or coffee flavored suckers, their milk chocolate foil covered holiday balls, good quality indiv. wrapped peppermints...i did this for years and found that people enjoy a smaller amount of good quality candies than a larger amount of the run of the mill stuff. you just let them know how much you want to spend on each bag, and they will help you pick out the items in the store. they will then set to work bagging the items and you end up with everything wrapped up and easy to transport.

 

[ttfn3]

Are you close to a Starbucks? They have really cute red felt gift card holders that are free with a gift card. I know that $3 doesn't buy a lot from Starbucks - but they could get a cup of coffee, some tea or a treat. I'm baking small loafs of pumpkin bread for my co-workers, wrapping them, attaching a Starbucks gift card to the loaf with a candy cane - and a small note card.

 

[MickeysMommy]

I have to go shopping tonight as our party is tomorrow.

No Dirty Martini's !!!

 

[Maleficent13]

I just checked...closest See's is 50 miles away. Bummer. But...there is a little chocolate shop up the road that might have something. I'll have to go there at lunch. I also thought maybe little mini bottles of lotion from like Bath and Body Works or somewhere...it's the season for dry skin.

 

[Blondie]

Since our unit has so many nurses on it, management gives us lottery scratch off tickets. So far nobody has hit anything more than a few dollars, but it's the thought that counts! They tuck it inside a signed card. Not a bad idea if you want to do something different!

 

[Maleficent13]

No Dirty Martini's !!!

It's during office hours, so it's a dry party! BUT...I did have some (okay, alot) of yummy cosmos at a party this weekend. Lucky for me, apparently my body tolerates cosmos well...no hangover!

 

[floridafam]

I think the Bath and Body Works lotions are a good idea. The mini sizes are pretty inexpensive and you can put 2 or 3 in a bag.

I can always use lotion, especially in the winter.

 

[MickeysMommy]

Lucky for me, apparently my body tolerates cosmos well...no hangover!

Yeah, but you didn't mix drinks right? That was my problem. Oh, well, and guess what! I didn't have a handover. I don't know how I didn't but I will NOT TOUCH dirty martini's again

Lotions sound great as does the scratch off ticket. I am trying to think of what we did here sometimes...I'll get back to ya, HM! (You know what that stands for don't ya Mal?!)

 

[drgnfly30]

I think the Bath and Body Works lotions are a good idea. The mini sizes are pretty inexpensive and you can put 2 or 3 in a bag.

I can always use lotion, especially in the winter.

Actually I was surprised - they were like $3.50 each... I ruled them out already.

I took a brown lunch bag with a cute Christmas sticker on it, put some candy in it, one of those magnetic pads of paper from AC Moore, a pen, a votive candle & a scratch off lottery ticket... folded the top over, punched some holes in it & tied Rafia through it... probably about $4-$5 each....they look cute! You could do a little less to bring it down to $3...

 

[ahutton]

Okay - maybe this is going to sound strange, but the coolest gift I've ever received cost my boss almost NOTHING! He passed out printed certificates for a two hour lunch for you and a friend to every employee. We each could grab a friend and take a long lunch. We had to buy our own lunch, but that extra hour meant we could do something really fun - like shopping - during our lunch instead of the normal rushing to get something to eat and get back. The only rule was you had to schedule it with your team leader or shift supervisors so not too many people cashed in at once.

 

[floridafam]

Those little lotions are $3.50?? Yikes!

 

[barkley]

only problem with lotions is many folks (like myself) cannot tolerate allot of the scents out there (and can you imagine what the office will smell like if everyone breaks these out to use at the same time ).

o.k.-here's an odd idea but it's something i've seen done in the past and it works pretty well. call a local florist (or a supermarket that has a floral department inside) and ask how much 2 1/2 dozen red roses will run. then ask if they could box them with each having a ribbon tied on to it. you then pickup the larger box and present each individual employee a rose. i do not know of any woman who does not enjoy the beauty of one perfect rose, nor do i know of any man who could'nt benefit from taking his home and scoring significant points in re-gifting it to his signifcant other.

 

[floridafam]

Do you have a Dollar Store nearby? You could put little gift bags together from there. Somestimes. they have some cute stuff.

I also like the 2 hour lunch idea.

 

[rigs32]

if you're going with ornaments, make sure everyone celebrates christmas! I'm Jewish, so I'm not sure what I'd do with ornaments besides toss them or try to re-gift them.