How to Pick a Gift for a Colleague

If you’re shopping for a gift for a co-worker, then you might find yourself caught between competing priorities. On the one hand, you don’t want to hand over something that’ll be taken badly – or even cause offence. On the other hand, you don’t want your gift to be boring or predictable.

Let’s take a look at how you might pick out a gift that ticks every box.

Stick to a Budget

Saving money on your gift-giving is an inherently positive step. But it can also help you to avoid unintentionally upsetting the person for whom you’re buying. If they’ve gotten you a gift that costs £5, and you’re reciprocated with a gift that costs £50, then they may feel that you’re trying to create a feeling of indebtedness, or trying to demonstrate that you’re more generous or capable than they are. In other words, they might take it the wrong way.

On the other hand, if you skimp and go for something that’s really cheap, then you might appear – well, cheap.

The best way to deal with this? Set a budget and ensure that everyone in your office agrees to abide by it.

Be Considerate

You’ll want to do a little bit of groundwork to ensure that you’re buying something that’s appropriate for the person in question. Look into their tastes and individual needs.

If they’ve recently passed their driving test, then you might consider getting them something to make the driving experience better, like a set of mats. Of course, before you do that, you’ll need to establish that no-one else has beaten you to it. It’s also worth making yourself aware of any cultural sensitivities, in order to avoid causing unintentional offence.

Personalisation

A gift that’s been personalised to suit a particular person is far more likely to go down well. You might opt for a mug bearing the person’s name, for example. These are available from online stores like CardFactory, and they’ll help to clear up any office confusion about which tea belongs to whom.

Packaging

Getting the packaging right will help to create the impression that you’ve made an effort. Spend a little extra on fancy wrapping paper. If you’re not sure how to wrap competently, then take the time to practice with the cheap stuff. It’s a technique that, once mastered, will serve you well in many Christmases to come!