Professional thank you gifts?

[boogerz]

Hey CP,

I need to get a thank you gift for someone who gave me a recommendation for a job, but I'm not really sure what type of gift to give or where to draw the line between personal/professional.

I was thinking of getting a personalized card and a box of Choklat truffles, but seeing as how many of you are professionals, what types of thank you gifts do you guys/gals tend to get and/or enjoy the most?

[Fobulous]

A bottle of wine...

Nothing says thank you like booze.

[WilsonFourTwo]

Booze is always good (seriously). $15 buys a bottle of wine, but I'd avoid it if the relationship is 100% professional. A coffee gift-card would also be a good (safe) pick.

The card/truffles is actually a really solid idea, imo. More than "it's the thought that counts" but not over the top either. I'd actually run with your initial idea.....

[KTrain]

Food and booze are good ways to go.

If they're coffee people, maybe a gift card to Starbucks in a Thank You card

[Fozzie_DeBear]

Chocolate has romantic overtones...go with the coffee

[VladtheImpaler]

A bottle of wine in the $20-40 range is ideal. It will be appreciated and valued, without being overboard. This assumes the person you are thanking likes wine.
A gift certificate for food is a bit more dicey, as the person (1) will know exactly how much you spent, (2) may not like the given restaurant.

[Drury18]

Agreed with the food and coffee thing. I've found booze to be a little iffy depending on the type of business and such.

I know our company typically sends out the "A Little Thank You" from http://www.calgarygiftbasket.com/bas...Thank-you.html. It's a bit of coffee, tea and some cookies and chocolates wrapped up very nicely.

[afc wimbledon]

The blow job wasn't enough?

[Huntingwhale]

The gift of hot lovin' is always recommended.

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by VladtheImpaler

A bottle of wine in the $20-40 range is ideal. It will be appreciated and valued, without being overboard. This assumes the person you are thanking likes wine.

I'm not a wine person; and the odd time I do drink wine it is usually white wine. However a while ago I got a nice bottle of red wine as a thank-you; and I did still appreciate it.

According to my fiancee; her and her friends really enjoyed it.
Sorry, no pictures.

[Starfishy]

I agree with the wine. The coffee gift card is nice but they know exactly what it is worth. At least with wine the average wine drinker doesn't know the exact cost of the wine they receive. For whatever reason when I get a $15 bottle of wine it seems like a "better" gift than a $20 coffee card.

[Table 5]

Depending on where they work, you might want to quickly check that it's ok to send gifts to this person.

It might sound silly but a few weeks ago I wanted to send a little thank you to one individual at a company who's been responsible for me getting a lot of work, and I found out that they are not allowed to accept gifts of any kind. I guess it could be misconstrued as bribery...which I guess I can understand since I was partly doing it to thank her, but also in hopes of having the good vibes continue!

[Starfishy]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Depending on where they work, you might want to quickly check that it's ok to send gifts to this person.

It might sound silly but a few weeks ago I wanted to send a little thank you to one individual at a company who's been responsible for me getting a lot of work, and I found out that they are not allowed to accept gifts of any kind. I guess it could be misconstrued as bribery...which I guess I can understand since I was partly doing it to thank her, but also in hopes of having the good vibes continue!

Wow, is this in the Oil and Gas sector?

Never mind, just noticed you are in NYC, probably not Oil and Gas. This is certainly not true for any companies I have been involved with in Calgary, even if it should be.

[Komskies]

Have you thought about sending them an edible arrangement?

http://www.ediblearrangements.ca/fru...D=95&Section=1

I've seen these around the office a few times now and I think it's a pretty good thank you gift. And they taste great to boot!

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by Starfishy

Wow, is this in the Oil and Gas sector?

It's a large advertising agency.

[BigBrodieFan]

Originally Posted by boogerz

Hey CP,

I need to get a thank you gift for someone who gave me a recommendation for a job, but I'm not really sure what type of gift to give or where to draw the line between personal/professional.

I was thinking of getting a personalized card and a box of Choklat truffles, but seeing as how many of you are professionals, what types of thank you gifts do you guys/gals tend to get and/or enjoy the most?

Chocolates are always a great idea really. Every year I look forward to our vendors, and some customers sending us stuff for Christmas and I love getting the chocolates. Everyone loves chocolate, not everyone loves wine or coffee.

I recently wrote a letter of recommendation for a lady who used to work with our company and she sent me a thank you note, and I thought that in itself was very nice.

Very thoughtful of you

[Northendzone]

if you go with wine, get the kind that is sold in the box - makes it easy to carry home.........or to place on the corner of the desk.

i am somewhat surprised that the most common two gifts have yet to be suggested........

[jammies]

Hookers and blow?

[annasuave]

I would suggest something along the lines of a fruit basket, cookies, or bakery buns.

Dreary but true - many companies do have policies about accepting gifts. A gift of monetary value or alcohol can put the receiver in an awkward positions (having to refuse it, or having to explain to their boss why they're getting booze at work.)


I'm a big fan of the sincere and personally-written thank you note. No one gets in trouble for that!

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by Starfishy

Never mind, just noticed you are in NYC, probably not Oil and Gas. This is certainly not true for any companies I have been involved with in Calgary, even if it should be.

I find more and more companies bringing in similar policies outside of Oil & Gas.