$35 is a tough budget. WE just got our staff Ogio gym bags but they were about $60. They went over well.
Maybe a good quality pen as someone said above? Should be able to get one for that price.
Also, the goody bag with a variety of things like chocolates, bottle of wine etc. should be doable. How many people?
Yeah one of the better gifts I got from a larger company was a box of Bernard Callebaut chocolates, this was pre-foreclosure Callebaut and the quality was great. Definitely one of those "I'd have never bough this for myself, but I really enjoyed it".
$35 is a tough budget. WE just got our staff Ogio gym bags but they were about $60. They went over well.
Maybe a good quality pen as someone said above? Should be able to get one for that price.
Also, the goody bag with a variety of things like chocolates, bottle of wine etc. should be doable. How many people?
35 employees.
I heard a long time ago that you shouldn't brand pens because when they die the last thing someone does is read the company name while cursing and throwing it out.
How many employees are u buying for. The more people ur buying for the further u can stretch your budget as u get volume discounts on logo items. 35 bucks is tough but u could do a nice gift basket for each person. In the past we have found some nice toques (good one for about 12 with logo), and a real nice go mug for coffee or hot drinks (probably about 15 to 20) and a tin of decent coffee or chocolate. That would be about 35 or so.
I know there are folks here who employ their spouse so a little tax tip for you. You can do this for any employee but it's particularly useful when your spouse works for your business.
You can buy an employee one gift per year up to, I think, $200 value. Buy a gift for your spouse and you can deduct it and he/she gets a tax-free item.
I do this every year with my wife, who works in my office. Set of earrings, check. Westjet voucher for an upcoming trip, check. Chapters gift card, check. Best not to give a restaurant gift card as food and entertainment are only half deductible.
Technically the westjet voucher, and gift cards do not qualify as they are considered cash equivalents.
i'm not sure if this will help with the budget you've got, but here are some of the things we've received in the past to 'logo-up' for company christmas gifts....
the standard corporate stuff like hats, toques, scarves, shirts (both tees, polos and dress shirts), jackets, hoodies, yoga pants, duffel bags, backpacks, towels
every once in a while you find someone who does something a little different and we'd get boxers and even the one time we got thongs... my only question to my customer was, 'won't an embroidered thong itch?!?!'
i do welcome back gifts for my mens hockey team every year and it's always fun coming up with cool gifts for the guys. this year i did flexfit caps with our team logo on the front, league logo on the back and # on the side.
in past years i've done toques and towels with our logo and the guy's number, blade tape with our logo on it, laser etched pucks, stainless steel water bottles (the water bottles were a HUGE hit.... a bunch of the guys wanted a second becuz their wives/kids claimed theirs!), moisture wicking 'under your gear' shirts - cool stuff like that - the guys love it and use all of it!!!!
i don't find it too hard to think of something new each year as i know the guys on my team pretty well. i'm looking at logo-ed flip flops (guys use those when they hit the showers after a game) and beer cozies for next year.
hope this helps!
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It wouldn't be logo'd but you could look at gift baskets. Go to a Sobeys (I would suggest an independent one)or Co Op and get a store manager put a sample one together, tell them your price range and an idea on what you'd want. Sausage ring, cheeses, crackers, patte, oysters, jams,chocolates etc... I use to do these all the time at Sobeys.
Off the shelf gift baskets are way over priced, but a store will do a nice job for you, especially if you are looking at 30 some odd gift baskets. We would always try to up sell them as well "$35 will get this but for $45 you could have this one". It is all in the presentation.
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I know there are folks here who employ their spouse so a little tax tip for you. You can do this for any employee but it's particularly useful when your spouse works for your business.
You can buy an employee one gift per year up to, I think, $200 value. Buy a gift for your spouse and you can deduct it and he/she gets a tax-free item.
I do this every year with my wife, who works in my office. Set of earrings, check. Westjet voucher for an upcoming trip, check. Chapters gift card, check. Best not to give a restaurant gift card as food and entertainment are only half deductible.
Great tip, thanks. Does this also work for yourself if you own a company? Can I buy myself a gift?
Location: Close enough to make a beer run during a TV timeout
Exp:
Another idea, what about a nice lunch out? Something like the Keg, speak to the Keg beforehand and tell them your budget. I'm sure they could work out a menu for your team that would include everything for your budget. Especially if you are flexible, and can maybe do the lunch on a mid-week day when they are less busy.
The more I look at the suggestions (including my own previous one), the more I realize that each of them will only appeal to 1/2 of the staff at best. But who doesn't like being treated for lunch?
Yeah, I think you're better of treating people to a nice meal. Even if its just lunch or something, everyone appreciates free food...nobody appreciates cheap generic crap with your logo on it. Corporate gifts seem like such a waste on all fronts.
Even if its just lunch or something, everyone appreciates free food...
I wouldn't be so sure.
It all depends on what the free food is, and who else is attending the free meal.
I find most pre-arranged and holiday meals with co-workers to be unpleasant and awkward, full of forced conversation accompanied with quite often blah food (that you can't admit not liking).
Another idea, what about a nice lunch out? Something like the Keg, speak to the Keg beforehand and tell them your budget. I'm sure they could work out a menu for your team that would include everything for your budget. Especially if you are flexible, and can maybe do the lunch on a mid-week day when they are less busy.
The more I look at the suggestions (including my own previous one), the more I realize that each of them will only appeal to 1/2 of the staff at best. But who doesn't like being treated for lunch?
A solid plan, but half of our staff works in the field both around the city and in remote locations so timing won't work out unless we have it on Christmas day which I don't think would go over very well.
