Gifts for staff

dtw · 12-22-2009, 07:10 PM

I've been struggling with this one for a while. Tonight I did make a purchase, but still feel like the PBT could provide some valuable thoughts on this. What do you buy for your staff, if anything, for Christmas?

This evening I picked up a $15 iTunes gift card for everyone in my department (which I lead). Not the most inspired gift, no, but it is one I'd be happy to get.

Let's hear it, folks. What other ideas can you share?

Shuie · 12-22-2009, 07:13 PM

Beer. Bourbon. iTunes cards are good, too. That actually covers my wishlist for this year.

gassy · 12-22-2009, 07:17 PM

I got my business partner a CD and a Kershaw Leek based on a suggestion from another thread. Very cool knife.

dtw · 12-22-2009, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shuie

Beer. Bourbon. iTunes cards are good, too. That actually covers my wishlist for this year.

Well, I tossed back some Woodford reserve as I put the gift cards in their little gift bags...that counts for something, yes?

stomachmonkey · 12-22-2009, 07:30 PM

Amount depends on the size of the staff.

Same gift or something personal, again staff size dependent. Too large a group and it becomes harder to be "equitable" and someone will feel slighted.

I think you did just fine.

I did BestBuy cards this year.

Racerbvd · Racerbvd's Garage

I give nice bottles of wine (not the cheap stuff) and for clients, we have private labled wine we give them.. Yes, we order & go through a lot of wine & have used the same wine guy for 30 years

cgarr · cgarr's Garage

Its funny but when I saw this thread title, the first thing that came to mind was iTunes gift cards, so I guess you did just fine!

dtw · 12-23-2009, 09:55 AM

Got my boss's gift here, haven't opened it yet. It rattles, though - should be interesting.

911Rob · 911Rob's Garage

I give cash.... here in Canada we call them brown ones.
You call them Benjamin Franklin's?

If your budget is smaller, I think the list is great.
My office gave out some blue tooth phone gadgets prolly costs about $50
I've also seen those mini bubble gum machines in another office party

I also give out books every year.
Merry Christmas

Jim Bremner · 12-23-2009, 10:17 AM

In some culture to give someone a knife is taboo.

For some it's "go cut yourself"

For others it's " I want to cut off my relationship with you"

emcon5 · emcon5's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by dtw

I've been struggling with this one for a while. Tonight I did make a purchase, but still feel like the PBT could provide some valuable thoughts on this. What do you buy for your staff, if anything, for Christmas?

This evening I picked up a $15 iTunes gift card for everyone in my department (which I lead). Not the most inspired gift, no, but it is one I'd be happy to get.

Let's hear it, folks. What other ideas can you share?

Frankly I would rather have a $15 Starbucks card, and I am not that big a fan of Starbucks.

The problem with iTunes is you have to have iTunes installed with an account to redeem it.

VincentVega · 12-23-2009, 11:53 AM

Amazon cards pretty much cover everything.

stomachmonkey · 12-23-2009, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by emcon5

Frankly I would rather have a $15 Starbucks card, and I am not that big a fan of Starbucks.

The problem with iTunes is you have to have iTunes installed with an account to redeem it.

Or regift and spend the $15 saved on yourself.

Joeaksa · 12-23-2009, 01:39 PM

Four years ago worked for one of the owner's of the Phoenix Suns. We went to the company Christmas party and were all having a good time when the owner started giving a speech. He got to the end and asked us how many were in the company 401k program. About 80% of us raised our hands.

He then went on to say "whatever you have in your 401k plan today will be doubled out of my pocket tomorrow. Thanks and we could not have had as good a year as we did without you. Merry Christmas!"

There was stunned silence for a bit then everyone applauded. I talked with him afterwards and found out that it cost him $1 million to do that. Our gross that year was $1.4 billion. He owned the company outright with no debt so it was a very good year. Unfortunately he sold the company 6 months later and retired at age 42.

I just found out a couple of weeks ago that I will go back to work for him full time at his new company sometime next year. Its been a very good Christmas for me getting that news, and of course it was back then as well. I made $60,000 in the 401k bonus that night.

No need to say that we bend over backwards to make sure that things are done right working with him. You could not have a nicer person to work with than him.

Joe A

dtw · 12-23-2009, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joeaksa

Four years ago worked for one of the owner's of the Phoenix Suns. We went to the company Christmas party and were all having a good time when the owner started giving a speech. He got to the end and asked us how many were in the company 401k program. About 80% of us raised our hands.

He then went on to say "whatever you have in your 401k plan today will be doubled out of my pocket tomorrow. Thanks and we could not have had as good a year as we did without you. Merry Christmas!"

There was stunned silence for a bit then everyone applauded. I talked with him afterwards and found out that it cost him $1 million to do that. Our gross that year was $1.4 billion. He owned the company outright with no debt so it was a very good year. Unfortunately he sold the company 6 months later and retired at age 42.

I just found out a couple of weeks ago that I will go back to work for him full time at his new company sometime next year. Its been a very good Christmas for me getting that news, and of course it was back then as well. I made $60,000 in the 401k bonus that night.

No need to say that we bend over backwards to make sure that things are done right working with him. You could not have a nicer person to work with than him.

Joe A

Errr...does he need an accountant...

Joeaksa · 12-23-2009, 01:53 PM

Right now he is just starting up, been going about a year now. Fortunately the people with his old company ran it into the ground and all of his former clients are pounding on the door for him to lend a hand.

If you ever bought anything at Costco worldwide, or a Dell computer, and got a rebate with it, you did business with his company. As above board as they come, they do a very good job in a "not so good industry" and the people keep coming back to him because the customers are happy with the way they do things.

If you are really interested, PM or email me and will get you in touch.

Noah930 · Noah930's Garage

I'm not the owner of my group but as one of the heads or the office, I got everyone gift cards these last few years. This year it was to a restaurant and movie tickets. Last couple years I did gift cards to Macy's (all but one are female employees, so I figured that would be OK).

Joeaksa · 12-23-2009, 05:11 PM

One thing that always goes over well with guys is Home Depot gift cards. Everyone can find something that they need/want at HD. Second would be Sears IMHO.

Noah930 · Noah930's Garage

In the past, I thought about the HD idea for the lone guy. We're always talking about that type of manly DIY hardware stuff, anyway. But I was never motivated enough to make a separate trip to get the card.

This year though, I got him a gift certificate to a favorite local sushi restaurant of mine, as I've since found out he's a big fan of the raw stuff. The rest of the girls got the dinner/movie tix combo.

herr_oberst · 12-23-2009, 06:24 PM

Wish my boss, or even my manager would give me a gift card. Nada. Zilch. Zip.