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Are you Frustrated Finding Employee Gifts? Don't Be!
Especially during the holiday season, it can be difficult to find appropriate and worthwhile gift ideas for one employee or 200 employees. Finding just one gift idea for one employee on a special occassion isn't the problem that budget-conscious corporations and managers are looking for today: the problem is finding gift ideas for several employees.
Not every employee drinks alcohol, not every employee is religious during holidays (so Christmas gift ideas might be out), but most employees DO love gifts they can use year around or on any day in the coming year.
BEWARE: The trend for giving company-logo gifts has worn to a frazzle. Some people may not want to advertise your company year around---especially if they are dismissed. Stick to gift ideas that can be used away from the company.
Here are the Top 25 employee gits that your group is sure to love; that will fit within your budget and make every employee feel equally appreciated for the work they have done:
1. A Monetary Bonus
Hands down, the #1 employee gift idea is a nice bonus check.
Although this is the least of the most thoughtful employee gifts, it can be the most appreciated, especially during hard economic times.
2. "A Night Out at the Movies"
Another gift idea is a night out at the movies with a partner, complete with a card for popcorn and soda.
Look for the most prominent movie theatre chain in your area and buy movie tickets and popcorn cards in bulk. This way, employees can enjoy the gift anytime they want a "movie night out."
3. VISA Gift Cards
VISA gift cards can be used anywhere and are a great gift idea. The only problem with this employee gift is: if some cards are given in different amounts to different people, you could have mutiny on your hands.
4. Lottery Tickets
 Giving out scratch-off type of lottery tickets can not only be cost-effective, but who knows if one of those lottery tickets turns out to be a big winner?
As employee gifts, giving lottery tickets in groups of 10, 20, or more to each employee is especially fun during a company party or get-together.
NOTE: DO consider giving the tickets along with another employee gift just in case some of your employees don't win.
5. Amazon.com Gift Certificates
Today, Amazon caters all kinds of gifts and also carries gift cards.
This gift idea allows your employees to pick the type of gift(s) they would like whether it be books or other items. This is also the type of gift idea that can be used any time of year.
6. Tickets to Special Events
This great gift idea can be a bit tricky but insofar as Christmas gift ideas are concerned, if the Nutcracker is coming to town, tickets to this event is a very gift idea.
7. Gold Canyon Candles
Almost everyone loves candles with the most requested being from Gold Canyon.
Gold Canyon (or other type of similar-quality candle) is a great gift idea that can be enjoyed throughout several months.
8. Portable USB Storage (Thumb) Drive
The small, thumb-size USB storage drives today are not only affordable, but a very useful employee gifts.
Today, there are so many to choose from, you can even select different designs or colors for different departments or company 'teams'.
A USB thumb drive is a very nice gift idea and, depending on the size of the drive, employees can store family photos along with corporate documents that they can access from any computer, anytime, anywhere.
9. Desk or Houseplants
A great gift idea that employees can either keep on their desks or take home is a plant or small rock garden that requires little care.
Garden varieties, flowering or not, are especially welcome because employees can transplant them in their home gardens.
10. Calendars or Day Planners
Again, be careful with this one.
Calendars and day planners should NOT have the company logo stamped on every page. Reserve those for vendors.
As another gift idea on this same note, you can often find similar gift ideas through such vendors as VistaPrint and they often carry gift certificates where people can choose their own.
11. Fruit and Nut Gift Baskets
A favorite standard, fruit and nut gift baskets are always welcome as employee gifts.
Many fruit and nut gift baskets can be ordered online from a variety of sources or from your local grocery store.
12. Restaurant Gift Cards - "A Night Out for Dinner for Two"
Today, almost every major restaurant chain offers gift cards in varying amounts and you don't need to go to them to get them, either.
Restaurant gift cards can be purchased at reduced rates in bulk online or, if you have fewer employees, you can visit your local Walmart and other stores.
13. Personalized Business Card Holders
Personalized or not, classy business card holders are also a favorite employee gift.
Business card holders, available online such as at ePromos or your local office supply, are great for keeping business cards clean as well as show professionalism.
14. 1-Pound Boxes of Chocolates
Chocolat.com is claimed to be the largest online chocolate store in the U.S. and chocolates have always been amongst the favorites of employee gifts.
Note: Belgian chocolates, by the way, are wonderful for diabetics as well as everyone else who has a sweet tooth.
15. Photo Frames With or Without Clocks
Photo frames, with or without frames, are available in a wide variety of styles and prices ranges at such sites as Corporate Gifts Company as well as through retail and office outlets.
How many people do you know don't have a photo of a loved one on his or her desk?
16. Laptop Cases or Sleeves
Employee laptop cases and sleeves are very popular employee gifts. Who doesn't need a new one periodically?
Kolobags has an amazing assortment of laptop cases, backpacks, sleeves, as well as many other accessories for employees on the go.
17. Lunch Cooler Bags
Lunch cooler bags make excellent employee gifts.
Keep Your Cooler provides an incredible assortment of all kinds of lunch coolers.
If you want a cooler that is truly unique, check out this "take out" cooler that looks like a Chinese carry-out box.
18. Pen & Pencil Sets
Where is a pen or pencil when you need one, right?
Office Max, Staples, and stores such as Walmart carry a variety of pen and pencil sets sure to please employees.
Combined with a business card holder, these are very useful and professional employee gifts that can be used year around.
19. A Day Off
Who doesn't appreciate a paid day off?
If your company can afford it, paid days off thrill employees. For extra pizzaz, enclose the note along with a movie or restaurant gift card.
20. Clocks and Timepieces
Yes, we know: employees often use the clock on their computer desktops to look at the time. However, a nice desk clock enhances any employee desk.
One of the best sites around for finding beautiful timepieces of all kinds in all price ranges is at Gifts for Professionals
21. USB Photo Keychains
USB photo keychains are very hot employee gifts. In fact, anything "usb" is hot these days as employee gifts.
Check out USB Geek for these and many other USB gift ideas.
22. Fruit-of-the-Month Clubs
Fruit-of-the-Month clubs are timeless and classic employee gifts and ALWAYS loved by everyone.
One of the best sites that offers such a club as well as other fruit gifts is at Harry and David.
23. PopCorn Gift Tins
 Forget the fruit cake.
Popcorn has taken on a whole new taste and, according to Oprah Winfrey, the best place to head is her favorite at Dale and Thomas.
You won't BELIEVE the many flavors and varieties of outstanding gourmet popcorn and tins available that would become one of your top employee gifts!
24. Cookie and Dessert Gifts
Cookie and Dessert
gift packs are beloved by everyone and Cheryl&Co has them all.
These types of employee gifts are especially appreciated around the holidays.
25. Poinsettias
Last, but not least, are Poinsettias.
No matter a person's religous preferences, Poinsettias still makes our Top 25 of employee gifts, especially during the December holiday season.
[ More Top 10+ ]
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