Exchanging gifts with colleagues and customers is traditional this time of year. But watch out. The results can be creative or downright weird, says The Creative Group.
Almost eight out of 10 offices swap gifts, according to a survey of advertising and marketing executives conducted by The Creative Group, a Southern California advertising and marketing agency.
When asked what kinds of gifts are exchanged, the answers ranged from a 125-pound aquarium to personalized bobblehead dolls.
Among the weirdest gifts:
- A voodoo doll of the boss
- One employee gave out portraits of himself
- A six-pack of beer
- Ugly lamp
Some gifts the recipients praised include (you may think some of these belong on the weird list):
- Membership in a local art gallery
- Ride on a parade float with Santa
- Ohio State football helmets (to Ohio State fans)
- Photo collage of the recipient’s children
- Two pounds of stone crab.
“Given the current economy, office gift giving may be toned down this year, but there still will be those who want to spread holiday cheer by giving colleagues tokens of appreciation,” said Megan Slabinski, executive director of The Creative Group. “Although presents don’t have to be expensive, they do need to be thoughtful and appropriate to the work environment. A gift that works in one setting may not be well received in another.”
As tight as money is these days, a survey of small business owners by American Express OPEN Small Business Monitor found that a third of them will make personal sacrifices in order to give gifts to customers.
Wow, you’d hate to think they sacrificed for a six-pack.
The average budget for customer gifts is $457, compared to $1,483 last year, the American Express survey found.
“Although few entrepreneurs can afford to be big spenders this year, they clearly see the value of thanking customers for their business, said American Express advisor Alice Bredin.
Among their popular choices:
- Cards and calendars, 30%
- Gift cards to stores or restaurants, 24%
- fruit and food baskets, 14%
- Branded or monogrammed items, 19%
- Charitable donation in the customer’s name, 15%
- Wine or liquor, 10%
- Flowers or plants, 7%
Some said they will opt for nontraditional gifts: socially conscious gifts such as fair trade coffee; something practical such as free gasoline or groceries; and environmental gifts such as recycled note cards.
What about you? What’s the weirdest gift you’ve ever received in an office exchange?
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A long time ago I worked for this horrible, mean man and he gave me the insert that came in his American Express bill envelope. It was an ad for Flowers. He handed it to me and said “Wouldn’t it be nice if you were to get some pretty flowers for Christmas, just like the ones in the pictures?” Sad part is, he was dead serious! He had a rotten sense of humor.
Brother………………what an idiot! I left shortly after that and got a better job, with a nicer boss and lived happliy ever after!
My office deals with this by making everyone write down three items they want for the Secret Santa. Sometimes there’s a weird item or 2, but mostly people get something they appreciate.
I really think I could top the list. Last year, one of my
co-workers gave me 30 plastic take-out containers from the Chinese
restaurant down the street. He wrapped them in a plastic bag and gave them
to me before our office holiday party because he “didn’t want the rest of
the team to get jealous.” Seriously. And baffling as it was at the time,
I use that gift more than any other!
how does one go about obtaining 30 plastic chinese take-out containers. is that like styrofoam??
and how are you still using them????
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