Group Gifts For Christmas

The holidays are a great time to show people in your life that you appreciate them. In the workplace, your list might include your employees and clients. A great way to show your appreciation to all these people at once, and make an impact that will last, is to invest in a group gift.

Getting one gift for everyone allows you to contribute to workplace culture, worry less about individual tastes, and bring the holiday spirit to the office.

Whatever the occasion, giving a group gift can be a thoughtful way to show your appreciation—but it can also be tricky. How do you find something that everyone will like? What’s an appropriate budget? Should you go for one big gift or several smaller ones? Here are some tips to help you navigate the world of group gifting. 

The first step in picking out a memorable group gift is deciding on a budget. How much you spend will depend on the occasion and your relationship with the recipients. If it’s for employees or clients, you’ll want to stay on the conservative side. For friends or family, you may be able to spend a little more.

Once you have a number in mind, stick to it—it can be tempting to go overboard when buying for a group, but resist the urge! A good rule of thumb is to look to spend about $50-150  per person depending on the size of the group and occasion.

When looking for a single gift for a group of people, it’s useful to think of the need your gift will fill. Is there something that’s been missing from your office? Would a hit of holiday cheer do your employees good? Maybe a group bonding activity would promote teamwork and boost morale.

You should avoid giving gifts that might offend or exclude members of your group if you don't know them too well. If someone has strong religious beliefs, gifts like alcohol might not work. Likewise, tickets to sporting events may not appeal to people who aren't big sports fans. In contrast, most people will appreciate food gifts or activities like escape rooms or cheese-making classes making them relatively safe bets.

Ideally, you'll be able to find something that is both unique and useful. The last thing you want is for New Years to arrive with your gifts collecting dust or ending up in the landfill. Finding a gift that will be practical and memorable is a challenge, but well worth the effort.

One big gift has the advantage of being impactful. It can be something luxurious that everyone can enjoy, like a high-end coffee maker for the office or some nice bottles of wine to share at your holiday party. The downside is that not everyone will love it—and if it’s something practical, like a new treadmill for the office, it may not be usable by everyone. This also won't work if you're buying gifts for clients or your business spans more than one location.

If you go the route of individualized gifts, it can still be challenging to find something everyone loves, but you'll have the added benefit of each recipient feeling personally seen. Smaller gifts also have the advantage of fitting into different budgets. You can go as big or small as you want, depending on your budget and the number of people you’re buying for.

In today’s workplace, it can be hard to know if your recipients celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or anything at all during the holiday season. If you’re unsure, it’s always best to err on the side of caution and not give a holiday-themed gift. For example, if you’re giving a group gift to employees, clients, or vendors, you might want to avoid anything that could be construed as religious - e.g. using the term Merry Christmas on the greeting card or Ramadan Karim on the inscription. Instead, opt for something safer like a nice bottle of wine or a gourmet food basket. That way everyone can enjoy the gift, no matter their religious affiliation. 

Now that we've gone through what makes group gifts such a great option, it's time to start picking out the perfect presents!

Picking the perfect group gift can be tough, but it's doable with a little planning and thoughtfulness. With many of these gifts, the more people you’re buying for, the more affordable it will be.  In the end, it's always the thought that counts!