What holiday gifts do I buy for the directors who already have everything?
Question: I am responsible for coming up with the holiday gift idea for our board members. I was given a budget of $250 – $300 and I am, unfortunately, at a complete loss: corporate wear seems to go unworn; food baskets are given away because they receive more than they can eat; and my boss doesn’t like the idea of show/sports tickets because the directors are from different regions. Does anyone have an idea for something different and useful? — Anonymous
You may want to check out Bennett Brothers. This company has “choose your gift” certificates in all different price ranges. You buy the certificates and each recipient has his/her choice of 50 different items. The company has a website where you can learn more: www.bennettbrothers.com.
Posted by: Karen | October 19, 2007 at 12:54 PM
Try Levenger, www.levenger.com . Matching pens for all the Board members might be a nice idea.
Posted by: Angela | October 19, 2007 at 01:17 PM
Hi there, I recently was responsible for the gift for our Key Leadership Summit attendees. I chose the “digital” photo frame with our logo. This is in your price range and was a huge hit! We had our logo engraved/sketched on the frame so there was no tax reporting requirements to tend to as well. Good luck!
Posted by: Elise Greenlee | October 19, 2007 at 01:17 PM
My first suggestion is pen and pencil sets, engraved with the individual’s name and also the company logo.
Another suggestion, is cutlery, engraved with the company logo. This is something that can be added to each year until a complete set is given.
Posted by: Connie | October 19, 2007 at 01:18 PM
Engraved business card holders make nice gifts – you could have their name engraved, as well as the company logo. There are many different kinds available in various materials and price ranges. Or you could buy gift certificates for a classy restaurant. Have fun with it!
Posted by: Patty | October 19, 2007 at 01:22 PM
We started adopting a less fortunate family in our area last year. And used the monies to give them a Holiday season they may not have had. Another year we donated a certain amount of money to their favorite charity in their name. There is also a website named corporate gifts where you can buy a gift certificate and they get to select the gift. Hope this helps
Posted by: Frannee | October 19, 2007 at 01:26 PM
You sure don’t give us much detail! Are you a non-profit, a big company, are you talking about a Board of Directors or are they Regional Managers from different parts of the country? Are they presented personally, or mailed? If you have $300, how many ways does that need to be split? Another issue: I love to get gift cards – but only to the stores I visit anyway – but a recent humorous news column pointed out (rightly) that they just transfer the chore of shopping from you to the recipient!
I would also like to suggest a charity contribution. Accompany it with a choice, so they don’t feel obligated. You could send them a card or email, telling them they can have a great bottle of wine (if they’re wine lovers, $50 for a great bottle of wine would make them happy) or designate their favorite charity to receive a $50 gift in their or a loved one’s name.
Posted by: Anita C. | October 19, 2007 at 01:29 PM
You can now purchase American Express gift cards that can be used anyplace that accepts American Express. This is nice because then they can use it to purchase something they want, rather then to receive something they don’t need.
Posted by: Donna | October 19, 2007 at 01:30 PM
The administrative assistants in our office are adopting a family this year for Christmas,in the name of our bosses…The bosses will receive from the assistant, a hand painted Christmas Ornament with the family’s name and year…You could do the same for directors and or board members…
Posted by: Heather | October 19, 2007 at 01:32 PM
A Great idea is a Catalog with a gift card. Sky Mall is awesome because they have hundreds of products from items to ease travel and board games and home decor.
Posted by: Jade | October 19, 2007 at 01:33 PM
Simon Malls have Pre-paid VISA gift cards that can be used in the malls anywhere and the recipient can register the card online to say YES they want to be able to use it anywhere. That way they do not have to use it in a Simon Mall. They can use it for gas, pay a bill, shop online with any company, whatever they want to do with it anywhere that VISA is taken.
Posted by: Tamara | October 19, 2007 at 01:40 PM
One suggestion would be a gift card to a nice department store in the board member’s immediate area. Shouldn’t be too hard to find out what that is.
Nevertheless, most board of director members are pretty well set financially, and I like the idea of donating the money a lot better. Buy gifts for a children’s home; help needy families in your community, etc. Take a picture of your company’s president giving the gift(s) in the name of your board and give each board member a nicely framed picture with a red bow on it.
What a great opportunity for you to be a Christmas angel!
Posted by: Karen Kosmoski | October 19, 2007 at 01:53 PM
One suggestion would be a gift card to a nice department store in the board member’s immediate area. Shouldn’t be too hard to find out what that is.
Nevertheless, most board of director members are pretty well set financially, and I like the idea of donating the money a lot better. Buy gifts for a children’s home; help needy families in your community, etc. Take a picture of your company’s president giving the gift(s) in the name of your board and give each board member a nicely framed picture with a red bow on it.
What a great opportunity for you to be a Christmas angel!
Posted by: Karen Kosmoski | October 19, 2007 at 01:53 PM
www.redenvelope.com
This is a good website for various types of people, work, mothers, etc. I have ordered through them before and they had good quality product. Their sale section is great also!
Posted by: Jocelyn | October 19, 2007 at 01:56 PM
I love this vendor: www.fantasyglassworks.com
They make engraved glassware and have really classy gift ideas. At a previous job I ordered engraved coffee mugs for office use. Now in my new job we are in the process of ordering some engraved clear glass coffee mugs with our company logo on them, and I’m really excited to see the result.
There are no minimum order restrictions so you can get personalized coffee or beer mugs, decanters, photo frames, you name it. And you probably can’t beat the prices anywhere!
Posted by: Allie | October 19, 2007 at 02:06 PM
The most appreciated gift I have given to senior managers was beautiful bronze clock set. 3 clocks in one so that you could set each clock for a different time zone. There was a slot below each clock where you could insert a pre-printed card with the name of the city/country. For example, you could have one clock set to San Francisco time, one set to Paris time, and one set to Tokyo time. The clocks were beautifully finished and appropriate for a table, shelf, or mantle.
Posted by: cjmoore | October 19, 2007 at 02:24 PM
Maybe a donation in that amount to their favorite charities in their name from your organization. Often that is of more benefit to them than anything monetary or material.
Posted by: Leighanne | October 19, 2007 at 02:27 PM
I like the idea of donating to a charity in the Board of Directors’ or company name, especially since those who have everything have a moral obligation to help the less fortunate, particularly children. However, if you are a non profit organization, it may not be possible to do this, as it could be construed as a gift of funds outside of the primary mission of your company, which could be against the law. If you can’t donate to charity, then use the American Express or Visa gift card. It’s not your responsiblity to figure out what these people might need or want for a holiday gift, and I’m sure that they have plenty of pen & pencil sets, coffee mugs and other items with the company logo.
Posted by: Anon | October 19, 2007 at 02:30 PM
Another suggestion would be a monthly club. There are many different types, ranging from flowers to wine. You can choose 3, 6, 9 or 12 months and each month the recipient receives another item.
Posted by: C. Weinert | October 19, 2007 at 02:34 PM
We give away gift certificates to restaurants.
Posted by: T.Cole | October 19, 2007 at 04:02 PM