Poll: Best Customer Christmas Gift You Have Ever Received at Work

[Peggy]

Hi Everyone!

It is almost that time of year again!! My husband and I own a business and every year we put together Christmas gift baskets for our customers. We have done specialty coffees, teas, cocoas with biscotti and other snacks along with out logo mugs. Have also done a chocolate/dessert type theme. This year I'm trying to think of something fun and different to give. NOTE: Each of our customers has between 4-8 people in their departments and we give something that they will use or eat as a group at work.

I would really appreciate any feedback on what was the best, cleverist, most memorable gift that a vendor ever gave to you for a business Christmas gift. Thanks so much in advance for your help and ideas! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

Peggy

[Beth Y]

Despite the fact that I am a lawyer, I often got gifts from my clients and consultants. Okay, now that you have stopped laughing, I will continue. My only complaint ever with gifts (not that you should ever complain about any gift) are those gift baskets that include tiny little bottles/packets/etc. of anything. They are not enough to share and then no one ever opens them and they go bad. Also, I generally think that any meat product that can go indefinately without refrigeration is questionable.

That being said, I vote for gift of one really great item (I have a client that still sends me a tin of Virginia peanuts every year, even now that I am not practicing and I look forward to them every year). Basically any really special, hard to find item that can be shared would be good. That wonderful fruit from that company (something and David) is wonderful compared to all the sweets we get over the holidays. Is there a good local bakery that does good bread that you could send with pates or spreads? An assortment of bagels and spreads? Basically, I vote one of a good item rather than an assortment.


[This message has been edited by Beth Y (edited 11-03-2000).]

[AndreaU]

Beth,
Harry and David is the company I think you're looking for. They're online at http://www.harryanddavid.com

[SoCal]

I have to agree about Harry and Davids. They have quality fruit baskets. The Royal Riviera Pears are out of this world. As a matter of fact, I sent my boss a gift basket with those pears and some type of cheese (Havarti I think?) last X-Mas and he loved it. Mind you, he and his wife are really hard to buy for considering they make more money then I will ever see in a lifetime!! I would definately give Harry and Davids a try Peggy. Go to their website and check them out. Great suggestion Beth Y!

[jd]

Peggy, the gift that my office waits for every year is a tin of chocolate and yogurt covered dried fruit. It has these great chocolate and yogurt covered blueberries, that are blue in colour (I'm not sure how you make blue chocolate), dried cranberries, chocolate covered raisins, etc.

[emilycat]

Peggy,
I don't know where you're from, but there's a company called A Southern Season that has really wonderful foodie gift ideas (and not foodie stuff, too.) They have excellent gift baskets and incredible cheeses, and gourmet candies, desserts, etc. When I was in school last year, we had one in Chapel Hill that I went to frequently to buy wine. It's a really great store. I also feel compelled to, what fourth?, the fruit company idea. My aunt sends my family pears and oranges each Christmas and they are soooo delicious.

[laden]

I don't know if you're familiar with Christie cookies, but they are absolutely wonderful (especially the white chocolate with macadamia nuts).

With advance notice, they'll put them in a special tin with your company's logo.

These are some of my client's favorites.

[Mitchdoggy]

Do you have a number for Christie cookies? How many do you usually send in a box/basket?

[laden]

I don't have number for them. But you can find what you need at www.christiecookies.com (http://www.christiecookies.com)


[This message has been edited by laden (edited 11-04-2000).]

[Beth]

My favorite gift of all has been a fresh wreath shipped to our home, which I hope we will receive again not that my husband is working with that firm again.

Second would be a bottle of wine. My husband and I also had a tradition of giving our support staff each a bottle of bubbly for the holidays.

I received a Harry and David assortment once, which was nice, but the annual arival most looked forward to by the entire office was a basket of assorted homemade goodies from a service where each person in that office made one item that went into the basket.

[mightyh]

I once received a brownie and cocoa pack that was really good... The company is called Fairytale Brownies, I think and they offer web ordering.

[Britin]

A favorite in our office is a wonderful Kringle - Danish Pastry shipped from Lehmann's Bakery in Wisconsin. We always get the Pecan ring and a Raspberry ring shipped together. They are both delicious warm or cold and freeze wonderfully.

These are so good and so addictive that it is lucky they are not available locally here in Massachusetts.

I have included the web address if you are interested.
www.lehmanns.com (http://www.lehmanns.com)

Also, last year we received Yankee Candles from a vendor which was very nice and a welcome change from all the candies and sweets.

Good luck.

[phantomcg]

Our office once received a batch of gourmet caramel and chocolate covered apples. The apples also had things like nuts, M&M's, etc. on them. They were very popular with the entire staff. I know that those had come from a local shop, but I've seen them also by a company called Mrs. Prindables (or something along those lines).

Cheryl

[HARRYET]

Peggy,

I second the fairytale brownies and the gourmet choco covered apples. I have had both from local companies (and given both as gifts) and they both have web sites. Here they are in case you would like to check them out: www.fairytalebrownies.com (http://www.fairytalebrownies.com) www.candiesapples.com (http://www.candiesapples.com)
good luck Ann http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

[Pat58]

Last year I received an olive oil/vinegar decanter called "Table Art." It consists of a glass bottle with a neck that goes off to one side, which holds olive oil. Suspended within the bottle is another glass container in the shape of a bunch of grapes, with a separate neck going off to the other side, into which you put balsamic or red wine vinegar. It came with wonderful quality balsamico and olive oil. It really is table art and was a gift that suits me to a "T"! I use it frequently (unusual for an office Christmas present). I believe my giver might have purchased it from deananddeluca.com.

[alli]

Peggy-

A fun lunch for the staff is always nice or one year we received a box of gift wrap and wrapping supplies to wrap Christmas presents.
It was very useful and handy!

Good luck!
Alli.

[valeriek]

This gift is probably received in hundreds of offices around the country, but I look forward to it every year. My printer always sends me mixed nuts in a decorative tin. I can't get enough of those mixed nuts!

[This message has been edited by valeriek (edited 11-06-2000).]

[Peggy]

I can't thank you all enough for your terrific suggestions!! I have checked out the websites and am almost overwhelmed by all of the great possibilities! My husband and I have a "date" tomorrow night to review each of your ideas.

Again, I thank you and certainly our customers will be thankful too! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

Peggy

[andi]

We receive a box filled with two loaves of fresh baked bread, granola, butter/jam, cookies, bread sticks and teas. This is all made by a local bakery. It lasts a couple days and is all whole grain and sooo yummy! We look forward to this goodie box all year!

[56grapeape]

WOW! I have a ?

Anyone know of any online places to order some great sausage/meat & cheeses from? My dad LOVES those, and us kids cant decide what to get him for Christmas!

I went to that HarryandDavid site, and that is awesome! and I think he'd like a fruit basket! But i want to look around some more.

thanks for those neat ideas!!

rachelle

[MrsReber]

I LOVE Harry and David!! They have this stuff called Moose Munch that is out of this world. It's popcorn with almonds, toffee and chocolate mixed in (chocolate covered popcorn). Their fruit is really good, too, and their truffles are awesome, although nothing compares to Godiva truffles. By the way, I believe Godiva has a website and they deliver as well. I worked for a few oil companies and the brokers always sent gifts, tons of gifts! One year, I took 10 bottles of wine and a bottle of champagne home. We got a great basket of Italian goods, but I don't know where it came from. There were different kinds of pastas and sauces, but the oil traders didn't care for them. I took alot of that basket home with me.