Great gift ideas for that hard-to-buy-for colleague

By Metro Creative Services

Once Mom, Dad, Sis, Aunt Betty and Sam the dog are checked off your holiday gift list, you’re probably feeling pretty ahead of the game. But what about your business associates?

The gifts you give to them may affect what you can afford to buy dear Uncle Howie next year. Here are a few things that make perfect, practical presents with a touch of class.

Fancy some food

Everyone loves to eat, and there are a plethora of places to order beautifully packaged gourmet goodies that can be delivered right to your client. There is www.southernseason.com, www.dreamakergifts.com and www.italian-food.us, to name a few. David Grossman, a marketing executive from Chappaqua, NY says, “My favorite holiday office gift was a huge box of salamis that we kept in the office and nibbled on all season.”

Personalized with a P

You work closely with your clients and offering a gift that speaks to their passions and interests shows thoughtfulness. Think about who they are. Football fans? Try an NFL Gameday gift basket from www.giftbasketboutique.com. Gourmets with a wine cellar? Mix reds and whites from www.allwinebaskets.com. Big sweet tooth? Try a cookie basket from www.cookiegiftbaskets.com (which has an under-$25 section).

A 12-month gift

To always keep yourself on your clients’ minds, try an “of-the-month” gift that keeps on giving all-year long. Fresh flowers (www.flowermonthclub.com), seasonal fruit (www.fresh-fruit-food-gift.com) or even exotic potato chips (www.chipofthemonth.com) will remind them of your generous ways 12 times a year.

While you’re buying for clients, don’t forget your hardworking colleagues. Letting them know that the time they put in at the office is important, so give them gifts that encourage a little indulgence: The gift of a certificate

Gift certificates give your employees and co-workers a chance to splurge on themselves. From movie passes at the local cinema to credit at a downtown record store, gift certificates will always be appreciated. “I still remember buying the Beatles No. 1 album with a gift certificate I got from a colleague,” says Ben Russell, a compliance specialist, from Brooklyn, New York. “I always think of him whenever I listen to it.

The perfect pamper

What better to give a co-worker than an assortment of relaxing items that will keep stress at bay? At www.giftbasketsx.com, you can choose from a spice-scented bath set, a skin combo that includes body lotions and soaps or a head to toe relaxation basket, with loofah slippers and cool water-filled eye mask.

Straight from the heart

Nothing shows more appreciation than a gift that you’ve put some time into. A homemade picture frame that hosts a group shot of everyone at the office or even cookies from your home oven demonstrate effort and care (and they’re easier on the wallet than some other corporate gifts). Who could ask for more?