How to Organize an Office Gift Exchange
You've been assigned the task of organizing an office gift exchange. The thought of receiving yet another bottle of cheap cologne is making you shudder and you know your colleagues feel the same way. It is easy to make this year's exchange a success. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Bows
- Gift Catalogs
- Greeting Cards
- Wrapping Paper
- Gift Certificates
- Index Cards
Instructions
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1
Decide on a reasonable minimum and maximum dollar value for each gift by conferring with your supervisor. Keep in mind that most people are on a budget.
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2
Inform your group of the gift's price range during a planned meeting and ask if there are any objections.
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3
Pass out pre-addressed index cards to each person. Tell everyone to write down their three favorite categories of gifts on the blank side of the card. For example, books, CDs and gourmet cookies.
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4
Collect the cards, and fold each in half, name side down. Put them in a basket or box.
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5
Have each person pick a card. If the person picks her own card, have her put it back and pick another.
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6
Keep a record of the results in case someone drops out of the exchange.
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7
Ask each person to keep the recipient's name and the category chosen a secret, at least until the Big Day.
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Tips & Warnings
Adhere to the established dollar limit. Others will feel uncomfortable if you go overboard.
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Comments
View all 6 Comments-
Jul 17, 2006
At work we have done "Secret Pals" gift exchanges for a few years. Everyone supplied standard information about themselves; likes, dislikes, favorite colors, music, etc. One person (namely me) compiled all the information into a spreadsheet and then distributed the file to all the people who participated. That way you learn something about everyone, not just the person's name you have drawn. We had some people who had worked together for 15 or more years and some had only been with us a few months. It brought us all closer together. We also did a secret pals brown bag lunch about once a month. Everyone brought their own lunch, one girl who bakes offered to bring a cake. We just ate lunch together and made it a social event. It was a great time to hear what everyone's secret pal had gotten or done for them that month...otherwise no one knew what others had gotten. Our group was only 15 people but it was a lot of fun and we plan to do it again at our new office when we move next month! -
Jul 17, 2006
At work we have done "Secret Pals" gift exchanges for a few years. Everyone supplied standard information about themselves; likes, dislikes, favorite colors, music, etc. One person (namely me) compiled all the information into a spreadsheet and then distributed the file to all the people who participated. That way you learn something about everyone, not just the person's name you have drawn. We had some people who had worked together for 15 or more years and some had only been with us a few months. It brought us all closer together. We also did a secret pals brown bag lunch about once a month. Everyone brought their own lunch, one girl who bakes offered to bring a cake. We just ate lunch together and made it a social event. It was a great time to hear what everyone's secret pal had gotten or done for them that month...otherwise no one knew what others had gotten. Our group was only 15 people but it was a lot of fun and we plan to do it again at our new office when we move next month!
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Jan 13, 2006
Maybe you don't know the person who's name you've drawn, or perhaps you're nervous to give the boss a gift. No matter your reason, never ask anyone to trade names with you--it could get back to the person, and they may feel you have something against them.
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Jan 13, 2006
Maybe you don't know the person who's name you've drawn, or perhaps you're nervous to give the boss a gift. No matter your reason, never ask anyone to trade names with you--it could get back to the person, and they may feel you have something against them.
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Dec 08, 2005
Choose a theme each year and a budget. Make it silly, make it fun. Socks, theme T-shirts, soup recipes and a sample of the soup; it can be a lot of fun to see the different ideas people come up with! Encourage creativity! One year we had a sock exchange. My co-worker bought tiny little baby booties, and another purchased socks that looked like your traditional red and white stocking. Puffy paint is also a fun touch. I suggested this idea to my husband whose firm had been stuck in the "Leave some chocolate in the staff room to munch on," phase for years. He organized a tie exchange. He went to Kinkos and personalized a tie with a hilarious photo. It was a huge hit with the co-workers and the boss! It's more like a gag gift, but it gets everyone in the holiday spirit and it is a ton of fun! Every workaholic needs a little chuckle.
