8 appropriate gifts for your 'Secret Santa' in the office

What better way of getting into the Christmas spirit of generosity than to play Secret Santa with your office colleagues? As fun as the gifting game usually is, there’s always the possibility that you might end up on the receiving end of a gift that’s less than exciting, or downright objectionable. The pressure to give something that will delight your colleague can be one that leaves you going in and out of stores, unsure of what the perfect present is. If you’re racking your brain on what to buy and coming up short, here are some office-appropriate suggestions:

1. Stationery
   No matter how often Human Resources stocks up on stationery, there will always be that one colleague scrambling to find a pen and a sheet of paper. If this person is your assigned recipient, consider gifting them a set of writing instruments, along with a notepad or a planner for the new year. If you’re unfamiliar with your colleague’s aesthetic tastes, it’s safe to go for stationery with a high-quality, luxe finish. There are plenty of companies which offer beautiful stationery and other knick-knacks at affordable prices.
   
   
2. Books
   If you’re tasked with gifting an avid reader a Christmas present, know that it is inherently easy to please them – all you have to do is present them with a book. That said, your colleague might have specific reading preferences – a true crime buff would not take too kindly to a steamy romance novel – so make it a point to sneakily find out what kind of books they enjoy. If they do not have any reading preferences and will gladly devour anything you give them, why not introduce them to a book you personally enjoyed?
   
   
3. Desk accessories
   If your colleague often rearranges their desk to show off their aesthetic decorating powers, a charming new desk accessory is the perfect option. Humorous mugs, quirky pen-holders, desk clocks, toys, cool calendars, fancy utility shelves – the possibilities are endless.
   
   
4. Gift cards
   If you haven’t been acquainted with your colleague long enough to know more about their likes and dislikes, the easiest thing to do is to give them a gift card. Popular streaming services such as Netflix, Spotify and Apple Music all offer gift cards at varying price points, as do fashion and beauty brands such as ZALORA, Sephora, H&M and TopShop/ TopMan. After all, who doesn’t enjoy a good shopping spree? 
   
   
5. Skin care 
   Skincareproducts are all the rage worldwide. If your colleague loves serums, moisturisers, toners, face masks and mud packs, then you know exactly what’s up their alley. Knowing their skin type – oily, dry or combination – will help you choose the most suitable product, so do try to sneak that topic into conversation. There’s myriad brands to choose from, so do your research before you venture out, or bring along a knowledgeable friend to help you while shopping.
   
   
6. Technology products and related accessories
   If your colleague is never seen without the latest Apple Watch, Google Pixel or some other newfangled device, you know they’ll jump with joy when they were to receive a new tech toy to play with. You don’t have to shell out thousands to buy them a present they’d love – there are plenty of reasonably priced gadgets such as portable sneakers, Walkmans, digital photo frames and hi-tech earphones.
   
   
7. Plushies
   You’d be surprised to know how many adults are flocking to buy plush toys. What’s not to love about stuffed animals? They’re cute, fluffy, soft and provide instant comfort and relief to those in need of one. If you’ve seen your colleague use a cute cushion to support their backs or squeal with joy when someone else brings in a cuddly plush toy, rest assured that they’ll be delighted to receive a soft toy in the shape of an animal or their favourite cartoon. Your local gift and card shop will have all the answers.
   
   
8. Board games
   Every workplace has that one person who is annoying dexterous at Monopoly and who consistently outsmarts everyone at Cluedo night. Even if you think a board game may be too on-the-nose for them, that is a category rife with innovation – head to your nearest game shop or bookstore and ask for the latest additions to their stock.