The Appreciation Gifts Employees Appreciate Most

I would rather be able to appreciate things I cannot have than to have things I cannot appreciate. —Elbert Hubbard

GBR polled employees at four major corporations and three small businesses to find out what kinds of gift baskets they would want for Employee Appreciation, if given the chance to design their own. While it’s true that “if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one doesn’t have,” (2 Corinthians 8), it is also true that “the excellence of a gift lies in its appropriateness rather than in its value,” (Charles Warner).

It was a small sample, but survey participants were both men and women in administration, management and sales, representing diverse industries (banking, insurance, media communications, environmental, and medical). While the focus for this occasion is still on administrative professionals—and this segment will represent most of your sales—employee appreciation gifts are also making their way to other staff members for various accomplishments and “jobs-well-done.”

Top Food Choices

Chocolates won first place by a mile. But it’s usually considered bad form to design a basket with nothing but chocolate, so pull in another top-ten choice: nuts. Also, as you’re reading the top choices, remember that survey participants weren’t thinking in terms of “menuing” the basket, as you will be. So, while cheese is in the top five and meat isn’t, that doesn’t mean you can’t make this natural and cuisine-appropriate pairing when you design.

Here were our volunteers’ favorite food items, listed according to how often they were chosen (participants were asked to select five items, so the sum of percentages will exceed 100).

Top Food Choices

            Chocolate        80%

            Cheeses           60%

            Cookies           51%

            Brownies/Fudge            43%

            Dips/Mixes      43%

            Coffees            40%

            Nuts            31%

            Teas            26%

            Meats            26%

            Crackers         23%    

            Biscotti            23%

            Candies           20%

            James/Jellies     17%

            Sauces/Spices  17%

Top Non-Food Choices

Does top-performing sales executive Rita really want to get a candle, bath crystals and shower gel in a basket from her boss Mr. Stern? Keep the wisdom of the Charles Warner quote (first paragraph) in mind when reading these top non-food gift choices. If the company or department has a close circle of associates, and a female boss is giving a basket to a female employee, then bath and beauty products, candles, and aromatherapy might pass the “appropriateness” test. Otherwise, skip down to the participants’ next most-chosen items, and you’ll find better suggestions to make to your corporate contacts.

Top Non-Food Choices

            Candles           80%

            Aromatherapy  63%

            Bath & Beauty Products            54%

            Frames            54%

            Stationery/Note Pads            37%

            Books            34%

            Novelty/Humorous Items    34%

            Potpourri/Sachets            34%

            Executive Gifts 29%

            Flowers           29%

            Sports Items    23%

            Mugs            11%

            Colognes         11%

            Plush Toys     06%

We have put the choices in front of the people, and they have spoken. Now you have a baseline on which to make useful suggestions to your customers and prospects in preparation for this important day of goodwill and gratitude.

Gratitude is the most exquisite form of courtesy. —Jacques Maritain

Vangie Acevedo, Pacific Basket Design, South San Francisco, CA First Design Choice In Employee Survey

Second Design Choice In Employee Survey Dale Barnette, The Gourmet Goodie Basket; Mobile, AL

Third Design Choice In Employee Survey Teri Brockmire, Executive Gift Basket Co., Sonora, CA