100 Original Ideas for Corporate Holiday Gifts

by Happy Worker Team

The Christmas holiday season is always an amazing time for us here at Happy Worker. We like to hold giant chocolate tasting parties, sing our own Christmas carols, and of course send out memorable & original Christmas gifts and greetings.

Our clients know that Happy Worker designs, invents and manufactures original products from scratch, specifically from their brand and strategically for each campaign.

Challenge: sometimes when the creative possibilities are truly endless it’s hard to get started. We’re here to help. Below we’ve listed over 100 ideas for original corporate holiday gifts that can help deepen your relationships with your staff and start conversations with your clients. While these concepts are untargeted - they haven’t been designed specifically for your company - many of them have the potential to become the “must have” merry ice breaker for the right company and target recipients, and generate some big holly jolly buzz over the holidays.

 

Important note: this is just a starting point – Happy Worker can design and produce just about any tangible thing, and we target each product and its packaging specifically for the recipient, company and brand. Get in touch with your idea or describe your perfect gifting results and we’ll suggest original, creative ways to bring it to reality this holiday season.

Next steps: contact Happy Worker and tell us more about your ideal gift (or) your ideal gifting results.

Ornamental Ideas

The most popular Christmastime collectibles, the humble tree decoration or office ornament can leave a lasting impression on your clients. Holiday ornaments can be made from materials like wood, ceramic, resin, tin, pewter, fabric/knits and glass, with the most appropriate material chosen for each design. Here are a few ideas to get your holiday corporate gifting sleigh off the ground.

Occupational Ornaments

Adapt a well known holiday theme for your industry and professional focus, or for your service if you’re a service firm:

“On Brand” Ornaments & Holiday Decorations

Beyond the classic corporate holiday decorations, some creative possibilities to “holidayize” your company’s official colors and brand elements:

Productized Ornaments

Ornaments joyfully celebrating your company’s products and services in a Christmas or New Year theme:

Artisan Crafted Decorations

Some of the most treasured ornaments are those handmade decorations we received from artistic relatives or we’ve made as children. Working in minimum quantities of 500 or 1,000, Happy Worker’s crafty artisans can design and create original craft items like:

Personalized Ornaments & DIY Decorations

Unsurprisingly some of the holiday items we treasure most are those that are personalized or that we actually create ourselves:

“Deskworthy” Office Collectibles

With their originality and play value, these types of items are designed take up permanent residence on their recipient’s desks:

Seasonal Snow Globes

Custom Snow globes are a natural fit for the winter season. There are two popular styles – a glass globe and 3D sculpted scene inside, or a kitschy plastic “souvenir” style globe with either a 3D or 2D scene. A few fun ways to creatively incorporate corporate concepts in the mini snow globe environments: 

Seasonal Stationery

Even ordinary business stationery items can be spruced up with a creative take for the season: 

Surprise Inside

The holidays are full of anticipation. These concepts celebrate the wow of the reveal:

Merry Amusements & Curiosities

These whimsical concepts are chiefly meant to surprise and create new merry memories.  Some – or all – of the below may not be a fit for your company. We’re hoping they help jumpstart your brainstorming juices – or at least get your brain moving in new directions.

Food & Entertaining Holiday Eats

Food is a tasty central theme of holiday celebrations in every culture and community. Here are a few ways to gift deliciousness:

Eco-Friendly Gifting

These environmentally focused materials offer a starting point for sustainable seasonal gifting. Together we can design an item and manufacturing process to specifically meet or exceed corporate sustainability goals:

Christmas Cards & Holiday Wrapping

What would the holidays be without cards and wrapping paper? Happy Worker enables corporate design teams to completely tailor all parts of a holiday gift and seasonal campaign - down to the wrapping paper, ribbons and smallest detail. Some creative Christmas carding and wrapping concepts:

New Years’ Ideas

The holiday season always closes with a fresh start to a brand New Year. Gift concepts focused on ringing in the New Year:

Christmassy Clothing

When done right with a great design & purpose, original seasonal clothing can make a real impression and be lovingly worn by recipients for many months each year:

1. I.T. Snowman / Snow Geek
2. Ginger Bread Salesman / Accountant
3. Santa / Mrs. Claus Contractors
4. Elf Recruiter / HR Elf
5. Business Woman Angel
6. Nursing Nutcracker / Dr. Nutcracker
7. Color: Tinsel, tree garlands or strings of lights in official corporate colors
8. Color: Corporate colored & decorated mini wreath
9. Color: Rudolph with his nose painted/shining the official corporate color
10. Color: Candy cane decoration with corporate colors instead of standard red & white
11. Color: Corporate christmas light (e.g. with your mascot)
    
12. Logo: Transparent ball ornament with logo or corporate HQ building inside
13. Logo: Snowflake that creatively contains company logo
14. Brand: Corporate Mascot
15. Brand: Ornament of staff member in corporate uniform, company truck, tree topper angel or star in uniform, etc
16. Brand: Christmas tree with product/employee in place of tree-topper or angel
17. Brand: Figurine of a staff member trimming the tree… that is, pretending to hang decorations on the tree
18. Brand: Ornamental Gingerbread “house” that’s a Corporate HQ Building
19. Brand: Stained glass decoration of corporate tagline or mission statement
20. Transparent ball ornament with product inside
21. Mini golden/silver colored product replica
22. The New Year Baby (or) Santa holding or using a product
23. Product wrapped in holiday ivy
24. Online businesses - Santa/Rudolph/Snowman with a laptop using a web site
25. Sleigh filled with products
26. Fabric and knitted: Christmas ornaments, like mini sweaters, snowflakes, angels, stockings, wreaths
27. Wooden: toys and other wood crafts, including classic holiday items like decorative nutcrackers, nesting dolls, wooden Christmas trees, and wood figures
28. Metal: figures, tin toys, sculpted cast ornaments and bells shaped to match brand elements
29. Found objects and natural materials: crafted into decorations, like clothespin angels, pine cone ornaments, bead icicles, and of course many more
30. Paper: folding, paper mache and decoupage based decorations like wreaths, tree decorations
31. Ceramic or porcelain: hand sculpted ornaments and decorations
32. Personalize: Each employee has their own ornament, which are displayed together at corporate HQ or at each local office
33. Personalize: Ornament with the client’s or team member’s name (personal name or company name)
34. Personalize: Santa with “good list” naming clients or internal departments that have been good this year
35. DIY: Decoration kit, a complete set of parts and instructions for clients and staff to make their own ornaments
36. DIY: Foam or card cut out figure kits, clients and staff create figures from adhesive die cut parts and instructions
    
37. Mini metal Christmas tree with magnetic ornaments; clients and staff can decorate their own tree
38. Classic tin toys - windup robots, vintage tin cars, and anything that walks, spins, twirls or whirls
39. String of teammates garland – string of teammates celebrates different departments and professions working together
40. Cubical decoration kit – package a number of fun or stylish holiday decorations together into a kit with instructions on how to personalize one’s workspace
41. Desk candy dispenser and cubical cookie jar – original takes on desktop sized treat dispensers
42. Stapler dress up kits – temporarily transform lowly staplers into reindeer, elves or Santa
43. Shaped holiday magnet sets – sets of Christmas themed magnets, die cut into any shape; recipients can dress up and combine magnets together to decorate all metallic surfaces
44. “Money mistletoe” – classic mistletoe made from green dollar bills… whoever shakes hands & signs deals below will have a success filled New Year
45. Office wreath - made of unusual items like leaves made from business cards, neckties, corporate uniforms, and other creative company or industry materials
46. USB Christmas Key – with a custom sculpted design, this key passes on digital greetings and along with corporate information can include digital roaring fire, photos and Christmas music
    
47. Company HQ, office building or corporate campus
48. Miniature environment showing a company and clients working together
49. Company mascot, Staff member (or) Client figure heroically posed inside a landscape
50. Natural winter scene with a key product or message smartly incorporated
51. Snow globe game – incorporate fun gaming elements, like moving floating people shapes into a specific part of the scene
52. Play off classic Holiday scenes like Corporate decorated Christmas tree inside a snow globe, Santa and his sleigh landing on top of a company building, or a boardroom filled with happy employee elves decorating for the holidays
53. Celebrate classic winter season scenes like a Snowman dressed in branded uniform or Employees sledding or skating
54. Corporate cubicle-filled workplace, or a single cubicle, fit within a snow globe 
55. DIY Snowglobe Kit – recipients supply a photo, snow and water
    
56. Naughty and Nice stationery & pocket notebooks
57. Stapler dress up kits – temporarily transform the lowly stapler into reindeer, elves or Santa
58. North Pole candy - striped pens or pencils
59. Holiday themed post its and memo cubes
60. Floating action pens – classic collectible pens that feature moving winter and Holiday themed designs or conceal & reveal fun messages  
61. Holiday stickers or stamps – original retakes on holiday classic touches for outgoing mail
    
62. Holiday Crackers – tiny wrapped presents that open with a “bang!” to reveal a fun toy and crown inside. Include your own entertaining corporate elements
63. Capsule Toys – in the same vein as “Kinder Eggs”, pop open the capsule to find an surprising toy or other item, which is often buildable
64. Advertising “Christmas calendar” – traditionally these cardboard calendars have hidden treats that count down each day in December leading up to Christmas Day; a creative corporate gift that delivers daily surprises
65. Corporate gift boxes - custom designed and printed in any size and shape, specially designed for recipients
    
66. Transforming Lump of Coal – coal that changes color, either like a mood ring or by changing from a lump of coal to a nugget of gold
67. Two Front Teeth – all some people want for Christmas, they’re attractively designed and packaged
68. Blowup Santa, Snowman of Holiday Tree – a custom inflatable instant holiday decoration, perfect for adding that quick decorative touch
69. Santa dress up kit – with a hat, beard, and accompanying instructions, this kit will transform company staff and managers into St. Nick
70. Holiday Nesting Doll – a twist on a classic Russian toy, this set of wooden custom nesting dolls can feature fun messages – like “what’s wrong with Santa” with the innermost doll revealing a stomach filled with millions of cookies
71. Ornamental Conversion Kit – to turn any everyday office items (e.g. staplers, tape dispensers, pens, etc) into newfangled modern Office Tree Ornaments
72. Nutcracker Figures – whether cracking with their mouths or their legs, these character based collectibles crack open lots of classic cool
73. Character Crazy Carpet – classic crazy carpet sleds are painted with a character, so recipients can ride the character’s back down their favorite snowy hill
74. 12 Days of Christmas –12 different sets of items, from small partridge in a pear tree to 12 drummers drumming; various materials can bring this classic carol to budget-friendly reality
75. Finger Puppet Sets – of Santa, snowmen, elves, or classic Christmas, corporate or fairy tale characters; play off an existing story or create a new story or card
    
76. Original Cookie Cutter – a metal or plastic cookie cutter of a gingerbread client, a fun corporate character or logo; package with cookie making supplies for a “ready to make and bake” kit.
77. Hot Chocolate Gift Set – features a custom designed & shaped porcelain mug, along with some truly delicious hot chocolate for the full heart warming effect
78. Santa Care Pack – with cookies, happy note milk for Santa
79. Desk candy dispenser and cubical cookie jar – custom candy dispensers offer original takes on desktop sized treat dispensers
80. Nutcracker Figures – whether cracking with their mouths or their legs, these character based collectibles crack open lots of classic cool
81. Seasonal Salt & Pepper Shakers, Condiment containers – classic collectibles, featuring fun characters or designs these can also feature other condiments like sugar, tea or coffee
82. Original Designed Baskets – a Christmas basket or holiday hamper made to hold a collection of food related goodies; the baskets can be designed specifically for the company and recipient, made from wicker, wood or creatively designed cardboard for easy shipping
    
83. Wooden items made from sustainable stock: toys and other wood crafts, including classic holiday items like decorative nutcrackers, nesting dolls, wooden Christmas trees, and wood figures
84. Natural fabric and knitted items: Christmas ornaments, like mini sweaters, snowflakes, angels, stockings, wreaths
85. Recyclable/Recycled Metal: tin toys, sculpted figures and cast ornaments shaped to match brand elements
86. Found objects and natural materials: crafted into decorations, like clothespin angels, pine cone ornaments, wood bead icicles
87. Recyclable/Recycled Paper: folding, paper mache and decoupage based decorations like wreaths, tree decorations
88. Terracotta, Ceramic or porcelain items: hand sculpted ornaments and decorations
    
89. Greeting Cards: Puzzles with a seasonal theme… Happy Worker included a “find the missing elf” puzzle in one of our cards with great results
90. Greeting Cards: Voice Cards - CEO records a special holiday voice message for staff and clients
91. Greeting Cards: Voice Cards - Each sales rep records a personalized, individual voice greeting card for each client
92. Greeting Cards: Musical Cards – Special rendition of a Christmas carol or song, instrumental or performed by company staff
93. Greeting Cards: Stickers included in each card so recipients can personalize
94. Greeting Cards: Scratch & Sniff Seasons Greetings - include fun seasonal scents like evergreen, cookies, mint, cranberries, turkey or your own corporate scents
95. Wrapping Paper: in corporate colors and design
96. Gift Ribbon: in corporate christmas design
    
97. New Year Baby decorative figurine holding or using a product
98. Coffee Mug Champagne Glass – a coffee mug meets a champagne glass to celebrate New Year’s festivities all year long
99. New Year’s Business Card Holder… with 12 cards inside to share happy wishes each month of the year
100. New Year Planting kit – original designed plant pot, seeds and instructions to help recipients grow in the New Year
101. Decision Maker Ornament – both working decision maker and decoration, helps recipients make decisions for the New Year
     
102. Splendid socks: these colorful, fun feet warmers are knit and created just for each campaign
103. Traditional Christmas Winter Sweater: based on an original design and knit & fabricated to order
104. Knit Hat / Beanie / Toque – original designed hat that’s made to be worn all winter long
105. Ties – when done right, novel neckwear is a pleasure to wear & show off
106. Santa Hat – custom crafted Santa hats with creative corporate messaging

 

Original Gift Quantities, Timelines and Design

We invent, design and manufacture using our Happy Worker Creative Process:

Minimum order quantity

Happy Worker manufactures thousands of collectibles at a time. Starting orders range from 1,500 - 5,000 gifts per production run, depending on the materials used on the collectible.

Delivery timelines

Timelines vary based on material and packaging, but most projects take between 16-24 weeks to deliver. Let us know the desired “in hand” date for recipients or holiday event dates and we’ll recommend solutions.

Design

It’s up to you - we can handle all aspects of the creative, or your design team can create all artwork with Happy Worker supporting by providing packaging templates and advice. 

Next steps: contact Happy Worker and tell us more about your ideal gift (or) your ideal gifting results.

 

 

Contact Happy Worker Heidi

@ 1-888-494-8697

[email protected]

Holiday Gift Categories

• Ornamental Ideas
• “Deskworthy” Office Collectibles
• Seasonal Snow Globes
• Seasonal Stationery
• Surprise Inside
• Merry Amusements & Curiosities
• Food & Entertaining Holiday Eats
• Eco-Friendly Gifting
• Christmas Cards & Holiday Wrapping
• New Years’ Ideas
• Christmassy Clothing