Best Gifts for Coworkers in 2016

Picking out a special gift for your an office gift swap requires a bit of ingenuity. You might know the giftee well, in which case, you have to sneak around and keep it quiet. Or you might have to do some undercover sleuthing to find out a little bit about the person you’re giving the gift to.

Once you know who you’ve got, the real creativity is in finding the perfect gift. Are you looking for some ideas for gifts for your co-workers? Here are items that might spark your inspiration:

For the Techie

Does your office have a resident futurist? Funky USB drives make great gifts that are always useful. With the Star Wars: The Force Awakens release nearing, an R2-D2 USB set is perfect right now.

For the Writer

Writers can never have enough notebooks, but they’re also never willing to splurge on a nice, personalized journal. If your giftee is a writer, thinker or doodler, pick him or her up a custom-printed Moleskine notebook. They’ll love it.

For the Bike Commuter

Bike commuters are always tinkering with their two-wheelers. That’s why a bike multi-tool makes a practical, handy gift. It’s something the biker always needs, and it’s a tool they’re bound to use.

For the Gardener

Is your giftee a green thumb? Yes! Well, then, a desktop garden set would be a total hit. There are many options – like this hydroponic desktop garden – but you might choose something simple like a hand-crafted planter.

For the Cocktail Enthusiast

Craft cocktails are all the rage right now. Does the person receiving the gift know the finer details between a Moscow Mule and an American Mule? If so, pick up a craft cocktail recipe book for fun ideas for crafty drinks.

For the Sweet Tooth

Chocolates, cookies and candy – for the sweet tooth in your office – these items never go out of style. But to help make your gift stand out, shop for sweets at a local specialty shop. Try using Chocomap if you’re unsure of a store near you.

For the Traveler

Travelers are always itching to cross the next destination off their list. That’s why a scratch-off wall map makes the perfect gift. When your giftee goes on vacation, they can scratch the destination off. It’s a great gift to hang in the cubicle.

For the Artist

Dot-to-dot books – we loved them in grade school – but now they’re more sophisticated than ever. For the artist in your office, the 1000 Dot-to-Dot Book series is a perfect gift that will let them show off their creativity. The books let your coworkers recreate well-known portraits dot by dot.

For the Office Cook

Does your giftee spend lunch at his desk? The Rapid Ramen cooker – which was featured on Shark Tank – makes a useful, quirky gift. It’s the best way to cook ramen quickly.

For the Adventurer

For the person who’s always planning her next backpacking trip, a water filter is a must-have item. Pick up a low-cost, high-quality piece like the Sawyer Mini Water Filter for a practical, always-handy gift.

For the Snacker

There are a bunch of great companies offering direct-to-the-office monthly snack box subscriptions. If the person is a snacker, a subscription to a service like graze makes for an awesome gift.

For many, choosing gifts is a challenge, but hopefully, these 11 items will help spark your creativity.