Small Business Know-How

The holiday season is right around the corner, and it’s time to plan a memorable office Christmas party. Whether you’re hosting a small gathering or a grand event, these festive ideas and thoughtful promotional gifts will ensure your celebration is a success.

1. Plan Ahead and Invite Early

Between holiday travel, family get-togethers, and other events, people’s schedules tend to fill up quickly this time of year, so get your invitations out early. Then give invitees just a hint of what you have planned, including office holiday party games, gift exchanges, or special menu items.

2. Create Excitement with Door Prizes

Nothing adds to the excitement like the anticipation of a door prize. Give each person a numbered ticket from a roll of tickets as they arrive and continue giving away more tickets during the entire event for simple, fun and interactive things like:

• Everyone with a birthday in December
• Anyone wearing red
• Everyone working for the company 2 years or more
• Anyone that drove to the event with a co-worker
• If you have a live plant on your desk

Additionally, have drawings for door prizes frequently throughout the party. Consider offering a variety of promotional gifts, such as:

• Journal and Pen Gift Sets: A practical and thoughtful gift for the office worker.
• Custom Drinkware: Personalized mugs or tumblers can be a fun and functional souvenir.
• Branded Blankets: Cozy blankets are perfect for keeping warm during winter months and can be branded with your company logo.

3. Add a Touch of Magic with Santa

Surprise your guests with a visit from the jolly old man himself. Santa can distribute small gifts, pose for photos, and spread some holiday magic.

4. Plan for Memorable Table Prizes

If you’re planning a sit-down meal, pick one chair at each table and place a colored sticker on the underside. The person sitting in the marked chair gets to take home the table centerpiece or some other fun prize. And to ensure that everyone goes home with a gift don’t forget to have holiday branded swag bags at each spot. Fill branded swag bags with fun items like:

• Penlights: A handy tool for everyone.
• Custom Notepads: Perfect for jotting down notes and reminders.
• Candles: A relaxing and festive addition to any home.
• Promotional Keychains: A practical and memorable giveaway.

5. Organize Interactive Games

Organize a “Name That Song” game. Play snippets of holiday songs and have guests guess the title. Award points or raffle tickets to those who guess correctly.

6. Indulge in a Cookie Exchange

Encourage guests in advance of the event to participate in a cookie exchange by bringing their favorite holiday goodies to the party. To ensure everyone can enjoy their goodies, provide guidelines in advance, such as pre-packaging cookies for easy take-home, avoiding items that require refrigeration, and suggesting a quantity per package (e.g., 1 dozen). Guests can even get creative with unique packaging and presentation. And you guessed it, give tickets for participating.

7. Have an Optional Gift Exchange

• Yankee Swap: Have a fun and festive Yankee Swap! Ask each guest to bring a wrapped, wacky gift — the more outrageous, the better. Gather all the gifts under the Christmas tree and assign each guest a number. Starting with the first number, the person picks a gift and opens it. The second person can either “steal” the first gift or open a new one. This continues until all gifts are gone, with each gift only being “stolen” twice. Everyone will leave with a zany souvenir of the party!
• Themed White Elephant: Give your White Elephant gift exchange a unique twist with a theme. Choose a topic like “80s nostalgia” or “DIY holiday crafts” and ask guests to bring gifts that fit the theme. This adds an extra layer of fun and ensures everyone receives a gift they’ll actually enjoy.
• Secret Santa: For a more personalized gift exchange, try Secret Santa. Assign each guest a secret recipient and have them purchase a gift for that person. The recipients remain anonymous until the gifts are revealed at the party. This option adds an element of surprise and encourages thoughtful gift-giving.

8. Send Guests Off with Promotional Party Favors

Thank your guests for attending by sending them home with personalized party favors. Consider personalized candy and chocolate, or custom bags filled with small gifts.

Remember, the key to a great office Christmas party is to have fun and celebrate the holiday season together. With these ideas, you’re sure to create a memorable and festive event that everyone will enjoy.

For even more inspiration, check out our selection of branded holiday gifts.

Happy Holidays!

Need Some Additional Office Holiday Party Ideas?

Check out these ideas to add a little extra cheer this season:

• Decorations: Transform your office into a winter wonderland with festive decorations like twinkling lights, towering Christmas trees, and holiday-themed centerpieces.
• Food and Drinks: Fuel the fun with a delicious spread of holiday-themed snacks, appetizers, and beverages. Think hot cocoa, gingerbread cookies, and festive cocktails/mocktails.
• Music: Set the mood with a playlist of classic holiday tunes that everyone can sing along to.
• Icebreaker Activities: Get everyone mingling and having fun with icebreaker activities like holiday-themed trivia or a gift exchange.
• Photo Booth: Capture unforgettable memories with a photo booth stocked with festive props and accessories.

Spring is here, bringing warmer weather, sunshine, and the excitement of graduation! As seniors prepare to say goodbye to their alma mater, it’s the perfect time to celebrate their accomplishments. While the planning can feel overwhelming, choosing the right graduation favor to thank your guests shouldn’t be.

Opt for a thoughtful gift that your friends and family will enjoy long after the event ends. Here are some fantastic ideas for graduation party favors that will leave your guests smiling.

1. Custom Pens
   Personalized pens make for a practical and memorable graduation party favor. Whether you choose a sleek stylus pen or a classic writing pen, your guests will appreciate having a functional keepsake that celebrates the big day.
2. Custom Printed Stadium Cups
   Perfect for both hot and cold beverages, stadium cups are a popular party favor that can be personalized with your graduation year, a fun message, or the graduate’s name. Guests will enjoy these durable cups during the party and beyond.
3. Custom Can Coolers
   Keep drinks cool and stylish with personalized can coolers. These fun and practical favors are perfect for a summer graduation party, and they make for great keepsakes. Customize them with your graduate’s name, a photo, or a clever message to add a personal touch.
4. Branded Sunglasses
   Make a bold statement with branded sunglasses. These colorful, customizable accessories are a fun way to celebrate the occasion. Whether you go for classic or trendy designs, they’re sure to make your graduation party even more memorable. Show off your school pride by customizing them in your school colors.
5. Personalized Candy, Chocolate, and Food
   Sweet treats are always a hit at graduation parties. Personalized chocolates, candies, and mints make delightful favors that can be displayed on the tables for your guests to enjoy. Try placing mints in small dishes or wrapping them with a decorative ribbon for a charming touch.
6. Personalized Napkins and Coasters
   No graduation party is complete without the perfect décor. Personalized napkins and coasters add a special touch to your tables. Whether you choose a custom message or your school colors, they’ll help tie everything together and keep the celebration going strong.

Create Your Own Unique Party Favors

With so many options for custom graduation favors, you can mix and match to create the perfect collection for your celebration. From fun sunglasses to custom pens, your guests will remember the day long after the party ends.

What kind of graduation party favors do you enjoy receiving? We’d love to hear your ideas and suggestions.