Secret Santa Gifts For The Office

Every office has an 'organiser': the one person who organises the Christmas Party, the draw for the World Cup or Grand National, the summer trip to the seaside, the collection for a colleague's leaving present, and the baby gift for every new baby born to colleagues or their spouses. The 'organiser' is usually the most sociable of beings and knows exactly how to ask questions that are really difficult to answer 'no'.

"You are coming to Thursdays quiz night aren't you, 'cos I've got you down as the blue team captain?" "Do you want red wine or white wine with your Christmas dinner?", etc.

Always on FaceBook, Twitter and Myspace, they are an 'organiser' outside work too, and are easily spotted in any office because they have posters in their corral bearing the legend 'You don't have to be mad to work here, but it helps' and 'You want it when?'

About this time of year the organiser will write down everyone's name in the office on slips of paper, carefully folding them and mixing them up in the 'hat' (usually an empty waste paper bin) and inviting you to draw a slip of paper to see who you will buy the Secret Santa gift for this year.

Now, ground rules are laid down by the 'organiser' as to the maximum cost of your present along with instructions as to which day to bring the wrapped present into work. This is usually the day of the Christmas party or lunchtime 'fuddle'. It is important to strike the right note for your Secret Santa present. Get it wrong and you'll be blacklisted for the next six months. Get it right and you'll be the hero for a day. So, it is important to do some homework about your recipient. Is he or she interested in gardening? Does he or she support a particular football team, or are they keen on a certain pop group? Clues here can often be found around your recipient's desk: pictures of Madonna or Cheryl Cole, photographs of a Mclaren F1 car, or your recipient holding a huge fish. They are all dead give-aways.

Always, always stick to the budget limit. An over budget present is a clear sign that you have failed to think of something suitable and just given up and thrown money at the problem. An over budget present is so easy to spot.
Once you have bought your present, wrap it in Christmas paper with a pattern that won't stand out from the rest of the Secret Santa presents and get your Dad to write the recipient's name on the card (with his left hand), or print a label off on the computer at home.

The last hurdle is one that trips so many - remember to bring the present with you on the allotted day because no excuses are acceptable. Sneak the present into the growing pile of Secret Santa gifts whilst no one is watching. That way no-one will associate you with that bright yellow parcel. The 'organiser' will, no doubt, take it upon themselves to distribute the presents, but don't give yourself away by appearing over enthusiastic when your recipient is given his/her present. If all points have been followed, your present should go down well. Let's just hope that the buyer of your present has been equally thoughtful.

Phil Ward works for Gizoo, an online retailer of gifts and gadgets. If you're stuck for Christmas gift ideas, Gizoo has a wide choice of affordable Secret Santa gifts and stocking fillers and Christmas gifts for adults and kids.