Buying gifts for business associates

Buying a gift for a colleague, your boss or business partner may be not as easy as buying for friends and family.

Although gift-giving has become a common way to show appreciation and thanks to business associates, it can be an intimidating and awkward task.

Hopefully the tips provided below by online store OfficeMax.com will help you find the right gift.

- Instead of giving a present that will sit on a shelf and gather dust, look for gifts that are useful. Items that can be used around the home or office are always appreciated.

- Just because you are buying a gift for your boss doesn't mean you have to break the bank when you make your purchase. Nobody expects you to spend a lot of money, so stick to a budget. If you don't, fellow employees (and your boss) may take things the wrong way if you try to present an expensive gift. Avoid extravagant gifts that may be misinterpreted as bribery.

- If you don't have a lot of time to go to the mall and fight holiday traffic, use a catalog or shop online. However, allow extra time for possible holiday shipping delays.

- If you are aware that the client or employee is on a special type of diet, avoid giving food as a present. In addition, don't give liquor and wine as a gift unless you know the person very well.

- Avoid giving presents that create an awkward situation. For example, stay away from personal items like jewelry and clothing so you don't make the mistake of choosing the wrong size. Also, it is not a good idea to give off-color greeting cards and presents.

- If you want to leave the impression that a gift is coming from you personally instead of your company, don't put a corporate logo on the present. The logo would provide free advertising, but some people may look at it as being cheap.

- Enclose a personalized note with the gift for an added touch.

- When working with your fellow employees or talking to your favorite customers, jot down their likes, dislikes, hobbies, interests and other personal information so you can get the perfect gift for them.

- Look for gifts that match a person's interests, personality, hobbies or job. For example, if a fellow employee is a movie fanatic, a ticket to the local cinema would be a great gift.

- Finally, when buying a gift, remember that it is the thought that counts!