Shopping·8 min read

Gifts That’ll Start a Fight at the Company White Elephant

white elephant gifts
Design: theSkimm | Images: Amazon, Nest
October 15, 2024

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Here are several scenarios. You’ve just started a new role and hardly know your teammates, you can’t surpass the $30 per-person budget, and/or you’re not sure how to drum up a gift idea that would be appreciated by more than one colleague. No sweat. We’ve rounded up several white elephant gifts that are sure to get equal amounts of use and laughs.

Want more holiday gifting ideas? Check out our full list of gift guides for everyone on your list. 

Burt's Bees water bottle
Burt's Bees

A kitschy water bottle inspired by their favorite lip balm…

We’re big fans of branded water bottles, and this Burt’s Bees spin on their beloved beeswax lip balm is among our favorites. Double-walled stainless steel insulation keeps drinks ice cold, while the carrying handle means easy transport. ($30, Burt’s Bees

$30, Burt’s Bees
To-Do list
Knock Knock

A running list of all the stuff they need to tackle before the end of the day…

What better office accessory than a notepad that encourages them to “get their sh*t together”? This cleverly separates all “sh*t” into three categories: easy sh*t, tough sh*t, and oh, sh*t, the last of which we sincerely hope they never have to fill in. ($8.99, Knock Knock

$8.99, Knock Knock
Organizer kit
Target

An adulting kit to keep by their office desk…

The equivalent of back-to-school shopping for adults is purchasing organization accessories, the kind that promise to tame the mess of a cluttered workspace. Step in, this all-in-one kit that comes with a laundry bag, pill box, to-do list notepad, bill opener, meal decision coin, file folders, and two coasters. Everything an adult needs to keep on top of their daily and weekly to-dos. ($14.99, Target

$14.99, Target
vista print personalized travel mug
VistaPrint

A travel mug you can personalize however you want…

The perfect vessel for toting their morning coffee to the office, this 15-ounce mug is equipped with a comfortable handle, double-walled stainless steel to maintain the drink’s temperature, and a vacuum seal to keep the liquid safe during transit. Our favorite part? You can personalize it with any text or graphic you want. The cheekier, the better, as far as we’re concerned. ($24.99, VistaPrint

$24.99, VistaPrint
plush avocado
Nordstrom

A plush avocado that pairs best with office toast…

Gentle reminder that stuffed animals are appropriate for any age group, particularly when it’s an avocado plush from Jellycat. This adorable toy makes any drab corporate office feel ten times more creative and inviting. Who could have a dull partner call when this avocado is smiling back at them? ($30, Nordstrom)

$30, Nordstrom
Fridge magnets
Amazon

A 10-pack of farm fresh resin magnets…

Embellish their boring white fridge with a pack of 10-piece resin magnets, all featuring vibrant produce picks (bread, tomatoes, a carton of eggs, and more) to make the process of hanging a grocery list or wedding invitation feel far more fun and aesthetically pleasing. ({{dynamicPrice}}, Amazon)

$15.51/10 pack, Amazon
Candles
Nest

A decadent amber and incense candle…

Candles aren’t the most unique gift idea, but hear us out: it’s always the most appreciated. This amber and incense votive from Nest has a captivating fragrance with notes of cedar and frankincense. The candle itself is made with a 100% cotton wick, 28 hours of burn time, and a reusable glass votive. ($22, Nest)

$22, Nest
Felt ornaments
Anthropologie

A felt gnome they’ll always hang on their tree…

Keepsake ornaments are a foolproof way to gift something that feels personal, and this adorable felt gnome is a $12 find that any recipient will genuinely find adorable. ($12, Anthropologie

$12, Anthropologie
kitten desktop calendar
Ban.do

An adorable flip-book starring cute kittens or dogs…

This desktop flip-book features our favorite coworkers — kittens or dogs, depending on your purchase choice — in conjunction with inspirational keywords and phrases that guarantee a morning laugh from even the grouchiest of your desk peers. PS: Use code THESKIMM for 15% off through December 31. Some exclusions apply - see product pages for details. Offer cannot be combined with rewards points, other coupon codes, or applied to past orders.($12, Ban.do)

$12, Ban.do
ceramic mug
Amazon

A reusable ceramic mug with a NYC-inspired design…

A ceramic mug moonlighting as a takeaway cup from a NYC coffee cart? The ideal white elephant gift, one made even better by the fact that it’s dishwasher- and microwave-safe so it won’t get ruined after one day of use. ({{dynamicPrice}}, Amazon

$15.10, Amazon
Glove ceramic mug
Amazon

An oversized bowl capable of winning a World Series…

We hope this oversized bowl lands in the paws of the office class clown, the one who never fails to make a dad joke on Slack despite dozens of pending deadlines. It’s available in six sports designs — baseball, basketball, hockey, golf, soccer, and softball — and comes with an attached “mitt” or “hoop” to catch rogue bits of cereal. ({{dynamicPrice}}, Amazon)

$29.95, Amazon
Rechargeable lighter
Urban Outfitters

A rechargeable lighter for hard-to-reach candle wicks…

Lighters have a tendency to go missing just when they’re most needed, but this oversized “matchstick” is thankfully impossible to lose. It’s rechargeable, plus the design means it can be used for long-neck candles that are nearing the end of their burn time. ($24, Urban Outfitters

$24, Urban Outfitters
Affirmation card deck
Amazon

An emergency affirmation deck for exceptionally bad days…

They’ll consider this affirmation deck the perfect SOS for “exceptionally stupid days,” with over 100 cards that encourage users to take a step back and transform ugh-worthy moments into not-so-terrible ones. ({{dynamicPrice}}, Amazon)

$16.17, Amazon
Daily planner
Brass Monkey

A daily planner filled with both important holidays and fun factoids…

This part-time adulting daily planner makes it fun to keep their day organized, thanks to pages including both fill-in-the-blank checklists as well as random holidays worth celebrating, like national number two pencil day. ($24, Brass Monkey

$24, Brass Monkey

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