The 10 Best Gift Ideas for Assistants
Finding the perfect gift for your Assistant can feel overwhelming, especially since they’re usually the ones procuring the staff gifts (and sometimes they’re so good at gift selection, getting something for them can feel intimidating)! We asked an Executive Assistant from inside our community to ask around and compile an ideal gift list based on the preferences of an assistant—none of these gift recommendations were sponsored in any way. We’ve taken their suggestions and narrowed them down to the ten best gift ideas for the assistants in your life!
Need more gift recommendations? Here are 10 great general business gift ideas!
The 10 Best Gift Ideas for Assistants
Short on time? Here’s a quick list!
Sugarwish Custom Boxes of Sweets
Airpods or Noise-Cancelling Headphones
Success Crate or Coach Crate monthly subscriptions
Wine Related Gifts for Wine Lovers
Small Office Gifts Like Candles or Desk Plates
Gift Cards
Flowers
In general, we recommend shopping local and personalizing the gift as much as possible to your assistant’s tastes. Remember: even if you can’t gift much, a personal and thoughtful note will go a long way!
1. Spa Gift Boxes ($$-$$$$)
Your assistant likely spends a lot of time at their desk or working hard on their laptop. This makes way for them to have a host of aches and pains that can be treated with a mini-spa day. From lovely scents, bath bombs, lotions, and personal add-ons, curated spa gift boxes are always a much-appreciated gift.
Not sure what scent to send, choose something neutral (lavender, vanilla, etc). You can find a variety of options with add-ons and personal touches at Etsy or from a quick Google search
2. Sugarwish ($$)
These customizable boxes of sweets are perfect for gifting at any occasion. With a variety of options to choose from—cookies, popcorn, candy, coffee, and even dog treats—you are sure to hit the mark. We love that Sugarwish allows you to select the box you give or, if you aren’t sure, you can let your assistant pick their own box filled with all of their faves.
3. Airpods or Noise Canceling Headphones ($$$)
Looking for something a little different, but still practical and thoughtful? Apple Airpods or other noise-canceling headphones/pods make for a great gift that any assistant is sure to enjoy. This option is a little more pricey than others, but this classic gift is timeless, considerate, and likely something your assistant will love to start using right away!
4. Moleskine Planners or Journals ($)
A Moleskine notebook will never go out of style—and if paired with a nice pen set, it becomes a perfect gift for the practical assistant. This is also a great option for Administrative Professionals’ Day or a work anniversary. It can be a simple and low cost gift, or high-end gift, depending how you pair it. Penmakers like Cross, Parker, and Kaweco all have medium or high-end pen options. Helpful tip: pick a color or design you know your assistant likes, it’s a little gesture that can have a big impact!
5. Monthly subscription - Success Crate, Coach Crate ($$$)
Your assistant works hard every day, all year long, so sending one of these subscription boxes will remind them of your appreciation every month! The Success Crate box is perfect for the assistant who is looking to elevate their game and is anxious to grow more. Each box includes a book and something practical yet fun, like office supplies, a workbook, and/or a planner.
There are so many monthly subscriptions to choose from - coffee & tea, fresh flowers, cheese, books… if you know what your assistant likes, we guarantee there’s a monthly box for it that will keep the smiles growing all year. Don’t forget, Peloton and other monthly fitness subscriptions can be gifts too!
6. For The Wine Lover ($$ - $$$)
A gift that pairs cheese or chocolate with a nice wine is considered “classic” for good reason. It’s thoughtful, delicious, and gives the added opportunity to support local businesses. If your assistant lives close to some wineries, consider adding a wine tasting to the gift. This small change can turn a gift into a whole experience.
Etsy, again, is a great place to find all sorts of wine-related gifts (you can even send a wine making kit!) Here are some more great ideas for wine lovers from Forbes.
7. Ember Coffee Mug ($$$)
An Ember mug is a practical luxury, this gift is super useful so you know your coffee- or tea-loving assistant will use it all the time, but it might be something they just can’t justify buying for themselves.
From the first steaming hot sip to the last, this mug will help your assistant kick their day off on the right foot, and think of you while doing it! Its minimalist design and two size option (we recommend the 14oz) makes it a nice addition to their desk—and we guarantee it won’t become a pen holder!
8. Small & Thoughtful ($)
For the occasions where your assistant has gone above and beyond, or you’re just feeling like you want to recognize them, a small gift that shows you know them and care without breaking the bank may be just the thing. We suggest a thoughtful gift like this candle or this deskplate; both are fun and inexpensive ways to say thank you for being the chaos coordinator that keeps your busy world running!
9. Gift Cards ($-$$$)
Still not sure what to get? Waited until the last minute? Not to fret, gift cards are always a solid gifting choice. And gift cards can still feel personalized to the recipient, when selecting a gift card, avoid a generic Visa/Mastercard gift card and instead look for local options near your assistant. There are likely dozens of boutiques, spas, popular restaurants, etc. that your assistant would love to visit.
Other great options are Goldbelly for the foodie, Delta Airlines for the jetsetter, Sur La Table for the cook, or if you know your assistant’s preferences really well, you can get creative and find something unique.
10. Flowers ($$-$$$$)
Fresh flowers brighten any day and can help your assistant feel appreciated on any occasion. Whether you order a bouquet of flowers, a long-lasting plant, or a succulent, this gift will add a pop of color and fun to your assistant’s workspace. If you want to keep the fresh flowers coming, you can sign them up for a subscription—seasonal or monthly.
One last tip for assistant gifts—try to keep it personal and thoughtful and use what you’ve learned about them during your time together Whether these gifts are for a birthday, holiday, or Administrative Professionals Day, they’re a chance for you to show your appreciation for their thoughtfulness and support of you and your work.
One Last Thing to Remember:
No matter what you decide to give to your assistant, attaching a thoughtfully worded note of appreciation will serve as the perfect bow on a sure-to-be-treasured gift!
33Vincent has many other resources to help you maximize your time and communication with your executive assistant.