Office opening gifts are slightly different from other types of opening gifts.
Most opening gifts are typically received from close acquaintances or family members.
However, when it comes to office opening gifts, they can be received from a diverse group of people, including acquaintances, business partners, and former colleagues.
As a result, the most common problem that can arise is receiving duplicate gifts.
If possible, before reading this article, it is best to ask the recipient if there is anything they specifically need.
If that is not feasible, it is advisable to provide a gift that will not cause any inconvenience to the recipient.
In this article, we will introduce the best office opening gifts that are sure to satisfy everyone.
What are the recommended office opening gifts?
Plants
Plants are one of the bestselling items that are always included in office opening gifts.
This is not only because plants are beautiful, but also because it has been scientifically proven for a long time that they have a positive effect on reducing employee stress and boosting morale.
However, when giving plants as an office opening gift, it is important to be careful when selecting the species.
This is because, unlike other industries, many offices do not receive direct sunlight.
The best plants for offices
Here is the English translation, with the modifying phrases moved to the front of the nouns they describe, following English conventions:
Among the countless indoor plants, there are plants that are truly well-suited for offices. These are foliage plants,
which are so commonly used in offices that they are even called “office plants” in English.
Among these, we will introduce plants that are very easy to care for and can survive for a long time even with little water, as shown below.
Snake Plant (Sansevieria)
This plant, which grows tall and upright like a cactus, is a popular ornamental foliage plant in any country.
In the West, it is mainly called a snake plant because the leaf patterns resemble snake skin, while in nearby Japan, it is called tiger flower because the stripes are thought to resemble a tiger’s.
It grows very well even in low light conditions and, as a succulent plant, does not need to be watered frequently. Additionally, since it grows upwards, it is effective even in narrow spaces.
If you choose a plant directly from a flower shop, selecting one that grows straight up like a cactus will greatly reduce the chances of failure.
ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia)
You are probably very familiar with this plant.
It is a famous foliage plant that you have likely seen at least once, whether at home or in other stores.
The ZZ plant, native to Africa, grows well anywhere, with or without lighting, just like the snake plant introduced above.
Although it has leaves, they do not fall off easily, so there is no need to clean them separately.
In fact, it is better to water it only when the soil has dried out, so you don’t have to worry about it.
Cactus
The cactus is probably the plant that best suits an office out of all the plants in the world.
With over 2,000 species, there is a wide variety of types, and their small size allows them to be placed in narrow spaces.
Moreover, they require very little water, so forgetting to water them does not cause much of a problem.
However, cacti do need some sunlight, so they are not recommended for offices with poor lighting.
English Ivy
English ivy is a vine plant belonging to the ginseng family. Even if you are not familiar with this plant, you have probably seen it at least once on TV or on a fence in the countryside.
Like the plants introduced above, it is easy to care for and tolerates low light conditions. However, a difference is that it is a plant well-suited to the title of “foliage plants” that are appreciated for their leaves.
However, as a vine plant, it can grow long and lush.
It can be used in various ways, not only in floor pots but also in hanging pots on walls.
Precautions when choosing foliage plants
When placing foliage plants in an office, you must keep the space in mind.
Most foliage plants can be grown for a very long time. Among them, there are plants that grow very tall and wide leaves.
If they grow too large over time, they will take up a lot of space in the office.
So, if you know the size of the other person’s office, it is best to choose accordingly. If you don’t know at all, it is better to select species that take up relatively less space.
Disadvantages of foliage plants
While plants are a great gift, they are also the most common gift.
As explained at the beginning, plant gifts are likely to be duplicated by 3 to 4 or more, wherever you go.
What about flower wreaths as an opening gift?
When it comes to typical opening gifts, many people send flower wreaths as a basic gift.
Wreaths are also classified as plants and are sent because they clearly show that a business has opened.
However, I personally want to strongly advise against wreaths as office opening gifts.
Anyone who has received a wreath even once knows that wreaths actually have many more disadvantages than advantages.
The flowers in a wreath are bound to wilt within a few days, and disposing of the wreath is very cumbersome.
The wood, paper, and flowers must all be separately recycled. Otherwise, you have to pay a nearby flower shop to handle the disposal.
So, if you want to choose a plant, I recommend selecting one of the foliage plants above rather than a wreath.
Small appliances for the office
Although more expensive than the other gifts introduced above, these are necessary appliances that will definitely be used in the office.
Offices of a certain size already have them prepared, but most small offices opening for the first time require essential appliances.
Let’s take coffee as a simple example, since there is no office that doesn’t drink coffee.
Most small offices are equipped with a water purifier, coffee pot, and disposable coffee.
To make coffee, most people use a water purifier or boil water in a coffee pot.
Especially in the case of old water purifiers, even when using hot water, it is often lukewarm and the coffee powder does not dissolve well, so pots are still widely used.
In that sense, providing a coffee machine as an office opening gift is a good idea.
A coffee machine is not an essential gift, but if there is one, it will be very useful.
Coffee machines can be purchased in the range of 200,000 to 600,000 won, depending on the type.
It is good to not only provide the coffee machine but also inform them about what kind of coffee to use.
In addition to this, the following are appliances that are good to have:
Recommended appliances for office opening gifts
- Electric heater, humidifier, etc.
- Small refrigerator
Cash and gift certificates
A lot of money is really needed in the early stages of opening an office. There are many places where money will be unexpectedly spent.
In this respect, cash and gift certificates can be the best office opening gifts to give to the other person.
However, despite being such a great gift, it is still difficult to readily provide cash as a gift in Korea.
It may seem thoughtless and give a strong impression of being sloppy.
So, if you want to give cash or gift certificates as an office opening gift, you must consider the following:
When it is okay to give cash and gift certificates as a gift
- You must consider whether your relationship with the other person is one where it is okay to give cash. (Close friends, colleagues, relatives, family, etc.)
- If giving cash directly, you should exchange it for new bills at the bank and put them in an envelope.
- It is even better to present it in a luxurious envelope rather than a plain white one.
- The amount should not be too small or too large. If the amount is too small, the other person will be disappointed, and conversely, if it is too much, it will be burdensome.
If you just keep these 4 situations in mind when providing it, cash will undoubtedly be the best opening gift for the recipient.
Interior decor items
Interior decor items are also one of the popular gifts for office openings.
This is because they can brighten up a new, empty office. Among the countless interior decor items, one of the most gifted items is a “painting”.
This is because paintings have a much greater interior decorating effect compared to other decor items.
Most ordinary decor items are small in size, so displaying just one has almost no decorative effect.
In fact, there is a high possibility that they will have no presence in the office.
In that sense, paintings have the advantage of being easily noticeable by anyone because they stand out.
In addition, oil paintings, unlike photographs, are much less susceptible to color damage from sunlight, etc., so they can be used almost semi-permanently.
Tips for choosing a painting for the office
- A painting that is too large in size can rather be a hindrance.
- A moderate painting with nature, flowers, or scenery as the subject is good.
- It is better to avoid paintings with a theme that is too specific. No one wants to see a painting about war in the office.
- It is best to determine whether to include a frame according to the office. An overly patterned frame does not go well with a simple office.