The best Christmas goody bag ideas for 2019

If you’re tasked with organising the Christmas party this year, or even just throw your own annually, you might be on the look our for Christmas good bag ideas. We too have been trying to navigate the tricky world of what to gift people to say thank you for another great year and have done some of our own research. Below is a complete guide to what to put in a Christmas goody bag, to make the recipients feel special.

Like the Christmas stocking and the Mars Bar, the humble goodie bag has been subjected to a super-sizing in recent years. All the way back in in 2001, the take-home for Oscars performers and presenters was said to be worth $10,000 – now, Hollywood’s finest are lugging home $100,000-worth of goodies. Sponsors reckon that the thousands of dollars are well worth the outlay if even one of their products ends up on a red carpet. Goodie bags aren’t generosity, they’re business.

So before you blow your budget on high-end grooming products, ask yourself what you’re hoping to achieve with your goodie bag. You’ve enticed guests to your event, you’ve delivered your key messages during the course of it, now what kind of impression do you want to leave them with?

The best bags contain a mixture of practical and luxury items. The treats are the easy bit. Everyone loves a good bottle of wine, a box of handmade chocolates, designer toiletries or accessories (careful not to be too male- or female-centric if you’re giving everyone the same bag), but a more unusual offering that’s relevant to your event will leave a lasting impression. We always appreciate a bottle of water, a light snack and some reading material for the schlep home.

The business end of your goodie bag is trickier to get right. The offering should be relevant and practical rather than branded and boring. Keyrings, stressballs and paperweights emblazoned with your company logo all fall into the latter category. So if you do want to give branded gifts, think about something that people will use in spite of the branding (let’s be realistic). A bottle opener, mini umbrella or travel adaptor is much more practical – and if you can find something that links with the theme of your event, all the better.

Chances are you’ll also want to send some information home with departing guests – a branded USB stick is a good way to do this. Not only is it more useful, eco-friendly and less likely to be jettisoned on the way home than wads of paper, your guests will also use it long after the event. Don’t just splurge down reams of information – think about what guests will want to know post-event. It’s a good move to make sure your suppliers are represented, even if it’s just a list of contact information.

Whatever you choose to include in your Christmas goody bag, don’t forget the bag itself - it’s the first thing people see so you want to make an impact. Lots of places do pretty gift bags, like Meri Meri, or you could think outside of the box and use something people could recycle, like a pretty linen bag that could be used as a laundry bag or a small basket that could be filled as a hamper for another friend or colleague at another time.

Ready to treat your colleagues, clients or friends to a little something for themselves after the Christmas party? From relaxing candles and eye masks to hangover-curing hair of the dog options, we’ve got something for everyone. To make navigating the below simple you'll find a number beside the picture of each goody bag item, with details below on the page.