Inventory: Become the most popular person in your office with these holiday gift ideas

Maybe you’re lucky and no one in your office has ever given anyone gifts before you all depart for the holiday break. Or maybe Carol in accounting got everyone Purdys one year and now everyone keeps trying to one-up each other to no end. If that’s the case—or hey, if you feel like being an extra nice person for some reason—we’ve got enough local gifts to find something appropriate for all of your office relationships.

For the overly excited HR rep 

This person doesn’t necessarily have to work in HR; they just have to be constantly cheerleading for the company brand and replying-all to celebratory staff-wide emails with one-line responses like “Congrats Patrick and team!” And we’ve got the perfect gift for them: a custom mug with your company’s logo on it from Dundas Print, which is based in Toronto but has an outlet in downtown Vancouver. Of course, you do run the risk of your giftee loving it so much they contact Dundas before your next team event and get everyone in the office the same mug using petty cash. Flying too close to the sun has its risks. Prices vary

For your work BFF 

Okay, so we still don’t really know if Taylor Swift is coming to B.C. anytime soon. And while it’s not exactly easy to replace her—something a legion of famous dudes seem to be finding out one after another—there are a bunch of shows around Vancouver in the coming months that might make appropriate stand-ins. Check out indie darlings like Briston Maroney (March 20, Commodore), The Paper Kites (March 10, Vogue) and Slaughter Beach, Dog (January 21, Rickshaw). Want something a bit more mainstream? Sam Roberts Band (pictured) plays the Commodore on February 24 and 25. They’re also making stops in Victoria and Kelowna. Prices vary

For your boss

First, let’s think about what we want a gift for a boss to do, what kinds of emotions that we want to invoke. How about calm and relaxed? In that case, go for something from the Jervis collection by clean-burning, smoke- and scent-free steel candle-maker Everlasting Candle Co. The new line features a rectangular vase design that comes in six different colours, each one named after an Australian beach (Vancouver-based founders Jesse and Tamara Furgason are from Down Under). Perfect for a peaceful night in as your boss lights it up and thinks about how much you definitely deserve a raise. $80

For the parent(s) 

Maybe you don’t want to be super popular with the parents in your office—some people don’t feel the need to hear the details of Jason’s hockey practice or how Tina’s violin lessons are going or how Weston isn’t sleeping all that well right now but haha that’s what coffee is for right?? If you do want to be in the parental good graces, Vancouver-based low-sugar candy maker SmartSweets is now making lollipops. The kids aren’t going to know the difference, making this an ideal stocking stuffer. Unless, you know, the parents get a craving themselves. Prices vary

Something for everyone 

When you were growing up, it was the boring gift. Now admit it: you love being gifted socks. B.C. isn’t short on awesome sock companies, but for stylish socks you can wear with pretty much any outfit business or casual, we like Delta’s Wolf Clothing Co. The brand has classy and fun designs for every occasion, and the best part is whomever you end up gifting these to will feel obligated to gift you a pair later. $19.99