The holiday season is the perfect time for businesses to show appreciation to their employees. But the pressure to find meaningful gifts—especially for a large team—can quickly inflate budgets and overwhelm managers. Most of us don’t have an executive assistant or events team on staff - so the ability to create custom gift baskets that look polished can feel like a bit of a scramble!

Here’s my take as an event planner: thoughtful gifting doesn’t have to break the bank. I recently tackled a project for a client who needed 18 custom holiday gifts for his team in the Denver area - and he needed them by the end of the week. His request was simple yet precise: the gifts needed to be high-quality, tasteful, and presented in a clean, professional manner without being overly flashy.

Here are my top tips and a breakdown of how I assembled 18 elegant gifts for a total project cost of just $225, equating to just $12.50 per person!

1. Find Budget-Friendly Products

The key to keeping costs down and quality high when creating custom gift baskets is focusing on small, gourmet, or single-serve items - and then buy them in bulk to assemble yourself. We chose a "Cozy Beverage Kit" theme::

The Container: I skipped traditional ceramic mugs and opted for trendy glass coffee mugs with minimalist holiday designs (like the subtle Christmas tree or snowflake motifs shown in the photos). Glassware often looks high-end but can be sourced affordably, offering a more contemporary aesthetic.

Gourmet Accents: Each gift included a gourmet hot chocolate packet and a single-serve coffee packet. I loved the cute “coffee shop” style packaging for the hot cocoa! Buying a multi-pack of single-serve items maximizes variety without the expense of full-sized products.

The Variety Boost: To ensure there was an option for everyone (coffee or tea lovers alike!), I added a few flavorful tea bags from Stash Tea Company - many tea companies have special multi-packs of holiday flavors.

2. Embrace Simple, Clean Presentation

The wrapping style communicates the quality of the gift itself - so I made sure the custom gift bags had a polished feel on the outside. My client requested a clean, non-flashy look, so I focused on using high-quality materials in classic holiday colors:

Bag Selection: I chose sturdy paper gift bags in deep colors (forest green, rich red, and navy blue), avoiding overly printed or metallic patterns. The mix of colors added visual interest without being gaudy.

The Filler: I used crinkle-cut gold filler tucked inside the mugs and bags. This adds a subtle element of holiday sparkle while keeping the items secure and presentable.
Tissue and Tags: I topped each bag with crisp, white tissue paper. Each bag was finished with a simple twine and a classic "Wishing You a Happy Holiday Season" tag (bought pre-made given the limited time frame!), ensuring a warm, personal touch while maintaining a professional feel.

3. The Power of Aesthetic Assembly

Assembly is where the magic happens - and it’s definitely the most fun part!

Mug as the Base: I used the mug itself to hold the small packets (coffee and tea). Filling the mug with the crinkle-cut filler first provided a pretty base for the packets, making them visible and organized.
Festive Bag Filling: I placed the mug in the bag with more gold crinkle paper around its base to hold it steady, and then leveraged paper tissue at the top of the bag to make it look full and protect the items inside.
Final Cohesion: By using consistent bag colors, twine, and matching tags across all 18 gifts, the final presentation looked like a cohesive, thoughtful collection, perfectly meeting the client’s request for a simple and clean design.

My client loved these custom gift bags - and I'm sure his team will too - especially since they were assembled quickly and budget-friendly!

No interest in the DIY approach? If you’re looking for an expert to help with these kinds of custom touches and gift bags, check out our Event Planning services in Denver here.

Thoughtful Gifting on a Budget: How to Create Custom Employee Holiday Gifts for Under $15

1. Find Budget-Friendly Products

2. Embrace Simple, Clean Presentation

3. The Power of Aesthetic Assembly