Farewell gifts · for colleague
A farewell gift for a colleague is a specific gifting moment. Too generic and it says nothing. Too personal and it feels odd. The right gift sits in between — warm, specific to them, and appropriate to the relationship.
Most farewell gifts default to the safe options — a mug with the office name, a gift card, a hamper. These say you remembered they were leaving. They do not say anything about who they are or what working with them meant.
You have probably worked with this person for months or years. You know at least one real thing about them outside of their job. That is enough to find something good. Lore helps you use that knowledge.
The Considered
You know one thing about this person that has nothing to do with their job. A hobby they have mentioned, a cuisine they love, a place they talked about visiting. This gift comes from that knowledge.
Think of one non-work thing you know about them. Find the best version of it within your budget. A specialty coffee subscription, a book they would love, a workshop in something they have mentioned wanting to try.
The Personal
The best farewell gifts do two things. They reference something specific from your time working together, and they set the person up well for what comes next. A proper note matters more than anything you could buy.
Write a handwritten note that names one specific thing you appreciated about working with them. Pair it with something small and useful for their next role. The note is the gift.
The Unexpected
The gift that stands out at a farewell is the one that shows you paid attention to who they are, not just what they did at work. An artisan food find, a book from outside their usual genre, something that surprises them.
Think about what they talk about enjoying outside of work hours. Find one thing in that territory that is a notch above what they would pick for themselves. Present it without a lot of explanation.
A specialty coffee bag, an artisan chocolate box, a good book. Small but specific beats large and generic every time.
A curated snack or food experience, a workshop voucher, something from a local artisan brand they would not have found themselves.
An experience together before they leave, a really good bottle of something, or a combination of smaller things that adds up to a proper farewell.
Tell Lore what you know about your colleague. Get three ideas that fit the relationship and the moment.
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