Local and NH-made Gift Ideas for Coworkers

Not sure what to get for your office secret Santa? Here are a few local suggestions.

Though we spend the majority of our time with coworkers, it can be tough to choose a present for your colleagues. It’s challenging to pick the right gift that speaks to your coworker’s – or boss’s – personality without getting too informal. No matter who you drew out of the office secret Santa hat this year, we’ve got a great local suggestion to fit your office gift giving need.

For the office bookworm

A gift certificate to Toadstool Bookshops, a fantastic local bookstore with three locations in Milford, Peterborough and Keene. Other great local bookstores: RiverRun Bookstore in Portsmouth, Gibson’s Bookstore in Concord, Water Street Bookstore in Exeter, White Birch Books in North Conway, Bayswater Book Co. in Center Harbor, MainStreet BookEnds of Warner, The Bookmonger in Waterville Valley, Crackskull’s Coffee & Books in Newmarket and Morgan Hill Bookstore in New London.

For the constant coffee drinker

Freshly roasted, small batch coffee at Port City Coffee Roasters. A&E Coffee Roasters in Amherst and now Manchester also offers a huge range of coffees and teas. Here are more great local coffee roasters:  Prime Roast Coffee Company of Keene, Black Bear Micro Roastery in Center Tuftonboro, CQ Coffee Roasters in Bedford, White Mountain Gourmet Coffee in Concord, King David Coffee Roasters in Nashua, Woodshed Roasting Company in Laconia, Frontside Grind Coffee Roasters in North Conway and Granite Ledge Coffee in Canterbury. Prices vary.

Repay the office chocolate jar keeper

Adorable chocolate mice or penguins from LA Burdick Handmade Chocolates. Get more fine chocolate at Byrne & Carlson in Portsmouth, Dancing Lion Chocolate in Manchester, Van Otis Chocolates in Manchester, Ava Marie Handmade Chocolates in Peterborough, The Chocolatier in Exeter, Bavarian Chocolate Haus in North Conway, Stella’s Fine Chocolates in Bedford, Kellerhaus in Laconia, Winnipesaukee Chocolates in Wolfeboro or the Granite State Candy Shoppes in Concord and Manchester.

Give the gift of comedy to the office prankster

NH’s own comedian Juston McKinney’s DVD “A Middle Class Hole,” $16.95.

Help the boss relax

Just Naturals in Bedford sells, you guessed it, all natural products. The Office Sample Kit includes soothing aromatherapy sprays, germ buster hand sanitizer, lavender tea tree soap and scented mini sticks, $22. You can find more great products at Lotions ‘n Potions in Concord or Fields of Ambrosia in North Conway.

For the office foodie

For the coworker who’s always sharing his or her latest kitchen creations, give the gift of inspiration with The Old Farmer’s Almanac’s  cookbook “Comfort Food,” $19.95. Hillary Davis also has cookbooks including “French Comfort Food” and her latest, “Le French Oven.” Local favorite Mary Ann Esposito also has a number of great books.

Help for the disorganized

The 4-Compartment Handy Caddy from Peterboro Basket Co. is an attractive and local way to help a coworker clean up his or her desk, $39.

For the music lover

Give local music to the coworker who’s never without his or her headphones. The up-and-coming Tan Vampires are perfect for the alternative music lover, “For Physical Fitness” CD, $10. Anything by Tom Rush will please folk and blues fans, “Tom Rush Celebrates 50 Years of Music” a DVD/CD two-disc set is a good gift choice, $22. Get into the holiday mood with Rick Lang’s new Christmas album, “That’s What I Love About Christmas,” $15.