It’s about this time of year when you realize, as I usually do, that you haven’t yet figured out what you are getting your colleagues for Christmas. Worse yet, your staff is about to go on vacation, and you’ve got a boss that is nearly impossible to shop for. And customers. Oh, what should you get your most loyal customers?

With this gift buying guide, we’re going to break down some overarching gift-buying principles. Principles that apply to your boss, your customers, your staff, and your colleagues. Principles that will prevent you from making an embarrassing mistake or sending the wrong impression.

With those principles in mind, we’ll give you some ideas to kick off your shopping with a dash, giving everyone you work with a token of appreciation and a bit of holiday cheer.