I don't know anyone, home office or not, who doesn't love getting a new planner and/or calendar for the new year. However, one caveat on this suggestion: picking out a new planner is usually a matter of eclectic, personal preferences. However, if you know the person on your list well enough, this could get you the brownie points to carry you into next summer. Alternately, if you know the brand preference, consider a gift certificate to Filofax or Franklin Covey. If you know a PDA is preferred rather than a paper planner, look into additional software for the particular type of PDA.
Try
looking here: FranklinCovey.com, Filofax.com, Shopping.HP.com, PocketGear.com.
Lighting is very important in the home office, and it is also one of the basic elements most often overlooked in office planning. Many home office workers get by with inadequate lighting (a bedroom lamp that doesn't direct light onto the work surface) or harsh lighting (flourescent basement lights that hurt the eyes). Usually any extra money for the home office is spent on basic supplies (paper, printer ink, file folders) or "more important" pieces, such as a desk, good desk chair, or computer equipment. Do your home office worker a favor and get a high-quality, adjustable task light for a holiday gift.
Try looking here: TaskLighting.com, ErgoInDemand.com, LampsPlus.com.
If lighting is the most overlooked element of the home office, the desk chair is probably the second most overlooked element. Actually, home office workers can never quite ignore the chair they're sitting on; they just don't always get around to finding something better. A really good desk chair can run pretty high in price, so consider this gift if you want to go in with friends or family members for a bigger item for your favorite home office worker.
Try looking here: SeatingZone.com, EverythingOfficeFurniture.com, UltimateBackStore.com, ComfortHouse.com.
Okay, so home office workers don't need any more reasons to procrastinate, but they do need to stay connected to what is happening in the non-home-office business world. Consider a subscription to some of the great magazines available: Entrepreneur, Money, BusinessWeek, Forbes, Fortune, Home Business Magazine, PC Today, Smart Computing, Success, U.S. News and World Report. You could also opt for something more specialized to the field in which your gift recipient works. Visit a magazine subscription site and browse appropriate topics for ideas. There are also lots of trade journals that can be very helpful for people in the related industries.
Try looking here: Magazines.com, Amazon.com/Magazines, DiscountMagazines.com.
One of the most versatile and useful pieces of computer hardware on the market, any home office worker will be able to find a use for a thumb drive. You can save any of your files on it, transfer from one computer to another, carry with you to a meeting, use it as a back-up device, store extra photos or documents, use it to share files with a co-worker or client or friend. There are many different sizes available (meaning memory capacity) at different prices, so it's a good gift if you are on a budget. It's
also a great option if you don't know the recipient very well, as it is practical and generic enough that it will be a good gift for anyone. Think of it as the box of chocolates option for the home office techie.
Try looking here: ThinkGeek.com, NewEgg.com, PCConnection.com, NuLime.com.