Then there are the larger thank yous, a promotion helped along by a mentor, or a significant favour, where a fuller collection is appropriate. Match the size of the gift to the size of the gesture and you rarely misjudge it.
Match hampers to clients, share bags to teams, order in good time, and keep the look consistent. Handled that way, corporate chocolate does its quiet job of maintaining a relationship without asking much of you.
Some couples prefer to share a small box between two settings for couples seated together, which trims the count but complicates the table plan. It works, but it asks More Bonuses of your stationery and place cards, so only choose it if the saving genuinely matters.
Start with presentation. A favour that sits at each place setting is part of the table styling, so the box matters as much as what is inside. Lily O'Brien's has been handcrafting chocolates in Newbridge, Co. Kildare since Mary Ann O'Brien started the brand in 1992, and the small-format boxes suit a place setting without crowding the glassware. Neutral tones sit comfortably with most colour schemes, which spares you matching favours to napkins.
A hamper also solves the group-gift problem neatly. When a whole office contributes, the gift needs to feel worth the collection taken up for it, and a full hamper looks the part without anyone having to organise something elaborate. One order, one generous box, and the maths of who gave what disappears into a single considered present.
A personalised touch suits the occasion well. A message marking the years of service, or simply the leaver's name, turns the hamper into a keepsake of the day rather than a generic box. Keep any message warm and brief, allow lead time for the personalisation, and order earlier still if the retirement falls near Christmas.