The most common mistake when choosing an Entrepreneurs' Day gift for your boss is rarely giving something cheap. More often it is giving something expensive. The whole department pools money for a really “big” item, the boss opens the box, smiles awkwardly, and immediately starts thinking about how to return the favour. The gift worth remembering on 13 October is not the one that leaves the recipient flustered, but the one that makes them quietly think: this group really understands me.
Quick answer
An Entrepreneurs' Day gift for your boss should be compact, usable at work and within the whole group's budget: a muted silk tie, a pocket square or a made-to-measure shirt. Give it as a group rather than individually, choose colours and patterns that suit the boss's taste, and add a short, sincere card. Avoid anything too expensive or too personal.
Why is giving to the boss harder than giving to friends?
With friends, a gift only has to match their tastes. With a boss, a gift must also fit the position. Too plain and it lacks respect; overdone and it may be read as currying favour, and sometimes it puts the recipient in a difficult spot because the company has rules about gifts. So a good gift for a superior usually has three traits:
- Given jointly, given openly. The whole department gives one item, handed over in a small meeting, which is far less heavy than a private gift sent on the quiet.
- Moderate value, good quality. A modest item chosen with care is usually more memorable than an expensive one bought in a hurry.
- A light personal touch. Simply aiming at the colour palette the boss usually wears is enough to make the gift no longer mass-market.
Entrepreneurs' Day gifts for the boss, by the whole department's contribution
Start from the question “how many people are in the group and how much can each person contribute”, and only then choose the item. The table below suggests options at three levels of group investment.
| Group's level of investment | Suggested item | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Light | Silk tie or silk pocket square | Easy to buy, no measurements needed, suits a large group |
| Medium | Made-to-measure shirt, or a shirt + tie set | Needs the boss's collar size and sleeve length |
| Large | Made-to-measure suit, starting from the Essential line at VND 4.8 million | Suits a group of leaders, or a whole company chipping in |
Concrete numbers make it easier to decide. Mon Amie's Essential line starts at VND 4.8 million per suit (jacket + trousers): split among 12 people, that is VND 400,000 each. The Signature line starts at VND 10 million: split among 20 people, that is VND 500,000 each. For a mid-sized company, this is a level many people find easy, and the gift is still complete.
Silk ties: the safest gift, if chosen properly
The tie remains the classic gift for a superior, but it must be chosen deliberately. For an older boss, the principles below are more useful than any trend.
Ties for older men: colour and pattern
- Muted colours, nothing loud: navy, smoke grey, burgundy, deep moss green. These go with most of the dark suits in the boss's wardrobe.
- Classic patterns: medium-width diagonal stripes, small polka dots, tiny motifs, or plain with a woven texture. Avoid anything too youthful, or large patterns.
- A width of 7–8 cm, not too slim. A slim tie looks “young” and usually does not suit a middle-aged build.
- Length: a tall or fuller-figured man needs a slightly longer tie so that the tip reaches the belt buckle correctly. Ask the assistant, or look at a tie the boss often wears.
A silk tie looks more upscale than polyester because it has a soft sheen and a natural drape. A quick test: real silk feels cool to the touch and does not feel slick and clammy under your fingers the way synthetic fibre does. If you want to know more, the article silk ties and how to tell the material will help you choose correctly.
Made-to-measure shirts and pocket squares: two ways to step things up
A made-to-measure shirt is highly personal yet discreet, because the boss wears it every day. What you need is the collar size and sleeve length, or a shirt the boss often wears to take the measurements from. If the boss is far away, online tailoring allows measuring over a video call or using saved measurements, then delivery to the door.
A pocket square is the option for a large group on a moderate budget. An ivory-white square is almost never wrong; a paisley square in navy or silver-grey tones goes with blue and grey suits. Include a card with a simple way of folding it, because many people own a pocket square without knowing how to wear it.
You can see all the ties, pocket squares and accessories in the Mon Amie products section to choose colours to suit your boss's taste.
How to hand it over so the gift scores
- Choose a moment that is public but brief. At the end of the morning meeting on 13 October, or before the lunch break, a representative of the group hands it over and says one specific word of thanks.
- Write a handwritten card. Write one line about what the group has learned from the boss this year, rather than generic good wishes.
- Wrap neatly. A plain box or kraft paper, with a ribbon in the same colour as the gift. Over-elaborate packaging makes the gift look commercialised.
Common mistakes, from a master tailor's point of view
- Choosing to your own taste, not the boss's. You may like a loud red tie, but the boss may not dare wear it. Remember the colours of the suits and shirts the boss wears most.
- Giving something they already have too much of. If the boss has a whole drawer of ties, switch to cufflinks, a pocket square, or an at-home made-to-measure session right in the boss's office.
- Guessing the shirt size. A collar half a size off cannot be worn. If you are not sure, choose something that needs no measurements.
- Forgetting company rules. Some workplaces limit the value of gifts. A gentle word with HR before buying will avoid an awkward situation.
Frequently asked questions
What gift should I choose for an entrepreneur?
Choose something used every day at work: a silk tie, a pocket square, cufflinks, a made-to-measure shirt or a made-to-measure suit. Such items both show respect and tie in with their professional image.
Does a gift for an entrepreneur have to be expensive?
No. A memorable gift is one that matches their taste and is prepared with care. A silk tie in the right colour, with a handwritten card, usually earns more goodwill than an expensive item chosen in haste.
What colour tie should I choose for an older man?
Muted colours such as navy, smoke grey, burgundy or deep moss green, with classic patterns such as diagonal stripes or small polka dots. A width of 7–8 cm is the usual choice and suits a middle-aged build.
Should I give to the boss individually or as a group?
Pooling is usually more tactful, because the gift is a collective thank-you and avoids any sense of rivalry or currying favour. A private gift only suits when you have a close, long-standing relationship with the boss.
Final thoughts
A gift for the boss succeeds when the group chooses the right item and the right way of presenting it. If the whole department wants to give a made-to-measure suit, you are welcome to look at the price list and then book a measuring appointment for your boss; you can also call the hotline and Zalo 0888.111.118 for suggestions based on the number of people contributing. If you are still looking for general ideas for the occasion, read more in the article Entrepreneurs' Day gifts, 13 October.