Why I Stopped Buying Cheap Holiday Decor for Our Office (And What I Use Now)

I’ve wasted thousands on decorations that looked great for exactly one season

When I took over purchasing for our 150-person company in 2021, I made the classic mistake: I chased the lowest price on holiday decor and corporate gifts. Tableware, vases, even a few snow globes – all from bulk discount suppliers. The result? By February, half the items were chipped, the candle wax was stuck in every crevice, and my VP asked, “Are we going to reuse these next year?” We weren’t. That’s when I started looking at Michael Aram seriously.

Let me be direct: cheap decorations cost you more in the long run. I don’t just mean the money – I mean the embarrassment of giving a client a gift that looks bargain-bin, or having to apologize when an ornament falls apart. If you manage office purchases, you know what I’m talking about.

Three reasons I now choose Michael Aram for corporate gifts and office decor

1. The design doesn’t scream “corporate promo item”

A Michael Aram vase sits on a reception desk and guests ask where it came from. The butterfly ginkgo collection, the pomegranate series – these aren’t generic. They’re conversation pieces. I once had a vendor compliment our office’s snow globe display, and within two weeks they’d ordered a set for their own lobby.

People notice. That’s the whole point of corporate gifting – you want recipients to remember your company fondly, not toss the gift in a drawer. A cheap ornament gets forgotten. A Michael Aram Christmas ornament becomes part of someone’s holiday tradition. Seriously.

2. They handle real-world office abuse

Here’s where the “how to get candle wax out of a candlestick holder” lesson comes in. Last December, someone in our office filled a beautiful ceramic candle holder with a cheap candle that dripped everywhere. The wax pooled inside the holder. I searched for a fix – freezing it, boiling water, scraping – and realized the cheap holder couldn’t take the heat without cracking.

We had a Michael Aram candlestick holder in the breakroom I’d bought for a holiday party. I tested the same wax-removal trick: put it in the freezer for 30 minutes, then the wax popped right out. No damage. The quality of the metal and finish made it possible. That was a lightbulb moment – you can’t separate product quality from usability.

3. The range saves me from juggling 10 vendors

I manage relationships with about 8 different suppliers for stationery, snacks, tech, and decor. When I consolidated holiday gifts around Michael Aram, I cut two vendors entirely. Their catalog covers vases, candle holders, photo frames, dinnerware, ornaments, snow globes, diffusers – even corporate gift sets. I order everything once, get one invoice, one shipment. That meant our accounting team saved roughly 6 hours of reconciliation time in Q4 alone.

Plus, their corporate gifts program handles branding elegantly. You can add a small plaque or card – no cheesy logo embossing on the product itself.

Addressing the pushback I hear from other buyers

“But Michael Aram is more expensive than what I get from bulk wholesalers.”

True – if you only look at unit price. But here’s the misconception: comparing unit prices ignores total cost of ownership. The “always go cheaper” advice ignores the cost of replacements, the perception of your brand, and the time spent managing returns or complaints. I’d rather buy 50 premium ornaments that last 5 years than 200 cheap ones I have to replace every season. That’s not a luxury attitude – it’s basic procurement math.

“But my boss says we have to stay under budget per item.”

I feel that. In 2023 my finance team capped individual gifts at $25. I found a way: smaller Michael Aram ornaments or keychains hit that price point while still feeling high-end. You don’t need a giant vase. A delicate butterfly ornament or a mini snow globe fits the budget and still impresses. Be creative, not cheap.

Bottom line

If you’re a fellow admin buyer or office manager, I’m not saying every single order must be Michael Aram. But for items that represent your company – client gifts, lobby decor, holiday parties – invest in something that doesn’t scream “bulk order.” Your recipients will notice. Your boss will notice. And you’ll spend less time fixing problems.

That’s my opinion. I’ve been doing this for 6 years. I’ve learned the hard way that price and quality aren’t the same conversation. Choose wisely.

P.S. – The freezer trick for candle wax? Works on metal and quality ceramic holders. Don’t try it on cheap glass – it might crack. Source: my own “learning” from December 2023.