Business Executive Gifts Now at Barnes and Noble

The gift department at Barnes and Noble has overhauled its merchandise to include high-end business items. Desk accessories and stylish office tools with the look of antique abound in the new selection. Listed below are some of the best and most interesting items I've seen. They are available to order online, but are stocked in certain stores for immediate pickup and/or browsing. Trust me you will want to see these in person! Determine which of your nearby stores carries them by entering your zip code in the "Pick Me Up" box on the right hand side of the page I've linked you to.

Business Desk Accessories

1. Terrestrial Armillary Sphere, $59.95

Basically a globe, but a beautiful one based on Ptolemy's theory that the earth is the center of the universe. A bronzed frame with an antique-looking globe sits on a bronzed stand of about seven inches. Wonderful for that science, travel, or history-oriented executive you know.

2. Bronzed 30 Minute Hourglass, $39.95

A real hourglass! With a nice heft that speaks of quality, this hourglass measures 30 minutes. Want a stylish way to make sure that an appointment doesn't go over the time limit without rudely checking the clock? Keep this on your desk and quietly measure time the old-fashioned way. It can also be quite relaxing to simply watch the particles flow from the upper basin to the lower. Forget that zen garden!

3. Zen Table Gong, $49.95

"Barnes and Noble sells gongs?" This gorgeous mini gong with its own hanging display can start a pretty piece of conversation. For the musically inclined or far-east oriented executive.

Stylish Office Tools

1. Executive Wood & Black Leather Look Lap Desk, $39.95

While the compartment underneath the lid was designed for laptops, you can store anything in this old-fashioned school desk design that has been revised for the business world. If the word "lap desk" makes you cringe, Barnes and Noble has been working hard to overcome the image of bean bags with plastic tops, so check it out!

2. Magnetic Cherry Wood Business Card Holder, $39.95

Whether using this business card holder to display your own cards or keep track of collected cards, enjoy the beautiful functionality of this piece. Forget the old black plastic holders that hide half your card; because of the tiny magnetic piece that holds your cards to the back of the display, you can showcase your amazing card to its fullest extent. Use the same card on both tiers for the most striking effect. For keeping track of cards, the strength of the magnet is enough that you can arrange cards in a myriad of ways on the display, keeping the ones you need most clearly visible.

3. Cherry Wood Notepad Holder, $59.95

A matching piece to the business card holder, this useful tool is smoothly streamlined and guaranteed to attract attention.

4. Gold Round Aureole and Silver Geneva Wristwatch Alarm Clocks, $79.95 each.

Finally, the best for last; these exquisite alarm clocks are designed to look like old-fashioned expensive wristwatches. The faces are approximately three inches in diameter and are propped up by stiff leather pieces designed to look like the beginnings of a leather watch band. Gorgeous detail, a piece you just need to see for yourself.

Any of these high end gifts would be welcomed and treasured by office boss or business executive alike. This is not an exhaustive list of the gifts that Barnes and Noble has to offer its business patrons, just a few of the new and favorite. Happy shopping!

Note: As of the time of this article, only the executive lap desk has a picture on the website. Hopefully they will soon flesh out the online presence of these items, but until then the links can be useful for finding the closest store that stocks these items and recommendations for similar items.

Sources: www.bn.com