Welcoming new employees with thoughtful corporate gifts helps them feel valued as they embark on their journey with your company. From branded merchandise that cements their sense of belonging to valuable tools that set them up for success, first-day gift ideas from online company stores make a solid initial connection.
Gift-giving on employees’ first day and during the onboarding process also builds rapport between leaders and new team members. It’s a chance to give a peek into your culture, demonstrate your investment in your people, and get newcomers enthusiastic about being part of the organization.
Here are five impactful ideas to incorporate online company store gifts into your onboarding of new hires:
Curated Welcome Kits
A customized curation of branded merchandise given as welcome gifts is a surefire win. Having a mix of valuable products featuring your logo alongside small tokens to fuel team spirit is bound to delight. Consider welcome kits that include:
● A quality notebook or folio to jot down notes at meetings
● A steel water bottle to keep hydrated
● Comfortable socks or slippers for those working remotely
● Coffee mug or Bluetooth earphones to enhance their workspace
● Tote bag, laptop skin, or keychain to reinforce the brand connection
Aim to curate a variety of gifts from your online store that the new hire can use in different facets of work and life. The longer your branded merchandise stays around, the stronger their affiliation with the brand. A branded backpack for the commute or a beach towel for a summer weekend keeps employees feeling linked to your organization.
Branded Apparel Base Layers
For companies that give their people a lot of branded apparel like t-shirts or caps, consider starting them off right with base layers featuring your logo as well. Premium essentials like moisture-wicking undershirts, cooling sports bras, no-show socks, and more make excellent performance gear for powering through long hours.
Base layers are must-haves for crafting comfortable branded outfits that employees feel good working in. They are items worn close to the skin, putting your brand directly in touch with people’s identities. Investing in first-day base layers cements your commitment to being there for your employees when the going gets challenging or stressful.
Useful Tools for The Role
Strategically give newcomers relevant digital accessories, desktop items, or job aids from the company store that facilitate their excelling in their role. For example, customer service reps might appreciate a headset for seamless calls or support staff could use charging cables to keep mobile backup batteries. Software engineers can get funky wireless keyboards and mouse combos to code in style.
Functional tools with a dash of flair personalize the workstation while letting employees adapt it to optimal efficiency levels. Productive habits start on day one when companies specifically equip people to add value their way. Properly branded merchandise also reiterates leadership’s desire to fully support professional growth.
A Charitable Component
Nowadays, employees seek deeper alignment between personal values and the company mission beyond just skills or salary: match—partner with deserving causes to incorporate social impact or sustainability into first-day gifts. For instance, socks supporting inclusive hiring should be included, or socks should be made of recycled plastic bottles intercepted from oceans and waterways. Earth-minded alternatives like recycled bags or repurposed wood accessories also make eco-conscious statements out of the gates.
Tying gifts to impact initiatives lets new hires know what issues the business genuinely cares about helping solve. The charitable element differentiates corporate online store offerings from purely promotional merch, emphasizing your commitment to bettering communities. New joiners then represent those efforts at conferences, around the neighborhood, and beyond through branded freebies.
Sentimental Keepsakes
Sentiment goes a long way when making new employees feel welcomed personally into the organization. Consider adding a special gift or handwritten note commemorating the individual’s first day and outlining hopes for their journey ahead. Engrave a beautiful pen with their name and start date. Frame an artsy photo of the office location they will call home, along with a welcome quote.
Heartfelt memorabilia makes people feel seen right off the bat as human beings instead of just an additional headcount. Keepsakes displaying the employee’s name also confirms they made the right decision joining your supportive company that cares about nurturing long and meaningful careers. Start building emotional connections for the present that will carry treasured memories into the future through gifting.
Invest in New Hires for Productive Futures
Building rapport with new employees begins on day one as first impressions form quickly during onboarding, which lays the foundation for retaining top talent. Welcome new joiners with purposeful care, enthusiasm, and empowerment, gearing up for a rewarding journey ahead together. Keep new hires smiling as they proudly represent your mission through brand gifts from your online company store for employees that are built to last.
