The saying goes “you never get a second chance to make a good first impression,” and this stands true when it comes to hiring new employees. In this post, we’ll provide an all-encompassing rundown on onboarding gifts.
Contents
- Why are employee onboarding gifts important?
- How much should you spend on onboarding gifts?
- Go for quality over quantity
- How to come up with ideas for onboarding gifts
- Gifting by industry or occupation
- Gifting by company culture
- Gifting by budget
- Should you brand your employee onboarding gifts?
- Great employee onboarding kits from Corporate Gift
- Create your own collection
- Automate onboarding gifts
- Send your first employee onboarding gift today
Why are employee onboarding gifts important?
A key part of orienting your new hire is making them feel welcome and helping them understand your brand. A report by Gallup and Workhuman attributes recognition as the most vital part of onboarding a new employee into an organization. The report found that 71% of employees who feel that appreciation is embedded into a company’s culture are more engaged and empowered to develop. Companies that set employees up for success will turn their praises into profits.
How much should you spend on onboarding gifts?
Onboarding gifts may seem expensive at first, but they’ll save your business money in the long run by helping with employee retention. You’ll need to determine what your budget is per recipient. Your annual hiring forecast should help determine the number of recipients. Make sure to account for natural attrition. We recommend gift budgets between $50 to $100 per employee for small companies and $75 to $150 per employee for enterprises.
Go for quality over quantity
Do skip cheap swag, like sunglasses or keychains. Twenty-three percent of recipients report immediately trashing low-quality gifts. Opt for premium quality gifts that employees will hang on to and use. Gifts that are both useful and thoughtful have the greatest impact when it comes to employee retention and appreciation, not to mention the environment.
How to come up with ideas for onboarding gifts
The fun part of onboarding gifts is coming up with ideas. But if that task is not so fun for you, we’ve created a list of recommendations on how to choose the right gifts.
Gifting by industry or occupation
Think about your industry and find gifts to match. Are you in healthcare? Consider wellness gifts. And if you’re hiring mostly remote employees, think about gifts for remote workspaces. Choose gifts that are relevant to the job and will support their new role. Here are a few more ideas for industry or occupation-related gifts:
Real estate onboarding gifts
1
Personalized Silver Business Card Case
A real estate agent needs to be ready to network at the drop of a hat, and this silver-plated, personalized card holder will make them look stylish and professional.
2
Smart Watch & Fitness Tracker
Between endless phone calls and appointments, a real estate agent is always on the go. Help them stay on track with a smartwatch.
Education onboarding gifts
1
Custom Leather Padfolio and Mouse Pad Desk Set
Educators take a lot of notes, and the custom leather padfolio with mouse pad is the perfect luxe way to organize their workstations.
2
Custom Cornell Desk Organizer
Everyone knows teachers go through countless pencils and sticky notes. Help them keep track of their supplies with this customized desk organizer.
Technology onboarding gifts
1
Analog 5-Piece Technology Gift Set
The Analog 5-Piece Technology Gift Set is packaged with all their go-to tech essentials and can be customized with your company logo.
2
Custom Roma Tech Portfolio with Power Bank and Wireless Charger
Keep them charged up and organized with the tech portfolio that doubles as a notebook and wireless phone charger.
Manufacturing onboarding gifts
1
Multi Tool with COB Light
Small enough to fit in their pocket and versatile enough for most needs, the multi-tool with light will be a useful and appreciated gift.
2
Carhartt ® Duck Traditional Coat - Men's
For long days working in varying weather conditions, this Carhartt coat is an essential item and can be customized with your company logo.
Finance onboarding gifts
1
Brown Leather Money Clip & Gunmetal Cufflinks Gift Set (Personalized)
A personalized money clip and cufflinks set adds the perfect finishing touches for those important business meetings.
2
Tuscany™ Mobile Portfolio Power Bank & Pen Set
This customized portfolio is perfect for organizing important documents, project notes, or business cards with a matching pen and charger.
Work-from-home onboarding gifts
1
Work from Home Gift Box
Welcome them with the work-from-home onboarding gift, complete with a notebook, tech kit, candle, and a snack bar.
2
Bean Box Coffee Sampler - Three Month Subscription Gift
Bring the office coffee bar to their home office with the Bean Box Coffee Sampler, a 3-month coffee subscription from roasts around the world.
Gifting by company culture
If your company is focused on sustainability, you may want to choose gifts that are eco-friendly, such as recycled or reusable items. Companies focused on wellness may choose gifts that focus on employee well-being, like fitness watches or spa kits. The corporate gifts you choose for your onboarding kit are a great way to establish your brand identity and mission.
1
Wellness to Conservation Gift Box
Companies who are committed to the environment may consider the Wellness to Conservation Gift Box. Partnering with 4Ocean, this corporate gift box gives back to healthcare programs in developing countries and ocean conservation efforts to clean up plastics.
2
Peace and Pampering Care Package Gift Box
Companies focused on well-being may consider a customized relaxation kit.
Gifting by budget
Need a low-cost solution? Food is always an option. Just make sure to keep in mind dietary preferences.
1
Washable Paper Sling Backpack & Snacks Gift Set
Packed in a customizable paper sling backpack, this gift features a sweet and savory assortment of favorites.
2
V Chocolate Sampler Box
A classic box of chocolates always makes someone’s day and makes a sweet welcoming gift.
Should you brand your employee onboarding gifts?
Successful brands often customize gifts with their logos to deliver their company message. That’s especially true with apparel. At Corporate Gift, products marked with the blue “customizable” tag in the marketplace can be easily branded by simply uploading your logo, giving you hundreds of options to choose from. Get onboarding right every time with a unique gift kit tailored to your brand.
Great employee onboarding kits from Corporate Gift
When building your onboarding kit, think of it as delivering your brand in a box. Ask yourself: what message do you want these products to deliver about your brand? Provide new employees with boxes that align with your company values. You can create your own for a fee or get one free through our Elite membership. We also have pre-built kits available in our Marketplace. Simply go to our onboarding collection, choose a gift, and add to the cart or send it as an eGift.
1
Custom Mobile Office Kit
Gift them all of their essentials that need to succeed, including a customizable notebook, pen, water bottle, lunch box, and tote bag.
2
Adventures In Your Own Backyard Gift Box
A great gift kit for any occupation, the Adventures Gift Box includes work essentials like a notebook and pencils with a few luxurious touches like a candle and air plants.
Create your own collection
For a one-time setup fee, CorporateGift can help you create your own onboarding collection to let recipients choose their own gift. If you are a CG Elite member, the fee is waived. This is a great option for companies that already have a set vision in mind for their onboarding kit. Fill out the form located under “want to create your own eGift collection?” and the giftologists at CorporateGift will help you get started on building your own onboarding collection.
Automate onboarding gifts
When mapping out your employee appreciation strategy, take into consideration that onboarding is typically an ongoing need. If you’re a growing company that is onboarding multiple new employees at any given time, it can be stressful to manage your onboarding gift processes. For CG Elite members, CorporateGift offers the option to automate or preschedule your gifts. Connect to your ERP or CRM to fully automate or set triggered reminders to send your onboarding gift kit. Gifts can be scheduled in advance, so you can set gifts to be sent to their work email address on their start date.
Send your first employee onboarding gift today
The first few days at a new job sets the foundation for the employee’s tenure at your company. When onboarding is done successfully, it can secure employee retention, promote a positive work environment, and create a sense of community. Gift-giving is a great way to make someone feel like a valued member of the team. With curated onboarding collections and automated gifting capability at CorporateGift, incorporating gift-giving into your onboarding strategy has never been easier. Send your first gift today with just a few clicks.
Faq
Why should employers give new hires onboarding gifts?
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