Gifting your employees customized tokens of appreciation is an important component of building company culture and encouraging a healthy team environment. The right gift, at the right time, will go a long way.
Setting up a corporate gifting program is an easy way to plan and even automate sending gifts for your employees throughout the year. You can read more about how to set one up by checking out our article about it here.
In the meantime, we’ve pulled together some information about the best time to send corporate gifts for employees, as well as a short list of some of our favorite items you can customize.
When to give premium corporate gifts for employees
Here are some of the most common reasons we recommend our clients to send customized gifts to their team members:
Birthdays
It is important to recognize your employees on their special days. It can be a little bit harder to do that in a fully remote or hybrid work environment, but a thoughtful gesture can go a long way. Whatever you do, don’t give the soulless gift card!
Work anniversaries
Work anniversaries are important to celebrate, as they offer a chance for employees and the company to reflect on their relationship. Acknowledging employees on the date they started, whether it’s year one or year ten, is sure bring back the excitement of their first day all over again.
Promotions
Promotions represent growth, commitment and ultimately an acknowledgement of hard work performed. A personalized gift, especially a more high-end one, is the perfect way to say thank you, and congratulations on the big achievement.
Company milestones
As companies achieve significant milestones— things like acquisitions, securing funding, celebrating many years in business, etc. — employees deserve acknowledgment for their role in the success. After all, company growth is a team sport. Unique branded gifts offer both a thank you and a memento to remember the accomplishment.
Retirements
Retirements can be bittersweet, but when an employee decides it’s time to hang up the hat, etiquette dictates that employers should go out of their way to celebrate the dedication their team members have delivered over their time at the company. Luxury gifts are in order in these cases.
Holidays / End of year gifts
Holiday or end of year gifts are a celebrated tradition that employees look forward to every year. Don’t miss this opportunity to celebrate your team and their accomplishments with a custom gift, or fully customized gift set.
Read more: 7 Stories of Awful Corporate Gifts
Our favorite corporate gifts for employees
Here are some of our favorite corporate gifts for employees. These aren’t your average pieces of swag: these represent the cream of the crop, the top dogs, the heavy hitters. We guarantee your team will love any of these great custom gifts!
The Ember Mug is a revolutionary smart mug— capable of keeping your beverage of choice at the temperature of choice via Bluetooth and a fun app you can install on your smartphone. Your employees deserve better than a run of the mill coffee mug, so go all out and spoil them with this sweet treat!
Bluetooth speakers always make a great gift, and the JBL Clip is one of the best on the market. Though it is small, it offers incredible audio quality, a significant battery life and a large bluetooth range that will keep the tunes going on any adventure.
As far as personalized gifts go, something that will get used every day is always a smart choice. Mophie’s charging pad delivers up to 15W of wireless power to Android devices and up to 7.5W for iPhones.
Urbanista Los Angeles Headphones
Employees working in the office or at home will appreciate this high-quality pair of headphones. The Urbanista Los Angeles Headphones are the world’s first self-charging wireless headphones powered by Powerfoyle solar cell material.
People looking for corporate gift ideas are usually surprised to find out that blankets are among the most highly-rated gift options for employees! A personalized gravity blanket is an awesome option. This one will make your team feel like they are being hugged when they use it.
The North Face Unisex Ridgewall Jacket
The Soft Shell Jacket from The North Face is one of the best lightweight jackets you can personalize for your team. This jacket is breathable and warm at the same time, making it great for transition seasons. This jacket is also available in a women’s cut/fit.
Lund 17 Oz. London Water Bottle
Water bottles are a popular choice for business gifting. Lund London elevates the product to new heights with inspired design that feels like it belongs in a museum. Employees will love this gorgeous piece of swag, especially when it’s emblazoned with your logo.
Going with a fully customizable backpack is a really fun way to show off your brands personality and give a gift that is unique to the employee experience at your company. Whether you want to equip the team for commutes into the office, or simply outfit them for the occasional weekend adventure, a custom backpack is a great choice.
Theragun makes products for elite athletes, but also for the employees looking to unwind after a long day. Company sponsored wellness is all the way back in, and this portable massage tool is a fantastic way to encourage your teammates to take self-care seriously.
Ever wanted to have a spontaneous bonfire, but felt like you don’t quite understand physics well enough to do it safely? You’ll never have that problem again with this ingenious portable fireplace. Simply add wood, and enjoy a smoke free fire experience wherever you are.
FitBit is the original fitness tracking smart watch, and now that they are years in, their products are still among the best in the game. The Versa 2 is capable of tracking steps, heart rate, sleep cycles and more.
These are just some of our favorite products we recommend to people looking for corporate gifts for their employees. At the end of the day, there is a creative solution for each unique team. If you find products that you love, remember that Swag.com can store and ship your products anywhere you need them around the world.
Whether you need to send one box to your office, or individual gift sets to employees at their homes, we’ve got your back. Fill out the form below if you’re interested in speaking with an expert swag representative.
Updated June 2024.