When was the last time you received a new employee welcome kit? Was it memorable? Did you actually use any of the items provided?
Some brands get it right. Their new employee welcome kits are stocked with personalized, high-quality items that end up being useful and make their new hires feel valued.
However, the reality is that many brands provide throwaway products that never see any use.
To help you avoid this mistake, we’ll provide you with some examples of unique new employee welcome kit ideas that your new hire will never forget. But first, let’s talk about some of the most common welcome kit themes.
What Are the Most Common Types of New Employee Welcome Kits?
Typical welcome kits for new employees can vary from company to company. However, many of the most common welcome kits feature a similar theme. Here’s how most companies are handling new employee welcome kits.
Basic boxes
While a basics box might seem — well, basic — it can still provide endless value for welcoming a new employee. Many basic welcome kits come with common useful workplace items, such as notebooks, pens, sticky notes, and more. Some boxes may have items specific to the job itself, such as a mousepad or a stapler.
Company pride items
Branded swag is another common theme for kits to welcome a new employee. There are also many different items that are often included in a company pride box, including stickers, t-shirts, hoodies, bags, and more. There’s nothing wrong with a box filled with company-branded swag. However, the items in the box need to be high quality and something that an employee would actually want to wear or use. We love custom blankets as a unique item that fits the bill.
Read more: 75 Company Swag Ideas That People Will Love In 2024
Custom drinkware
Drinkware is another fun theme for an employee welcome kit and one that many companies use. It’s always nice to see new employees filling up on water or coffee with a branded bottle or mug.
Common items found in a drinkware welcome kit could be anything from mugs to water bottles and beyond. Some boxes can even have high-quality tumblers!
Tips to Consider When Creating a New Employee Welcome Kit
So, if you want to stand out from other brands, how can you create your own memorable new employee welcome kit?
Here are a couple of tips that you can follow.
Keep it personal
Anyone can throw together a collection of items and give them to every new employee without any thought. Unfortunately, those types of new employee welcome kits usually get thrown in the trash and don’t make a very good first impression.
A highly-personal welcome kit goes a long way toward making your new hire feel special and wanted. If you know enough about your new hire from the interview process, include some items that you know they’ll like and use. This is sure to put a smile on their face and inspire them to do their best work.
Even something as simple as putting their name on a notebook is a great start for keeping your welcome kits personalized!
Make sure the items are useful
What’s the point of putting together a new employee welcome kit with items that your new hire won’t even use?
When you’re putting together your welcome kit, be sure to include items that provide value and will be useful. Everything from pens and notebooks to mousepads and headphones are useful items that are perfect for when you want to welcome a new employee.
They need to be high-quality
No new hire wants to receive low-quality items that won’t last a week. Be sure to put your welcome kit together using high-quality items designed to last, whether it’s an apparel box or new tech. Your new hire will appreciate the extra effort!
High-quality doesn’t have to mean expensive. It’s possible to put together a new employee welcome kit using high-quality swag that doesn’t break the bank.
Reflect your brand’s unique vibe
A new employee welcome kit is the perfect opportunity to showcase your brand’s unique vibe. After all, that’s likely one of the reasons why your new hire chose to sign-on!
Including more outside-the-box items in your box is a great place to start. You can also put together apparel boxes with items beyond simple t-shirts, such as socks, hats, sweatshirts, and more. Be creative with your boxes! If your brand has a funky vibe, don’t be afraid to showcase this in your welcome kits.
More inspiration: 30 Swag Box Ideas For Employees, Customers and Leads
5 Unique New Employee Welcome Kit Ideas From Swag.com
If you’re struggling to come up with a unique and memorable new employee welcome kit, we’ve got you covered. Here are five new employee welcome kit ideas from Swag.com to get you on the right track.
The Intern
Interns don’t get enough love—they’re technically new employees too!
If you really want to impress them and have them raving about your company, this intern welcome kit is a perfect choice.
Swag.com Unisex Cotton Crew T-Shirt
A classic as old as time, the Swag.com Cotton Crew is the perfect everyday t-shirt. With a soft feel and superior durability, this shirt makes a great addition to welcome your new employee in style. Choose from over 12 bold colors, add your branding, and you’re good to go.
No gift box for an intern would be complete without a branded water bottle. The 17oz Swag bottle features a threaded stainless steel insulated lid, copper vacuum insulation, and a stainless steel base. With 10 different colors to choose from, all that’s left is to customize your bottle with a logo!
What intern wouldn’t love a fun pair of socks?! The Swag.com socks are one-size-fits-all and provide a ton of comfort—your new intern will wear them to the office, at home and beyond.
One of our most popular notebooks, the San Jose Notebook is the ideal gift for the creative intern. Whether they’re jotting down notes or sketching new creative designs, this elevated softcover notebook won’t disappoint.
With a soft-touch surface, a fine point gel tip, and over 15 different colors to choose from, the Jotter Pen is the type of pen that you won’t want to loan to anyone—it’s that good. The best part? There are three of them in this pack.
The Classic
Can you really ever beat the classics?
A new employee welcome kit with all the classics is always a go-to for new hires. However, to set it apart, it’s all about choosing the highest quality, most useful items.
This Moleskine Ruled Notebook features a bound hardcover with a bookmark and an elastic closure. Choose from five colors, add your custom branding, and welcome your new employee with a truly underrated gift!
Looking for a new everyday pen? The Hondo Brass Pen has you covered. With an oval shape, a cashmere feel, and a comfortable fit in the hand, this is the type of pen that your new employee will want to have on their desk at all times.
Nothing says “classic welcome gift” like a fun and functional tote bag. The Daily Grind Tote is a high quality, everyday bag—great for carrying all of your essentials and more. With a whopping 20 colors to choose from, this tote makes a much appreciated addition to the classic new employee welcome kit.
Champion Unisex Reverse Weave Crewneck Sweatshirt
Sometimes a trusty crewneck sweater is what you need for lounging around or staying warm during the colder months. The always-trendy Champion Crewneck features ribbed knit cuffs and a material blend designed to hold up in the wash with low shrinkage. Upload your custom design onto one of many bold colors for a wardrobe staple your new employees will never part with.
Klean Kanteen 20 Oz. Eco Water Bottle
Looking for a welcome kit addition that will wow your newest employee? With Climate Lock double-wall vacuum insulation, the 20oz Klean Kanteen Bottle is great for a hike, the gym, or a long workday. This bottle will keep drinks hot for 24 hours and cold for up to 63 hours!
The WFH
Working from home has become the new normal for nearly all of us. Even with the pandemic in the rearview mirror, most workplaces have, at the very least, switched to a hybrid office-work from home model.
If you’re welcoming a new employee into the fold and they’re going to be working from home, here’s an idea for a unique employee welcome kit that they’ll use daily.
Perfect for any home office setup, the Wireless Charging Mouse Pad allows you to charge your phone wirelessly while you work away—saving you prime desk space. With custom branding added, this is the perfect WFH welcome kit addition.
As far as coffee mugs go, it doesn’t get much better than the 14oz Asobu Cork Mug. This minimalistic style mug has a built-in cork to protect furniture from various stains. A matte finish provides a sleek look and better grip when you’re on the go.
With 24 hours of playback time on a single charge, these Skullcandy Evo Earbuds are perfect for the gym, traveling, or your work from home office. Rapid charge technology means that 10 minutes of charge time will give you up to 2 hours of playback time! Add them to your work from home gift box to give your new hire the warmest of welcomes.
Rocketbook Infinity Core Executive Notebook
Great for brainstorming sessions or simply taking notes, the eco-friendly Rocketbook Infinity Core Executive Notebook allows you to write smoothly with white-lined, dotted paper. When you’re all done, it’s as easy as wiping it clean with a damp cloth. This notepad set is a must-have in your work from home welcome kit!
The Commuter
Are you back in the office? If so, your new hire would love a unique employee welcome kit centered around commuting. We’ve put together this commuter welcome kit packed with valuable products for the ideal commute.
Timbuk2 Eco Parkside 2.0 Backpack
The Timbuk2 Eco Parkside 2.0 Backpack is loaded with useful organization and well-suited for anyone, from campus to the boardroom, and is also environmentally friendly. Made from recycled pre- and post-consumer materials, this bag makes a great addition to your commuter box while reducing your impact on the environment.
Are there any coffee drinkers that don’t love a great tumbler? The Fellow 16 Oz. Wide Tumbler is all about amplifying the senses and is designed to fit all popular manual brewing devices. Your new employee will be able to enjoy their coffee anytime and anywhere!
If you’re commuting a lot, a portable charger is a must! This charger is a next-generation power bank that allows you to charge devices on the fly with USB-A, USB-C, and even wireless charging methods. A built-in stand on the back allows you to watch your favorite content while charging your device.
The Executive
A unique employee welcome kit fit for an executive! These are some top-notch products to include in your welcome kit that are sure to leave a lasting, positive impact on your new hire.
A truly premium promotional gift, these painted Apple AirPods are a great start for your executive welcome kit. Choose from a selection of Pantone colors and add some color to the classic AirPods. Finish by adding your branding to the case for a completely custom promotional gift that your new hire will cherish.
If you want to charge all of your devices in one convenient place, the Mophie Charging Stand is the gadget you need. This stand has dedicated charging spots for smartphones, Apple Watches, AirPods, and more. A sleek design makes this a must-have addition to your new employee’s desk.
The North Face Unisex ThermoBall Trekker Jacket
Have your new employee looking their absolute best in this stylish North Face Trekker jacket! Designed with baffles contoured to fit the body, this jacket provides the right balance between warmth, comfort, and effortless style. Choose from different colors, add a design, and put a smile on the face of your new hire. This jacket is also available in a women’s fit/cut.
Every new employee needs a new coffee mug. This high-tech 14oz Ember Mug allows you to set an exact temperature for your drink and can keep it there for up to 3 hours. Its design makes it easier than ever to clean and it features smartphone controls for added convenience. No wonder it’s one of our most popular corporate gifts!
Ocean Bottle 17 Oz. Water Bottle
If you want to keep cold drinks cold and hot drinks hot, you need the 17oz Ocean Bottle. Double-wall vacuum-insulated stainless steel and recycled content help to keep all drinks at the right temperature. An anti-leak, dual opening lid makes filling and cleaning this bottle a breeze. Plus, for every bottle sold, Ocean Bottle prevents plastics from ending up in the ocean!
Questions About New Employee Welcome Kits?
Our mission at Swag.com is to provide quality promotional products for brands to provide for their employees—especially their new hires. If you have questions about putting together a unique new employee welcome kit, reach out to us using the form below. We’re happy to help.
