Top Personalized Gift Ideas for Employees

Why give a gift?

The holiday season is almost here – and it’s the perfect time to show your employees how much you appreciate them. Other gift-giving occasions include birthdays, work anniversaries, or accomplishments outside of work such as completing a marathon or winning an award. When you recognize your employees hard work, it keeps them motivated and engaged. That said, there are a few important considerations to keep in mind when picking out a gift.

What to consider when giving a gift?

Choose a gift that is memorable, useful and affordable. The goal is to show your employees you care about them and appreciate their hard work – without breaking the bank. Give your employees something they can use many times like headphones or a pen holder for their desk – rather than a box of chocolates that will be gone in a few days … or hours. Every time they use their gift, they will think of the person/company who gave it to them. Also, remember to be fair and spend the same amount of money on each employee and give gifts along the same lines. If you’re getting one person something business related, everybody else’s gift should be too. And, be consistent in the amount you spend and quality of gifts from year to year. You don’t want to disappoint employees with this year’s gift compared to last year’s gift. Don’t make the rookie mistake of giving your company’s promotional products as employee gifts. This could make you look cheap and unthoughtful. Save promotional products for prospects and customers.

You should give your employees something that is unique and personalized. Try to stay away from generic gifts like gift cards to local restaurants or a branded coffee mug. Try to think outside the box. You want to find something fun and unique that goes beyond the ordinary. It may be tempting to just give everyone a gift card. But, the main issue with gift cards is although nobody will pass up free money, the effort can still be viewed as impersonal – especially if everyone receives a gift card to the same place. Also, this puts a dollar amount on how much the perceived worth of the employee is. This is something you want to avoid – especially if you have a tight budget.  A $10 personalized gift can go a long way compared to a $25 gift card. Most gift cards will be used up in one trip, and then thrown away and forgotten. So, get something that will last – preferably an item that can be kept on an employee’s desk or brought home that can be seen or used every day.

Depending on how many employees you have, you’re going to want to find gifts that are thoughtful, but not too costly. There is no specific amount of money that you should be spending. Remember, it’s the thought that counts. Think about things that your employees truly need and want. If you have a large department, you can still come up with great gifts for $10-$20 each. Recall conversations you have had or overheard in the last few months to get some insight on which gifts will be received the best. If possible, try to tailor your gifts to match employees interests and hobbies. You could put together a basket of personalized cooking utensils, sporting goods, or gardening gear to wow your employees with your listening skills and thoughtfulness.

What is the best way to personalize?

Pad printing and digital printing are two great cost-effective methods to personalize employee gifts.

Pad printing is a great way to add a company name, logo, or another piece of artwork you know will resonate well with them. This method is best for simple designs with only 1 or 2 colors. However, if you want to personalize each gift, you could end up spending a lot of money on pad printing consumables and labor costs.

For more customization options, digital printing is the way to go. Using this method of printing, it is quick and cost-effective to print each employee’s name on a gift. If you tried to do this with pad printing, you would need to etch a separate plate for every different employee. With a digital printer, simply change the name of the employee and artwork, if desired, on a computer program like Adobe Illustrator. Then, press print and watch a full color customized design print directly onto the object of your choice. Choosing the right gift can be a hard decision. So, to help you out, we have created a list of 10 gift ideas that can be easily decorated with either pad printing or digital printing methods:

Top 10 Gift Ideas

1. A personalized blanket

2. A pair of personalized headphones to use at work or at the gym

3. Personalized office supplies such as high quality, personalized pens

4. A personalized pen holder

5. A personalized notebook

6. A personalized backpack

7. A personalized portable charger

8. Personalized reusable water bottles or stainless steel tumblers

9. Personalized silicone spatulas or mixing utensils for cooking fanatics

10. Personalized golf balls, basketballs, or swim caps for sports lovers

If you want to go above and beyond in your efforts, add a special touch to your customized gift. With every gift you give, include a hand-written note. Address the employee by name and thank them for all their hard work. Be sure to acknowledge any major accomplishments they had during the year such as a great presentation at a company wide meeting or praise them for closing a big sale. Be specific and personal. Also, keep in mind that the presentation of the gift is almost as important as the gift itself. Make it memorable. Invest in professional gift wrapping or neatly arrange a few small items in a festive gift basket.

Contact Us at Inkcups for help meeting your pad printing or digital printing personalization needs.