Discover onboarding kit ideas to welcome your new hires in style.
No matter what industry your business is in, you’ll want to show your new hires a warm welcome from day one. And, a thoughtful onboarding kit for new employees can do just that.
One of the great things about a welcome kit box and the onboarding swag you fill it with is that you can tailor it to fit your business. Have a welcome packet for new employees, training materials, or other contracts and paperwork you need to distribute? Why not include it with your new employee onboarding kit? This will not only help keep you and your new hires organized, but it also offers a fun and friendly way to welcome them to your team.
Regardless of how you deliver your onboarding swag to your newest hires, our list of 5 helpful tips will help you get the most out of creating your welcome kit box.
5 Tips & Ideas For The Best Onboarding Gifts
When it comes to onboarding gifts for new employees, we’re pretty sure the saying, money is no object, has rarely—if ever— been used. Luckily, our tips are spot-on for companies of all sizes, budgets, and industries. We will even show you how to get quality swag that your employees actually want without undermining your objective or budget.
1. Know Your Budget.
Setting a business budget will help you in your decision-making. So if you didn’t set a marketing swag budget with your 2022 projections, you’ll want to do so. Decide what amount will make the most sense when you are creating welcome boxes for new employees.
Once you know what you’re willing to spend, you’ll want to check out the best ways to maximize your budget. Here are five ideas for onboarding new employees for different budgets.
$30 Welcome Kit Box Idea
Looking to spend around $30 for your onboarding gifts? Why not pair a customized hat and sticker with a drawstring bag? These items are small and lightweight so they will help keep your shipping cost down. Better yet, if your new hire is coming to your office, let the drawstring bag act as your “kit” and skip the packaging and shipping cost altogether.
$50 Welcome Kit Box Idea
For a company welcome package idea under $50, you can’t go wrong with a customized polo shirt, to-go cup, and magnet. Not only can these items be used in the office or in your employees’ home offices, but a personalized polo shirt is a versatile gift that works double-duty as an event uniform, casual Friday attire or if your employee needs to meet clients.
$70 Welcome Kit Box Idea
This new employee welcome kit example comes in under $75 and offers the best of everything for a truly warm welcome. For ultimate props, customize the pen, notebook, and bag, which are all available in a plethora of colors so matching your brand marketing is a breeze. Then satisfy your new hire's sweet tooth with a delicious, one-of-a-kind chocolate bar. Or, for a more health conscious approach you can’t go wrong with organic granola or real fruit gummy treats.
$100 Welcome Kit Box Idea
If you’re looking for an onboarding kit for new employees that’s fun and functional, this $100 idea captures the theme work hard, play hard perfectly. The wireless earbuds feature a JBL Deep Bass Sound and are able to run up to 5 hours on a single charge and while the included charging case offers 15 hours more battery. Add to it a customized insulated travel mug, we love the sophisticated look of the Stanley Quadvac Travel Mug, and top it off with a name-brand personalized cap, and you’ve got the ultimate onboarding swag.
$175 Welcome Kit Box Idea
What can you get for $175? How about name-brand items like Nike® and the North Face®, a rechargeable power bank so they’re always connected, and an insulated lunch tote. Best of all, each of these items can be customized with your company’s logo or branding.
Tip: If you like the idea of including customized apparel in your onboarding swag, consider how you would like your team to use it. For apparel they will wear on their own time, hoodies and tees are always a great addition. If you like the idea of giving them the added versatility for using at events, fundraisers, or meeting with clients, you might choose branded jackets, quart zip pullovers, button ups, and polos shirts.
Shown: The North Face® Tech 1/4-Zip Fleece $62 + Nike Hoodie $46 + Bella Canvas Long Sleeve Tee $20 + Midday Quilted Washable Insulated Lunch Bag $25 + Go Big Rechargeable Power Bank $20
Welcome Kit Box idea around $200
Show your new hires some serious love with onboarding swag that offers a warm welcome while also providing extra convenience to their workday. With a mix of onboarding swag, this welcome kit box has a little of everything from tech and tunes to office supplies and apparel. It even includes a lavender plant to help bring peace to high-stress days. And, while a plant could seem like a commitment, this one from Modern Sprouts makes caring for plants easy, even for those without a green thumb. Throw in a customized S’well tumbler and you’ve got the Cadillac of onboarding welcome gifts.
2. Purchase in-bulk for the biggest discount.
A welcome box for new employees is a must-have, but so are other swag items your company will most likely want to pursue later in the year. Whether it’s marketing incentives or customized giveaways for your upcoming in-person or virtual events, personalized swag is usually needed throughout the year.
That said, make your onboarding kit for new employees feature products that can be used for other special occasions and events. Many times, employee welcome kit vendors will offer a discount on items that are purchased in bulk. Talk to your Gemnote rep to find out what quantity would best meet your needs and your budget.
3. Mix customized with non-customized items to stretch your budget.
Your employee onboarding gifts should have items that are customized with your company’s logo, website, or branding so that they look intentional and well thought out. Branded gear also acts as a marketing agent when it is seen outside of the office. That said, you don’t have to customize everything in your welcome kit.
With a good mix of customized and non-customized items, you are able to create a strong onboarding welcome kit for new employees while stretching your budget further! Talk to your Gemnote rep about which items would be best for customization.
4. Invest in Sustainable items for longevity.
Onboarding welcome gifts come in all shapes and sizes. However, when it comes to deciding which products are best for your new hires, think quality, not quantity! For example, cheap gimmicky items may add more items to your welcome kit, however, what’s the point if they just end up in a landfill?
For the most impact, invest in new employee onboarding gifts that last. Sustainable products that your employees can enjoy again and again are always a great addition. If you are not sure which sustainable products to invest in, we have some great options.
5. Have fun!
If you wouldn’t want or use the onboarding gifts for employees you’re investing in, chances are, your new hires won’t either. Your onboarding welcome kit for new employees should be both fun to give, as well as fun to receive. To achieve the best kit overall, choose high-quality brands and items, some of which are personalized with your logo and brand colors. Adding in tech items and snacks is always a win as well.
It’s important to make your new hires feel valued. So, when it comes time to buy employee welcome kit products, talk to your Gemnote rep for additional products and recommendations. From the individual product selections to new hire welcome note ideas and packaging options, they can help you from start to finish. Need help with a welcome kit for new employees online? With fulfillment and warehousing options, as well as, an easy-to-use software system, you can ace your swag goals, including onboarding gifts for clients and new hires, from the convenience of your computer.
