With the year almost coming to an end, there are numerous opportunities to gift your employees, e.g., end-of-year company party, Christmas, Thanksgiving, Halloween, etc. What better way to show your employees you appreciate them than to give them gifts that are functional and cool.
Below are company swag ideas for employee gifts in 2021.
- Tech Accessories
There is always a place for technology in our lives. Most people have their phones and computers close by most of the time. Therefore, employees will appreciate tech accessories that help to protect or carry these devices more conveniently. For example, tile mates, silicone phone wallets, cords, and cable organizers, wireless charging mousepad, car clips, and webcam covers, among others.
Our favorite tech accessory is the one you can never have too many – phone chargers. This 3-1 phone charger works for a variety of devices for those split Apple Android offices.
- Portable Electronics
In the tech category, portable electronics make great gift ideas for employees. E.g., Bluetooth speakers, headphones, earbuds, power banks, smartwatches, charging pads, and phone chargers. These are items that they will use daily, whether at the office, home, or outdoors.
Our favorite portable electronic is the one we lose the most, our wireless AirPods.
- Self-Care Gifts
With the increasing awareness of the importance of mental health and physical wellbeing, self-care gifts tell your employees that you care about them. They could be as simple as tweezers, nail clippers, bar soap sets, hand sanitizer holders, or lip balms. Or as grand as custom-design fleece blankets, picnic blankets, hoodies, or at-home spa kits containing soap, essential oils, face masks, etc.
We’re partial to a relaxing candle with a positive affirmation like this candle from GSPY.
- Notebooks and Pens
Notebooks and pens are not the most unique idea for company swag items, but they are functional. Your employees use notebooks to take notes during meetings, write their to-do lists, brainstorm project ideas, or just doodle. However, you can make the notebooks’ interior and cover design unique so that it stands out to your employees, e.g., have their names engraved on the notebooks.
We love a great notebook and may quite literally have a problem as we can never have too many. Our favorite is those velvety soft covers from Moleskin. This Moleskin notebook makes a classy employee gift and is small enough to carry around in a purse or small bag.
- Travel Bags
While some people are keen to invest in high-quality travel bags, most don’t think about it until they have an upcoming trip. Therefore, chances are, most of your employees will appreciate swag gifts such as mini travel bags, backpacks, duffel bags, fanny packs, and gym bags.
Custom branded bags are standard swag for many companies. We’d recommend using the Uptown by TIMBUK2 as the base bag. Functional, stylish, and will stand up to the rigors of a daily commute.
- Games
Board games, cards, and game sets are fun gift options for your employees. They can also use them at home with their loved ones as an opportunity to bond and spend quality time.
No friendship is complete without having played at least one game of Cards Against Humanity. What better way to really understand your co-workers.
- Desk organizer
You must not have seen this one coming. But, when you think about it, it is such a functional gift for employees. It not only keeps the office clean and well organized but also promotes productivity and creativity. It’s also a great way for an office manager to stay organized with the never-ending list of things to do. If that’s you, check out our post on productivity hacks for office managers.
We like our desks to be clean and organized. It helps us work better and more efficiently and also feel better about our day. To help your team members better organize their work lives, we recommend desk organizers. This desk organizer from Simple Housewares is inexpensive yet full of ways to keep you and all your things organized.
- Food Pack
Put together a package of food items that your employees like, e.g., candy, nuts, cookies, chocolate, coffee beans, assorted tea bags, and other non-perishables. You could also add portable kitchen items in the package, e.g., a blender, water bottle, breadboard, mug, cooler box or mini-fridge, tumbler, etc.
Food is a great gift as everyone eats! It’s also a very low-cost, high-value reward for employees. After all, people will debate their favorite beer or coffee brand for hours but when’s the last time you heard employees get excited about their health insurance. For less than the cost of their insurance, you can provide snacks and drinks that will keep they energized and excited. When you’re ready to for office snacks, reach out to one of our team members and we’ll get you set-up!
The purpose of giving employees swag items goes beyond advertising. They help employees to connect with your brand physically. And, if they are items that the employees want, it gives them a sense that you think and care about them. These are just a few of the items that you can customize with your branding to create great gifts your employees will actually use.
