New Hire Kits: Your Onboarding Secret Weapon
Starting a new job can be overwhelming – new culture, new co-workers, new processes. Help welcome the newbies to your team with a kit full of thoughtful gifts that represent your company and culture. All of a sudden this strange new place won’t feel quite so foreign.
According to a Gallup poll, only 12% of employees thought they had a great onboarding process, which is too bad because research from Glassdoor found that effective onboarding leads to 82% higher retention and 70% more productivity. The stakes are high, so investing in your employees from day one is important.
Your Onboarding Secret Weapon:
New Hire Kits
Starting a new job can be overwhelming – new culture, new co-workers, new processes. Help welcome your newbies to the team with a warm new hire kit full of thoughtful gifts that represent your company and culture. All of a sudden this strange new place won’t feel quite so foreign.
According to a Gallup poll, only 12% of employees thought they had a great onboarding process, which is too bad because research from Glassdoor found that effective onboarding leads to 82% higher retention and 70% more productivity. The stakes are high, so investing in your employees from day one is important.
WHY
The benefits of a great new hire kit
Connect to the culture
Use thoughtful swag to embody the core message you want to your new people to soak up. Each time they use the items, your company mission and culture will be reinforced.
Show appreciation
According to Forbes, 94% of employees said they’d appreciate a gift from their employers. Start off on the right foot and show your appreciation early on.
Make stuff they’ll use
Your employees are your biggest brand ambassadors. If you make good stuff, they’ll want to use and wear it, and in a sense it becomes a part of their uniform. Welcome them to your team with items that get used.
HOW
Building a Great New Hire Kit
Essentials
Bonus Items
Your Custom Content
Reinforce your mission and values with a letter from the CEO, a useful manual or a specific book that resonates with the team. Since we do our own kitting, these items can be added at anytime during the initial kitting or after (or even with varied items per team).
Hand Writing Service
We all know how nice it is to receive a hand written note, but who has time to do so over and over for a new hire kit? We can help. Using our writing-bots (or real people when needed), we handwrite your note right from our own warehouses, which means it can be seamlessly integrated into your kitting process without involving an outside service or adding additional complexity. Sign on.
HOW
Building a Great New Hire Kit
Essentials
Drinkware
Drinkware will get used a ton, so make it count
Apparel
Give em something good to wear
Journal/Pen
Take notes on all that great onboarding
Bonus Items
Desk
Put some flair on their desk
Organize
Give them tools to stay organized
Tech
Who doesn’t like gadgets?
Bags
Contain all the items in something usable!
Your Custom Content
Reinforce your mission and values with a letter from the CEO, a useful manual or a specific book that resonates with the team. Since we do our own kitting, these items can be added at anytime during the initial kitting or after (or even with varied items per team).
Hand Writing Service
We all know how nice it is to receive a hand written note, but who has time to do so over and over for a new hire kit? We can help. We handwrite your note right from our own warehouses, which means it can be seamlessly integrated into your kitting process without involving an outside service or adding additional complexity. Sign on.
Examples
Made for Kraft Heinz interns, this kit needed some flare, so we created a ketchup bottle custom pocket tee + insulated mug to keep things toasty.
Insulated water bottle, soft bound journal and embroidered hat for Oscar Health
Messenger Bag, travel mug and notebook for Blue Horseshoe
Mug, custom die cut stickers, journal, branded pen and insulated water bottle for HYPR
Backpacks
For employers with people on the go, nothing is better than a backpack. Keep company laptops and personal belongings safe during commutes with your custom laptop backpack.
Attracting New Talent with Backpack Kits
Check out how Becton Dickinson’s HR team used a thoughtful backpack kit to help with recruiting and hiring.
New Hires deserve better swag—here’s why
Check out ideas from our founder on how to have more impact with your new hire kits.
Drinkware
A staple for any desk. Whether it’s for the morning joe or rehydrating throughout the day, reusable drinkware is a sustainable and useful choice for any on-boarding kit. Choose from a vast selection of custom cups, tumblers, and bottles.
Camper Mug – Powder
$14 – $16
This reasonably priced mug has the largest range of color and print options and was one of the top performers in our heat retention tests. It has a great look that wraps up nicely in our favorite gifting box of the bunch.
Hats and Beanies
Camper Mug – Powder
$14 – $16
This reasonably priced mug has the largest range of color and print options and was one of the top performers in our heat retention tests. It has a great look that wraps up nicely in our favorite gifting box of the bunch.
Camper Mug – Powder
$14 – $16
This reasonably priced mug has the largest range of color and print options and was one of the top performers in our heat retention tests. It has a great look that wraps up nicely in our favorite gifting box of the bunch.
Austin Tumbler
$14 – $16
MiiR Vacuum Insulated Wide Mouth Bottle
$31 – $47
Asobu Liberty Canteen
$21 – $23
CamelBak Eddy
$14 – $18
Notebooks and Pens
Onboarding can be a long process – make their life easier with the ability to take notes. Pair a custom notebook with a high-quality pen, and you’ll find your employees clinging to these in meetings for years to come.
Moleskine Dropbox Smart Notebook
$34 – $52
Why we love it:
The perfect blend between classic and modern tech, this notebook allows for direct uploads to Dropbox.
Moleskine Dropbox Smart Notebook
$34 – $52
Why we love it:
The perfect blend between classic and modern tech, this notebook allows for direct uploads to Dropbox.
Backpacks
For employers with people on the go, nothing is better than a backpack. Keep company laptops and personal belongings safe during commutes with your custom laptop backpack.
Parkside Laptop Backpack 2.0
Why we love it:
As the winner of our SwagLab commuter backpack test, this stylish and functional backpack is perfect for all employees.
$80 – $90
Parkside Laptop Backpack 2.0
Why we love it:
As the winner of our SwagLab commuter backpack test, this stylish and functional backpack is perfect for all employees.
$80 – $90
Thule Achiever Computer Backpack
$65 – $82
Graphite Compu-Backpack
$30 – $38
Heritage Supply Tanner Computer Backpack
$36 – $50
Port Authority Xcape Computer Backpack
$34 – $44
Custom Tote
Instead of slapping your logo on another product, you can build your tote from scratch and be completely custom.
Apparel
When done right, the t-shirts, hoodies, and jackets you give your employees can become their uniform. Welcome new hires with apparel items that reflect your culture and values – they’ll officially feel part of the team.
Marine Layer Signature Crew
This premium t-shirt is absurdly soft and comfortable to wear. Pair with stylish design and it’ll be worn often.
$35 – $45
Marine Layer Signature Crew
This premium t-shirt is absurdly soft and comfortable to wear. Pair with stylish design and it’ll be worn often.
$35 – $45
District – Concert Tee
$7 – $12
Bella + Canvas Sueded Tee
$12 – $18
Eddie Bauer WeatherEdge Plus 3-in-1 Jacket
$250 – $270
Sport-Tek 100% Cotton Raglan Jersey
$14 – $20
Skyline Soft Shell Half Zip
$69 – $79
The North Face Sweater Fleece Jacket
$95 – $115
The Original FLIGHT FLAP
This functional flap folds to multiple configurations to give you the perfect viewing angle for your device, wherever you need it.
Tech Items
Finally, top off your onboarding kit with a useful piece of tech with subtle branding. Remember, the idea is to provide functional items your employees will love.
$20 – $31
Main Post Personal Organizer
$31 – $48
Tech Taco
$2 – $4
Ruckman Roll
$17 – $29
Transport Cable Organizer
$30 – $42
Other Ideas
Now, it’s time to keep that desk clean. An organizational pouch or bag is helpful for the pens and other office supplies that can cause clutter. As with all products, we recommend items that can be fully customized.
$20 – $31