Employee onboarding gifts provide a warm welcome

New employee swag makes a strong first impression

By Laurie Frees

A strong first impression can make a world of difference. For organizations welcoming new hires, it can lay the foundation for years of joy and success. Often that first impression is formed during onboarding, and research shows employees who experience effective onboarding feel up to 18 times more committed to opens in new window their workplaces. When done well, onboarding can boost retention opens in new window, drive engagement and increase productivity. 4imprint customers The Niello Co. opens in new window and Renewal by Andersen^® of Greater Wisconsin and Milwaukee opens in new window understand the power of starting strong. They also know that employee onboarding gifts offer a warm welcome, foster connections and reinforce company culture. Read how these organizations use onboarding gifts to build momentum for new team members.

The Niello Co. employees get a swag-tastic welcome

Onboarding gifts make immediate connection

When companies have workers across many locations, onboarding plays a critical role in maintaining company culture. That informs the strategies of The Niello Co., a family-owned automotive group selling and servicing nine luxury brands throughout Northern California. Its team includes nearly 800 employees across 10 dealerships and a collision center, so thorough onboarding is key.

“One of the guiding phrases we often reference comes from our company president, Rick Niello: ‘We’re not just in the car business—we’re in the people business.’ It’s a sentiment that truly reflects who we are,” said Tiffany Colato, marketing manager. “Our people—both our customers and our employees—are at the heart of everything we do.”

When new hires show up for their first day, they’re given a name tag and employee swag. While the items change over time, new-hire welcome gifts often include sunglasses, mouse pads, hoodies, tumblers, lunch coolers and beanies.

The items are chosen for their functionality. Many employees use their tumblers and lunch coolers every day, and the beanies are especially helpful for porters and parts drivers who work outdoors. “I don’t want swag just for the sake of swag,” Colato said. “I look for things that are practical. The tumblers, for example, are so useful. Mine literally sits on my desk all day.”

Each round of onboarding typically includes up to 10 new hires and takes place over two days. Beyond filling out necessary paperwork, meeting with leadership and learning expectations, the experience is about making newcomers feel welcome and fostering important connections. The employee onboarding gifts help make that happen.

“The gifts increase brand awareness, for sure. But they also give our employees something with the logo of the company they now work for,” Colato said. “It helps them feel like they’re truly part of the team.”

Renewal by Andersen embraces every 'piece of the puzzle'

New-employee swag demonstrates the company is all in

Much like The Niello Co., Renewal by Andersen is dedicated to fostering a welcoming environment with a people-first mentality. A full-service window and door replacement company, Renewal by Andersen is in dozens of markets across the United States and Canada. At Renewal by Andersen of Greater Wisconsin and Milwaukee, the employee experience includes new-hire welcome gifts.

Greta DeCaluwe, human resources and recruitment manager, said a lot of thought and care are put into the onboarding experience because it lays the groundwork for what’s hopefully a long and fruitful working relationship. “Our culture is just a really cool and special thing to be a part of,” she said. “No matter who they are, what their job is or how long they’ve been here, we want to make everyone feel like they’re an important piece of the puzzle.”

Welcome gifts for new employees kick off the onboarding process. When team members arrive in the classroom for their first session, they’re greeted with a lunch cooler filled with branded items, including a travel mug, notebook, clip and hammer-shaped stress reliever. With employees being critical drivers of company culture opens in new window, a generous onboarding gift is a great way to set the tone.

“From the very beginning, we want them to feel welcome and know that they have a place on our team,” DeCaluwe said. “We want them to have branded items because it shows that we’re invested in them. We’re invested in their success from day one.”

Practicality played a big part in selecting these products. DeCaluwe said about three-quarters of her teammates work in the field as design consultants, canvassers, window installers or service technicians. For them, the lunch cooler and travel mug are especially helpful. Wherever they go, Renewal by Andersen is with them—on their side and on their gear.

Onboarding gifts for new hires send a message

The Niello Co. and Renewal by Andersen show that employee onboarding gifts do more than welcome new hires—they help create a meaningful first impression. Whether a practical item they’ll use daily or simply a thoughtful gesture, the right gifts can mark the beginning of something special.

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