When it comes to swag, most businesses are almost always focused on customers and/or potential customers. But swag can do more than just bring you sales and brand loyalty.
It can also help employees feel a valuable part of your team…while they advertise for you!
Employee swag can boost morale and even help welcome new team members. It’s very versatile and can help you accomplish several things including:
Why Employee Swag Is a Good Idea
Giving swag to your employees is important for many reasons:
- It Reinforces the Concept of Employees as Team Members
Wearing branded items physically shows your employees are part of your team but it also makes them feel included. Swag is different from a uniform. It’s not mandatory. You give it to them and they choose to wear it, thus making it special. When they wear it around town they are representing your business and drumming up interest for you. They’re also helping with name recognition.
2. You Are Making a Long-term Investment
By giving employee swag you are telling them you expect them to be there a while, especially when used as part of a new employee welcome basket. You are subconsciously communicating that you want them to be around for a long time. You can monogram swag and personalize it to really convey this message.
3. Employee Swag Breeds Loyalty to Your Business
When someone is wearing the company logo or name, they see themselves as a vital part of your business success, and they are. And it’s important that they know that, and feel loyal to not just their job, but to the business as a whole. Swag can do that. People wear the logo of their favorite sports team because they are loyal to them and want others to know. It is the same principle when they wear something with your business logo.
4. It Allows Employees to Convey the Pride in Where They Work
Cool swag can give employees bragging rights. Employee swag has an air of exclusivity. While customers and potential customers may be able to purchase branded items or may be recipients of your business swag, employee swag should not be able to be purchased elsewhere. You want your employees to feel the pride that their swag can only be “earned” as an employee.
5. A Little Extra Goes a Long Way
When you surprise your employees with branded items “just because,” it is a thoughtful and easy way to let them know that you appreciate them. Doing something small can really make a big impact. You can also use employee swag to recognize outstanding achievement, loyalty, and work anniversaries.
What Type of Employee Swag Is Best?
Not only is giving swag important but what you give is important, too.
Why?
Because as useful as swag like pens with your logo on it are, anyone can get that, employee or not. Employees won’t appreciate something they can get from the supply closet that they use every day.
So what should you consider?
You might spend a little more, but these items go a long way in showing your employees that they mean a lot to your business.
Easy Ideas for Employee Swag:
- Apparel: t-shirts, polo shirts, sweatshirts, hats, and embroidered jackets. You can order different colors for different departments or time spent with the company.
- useful day-to-day work life items: umbrellas, lunch boxes, computer bags, flash drives, desk organizers, padfolios, or a nice water bottle or tumbler.
- things to decorate their office or desk or items that are whimsical and fun like logoed toys.
You can combine a lot of these ideas into a large welcome basket for all your new employees or for holiday gifts for everyone.
Figure out what makes the most sense for your employees, and shower them with swag to show how much you appreciate all they do to help your business thrive.
Not sure what your employees would enjoy? Give the TQ team a call and we’ll help find something that’s perfect for your crew.
Leave a Reply