If you’ve managed a hybrid team, you’re probably familiar with the challenges that can pop up. It can be more difficult to promote a sense of community and maintain team morale when your workers are physically separated. There is one solution you might not have given much thought to because of its simplicity: employee gifting. But how effective is gifting, really?
According to a 2024 survey, 94% of employees who receive branded gifts at least once a month reported being "very satisfied" with their current employer. This is a sharp contrast to the 33% satisfaction rate among employees who receive swag less than once a year and the 18% satisfaction rate for those whose companies never provide such gifts.
While it may not be the universal solution to your hybrid team challenges, gifting branded merchandise might be key to enhancing engagement and making all employees, on site and remote, feel like part of the team.
The Role of Gifting With Hybrid Teams
The right approach to corporate gifting can deliver a raft of benefits for managing hybrid teams.
Strengthens Relationships
Your company’s success relies heavily on relationships with employees. Corporate gifting is a powerful way to express gratitude and acknowledge both remote and in-office workers' contributions to your organization’s achievements.
Improves Employee Retention
Employee recognition through corporate gifts contributes to a culture of gratitude. Workers who feel appreciated, wherever they're located, are more engaged and loyal, leading to reduced turnover and higher retention of top talent.
Enhances Reputation
Thoughtful, meaningful gifts leave a lasting impression on recipients, who are likely to share their positive experiences with others. This strengthens your reputation with your team members and potential hires and boosts your brand’s image among a broader audience.
Helps Overcome Distance Challenges
In a recent survey, only 28% of remote workers said they feel strongly connected to their company’s mission.
Corporate gifts can bridge the gap with remote employees, helping to maintain strong connections despite physical separation. This is especially important in hybrid or fully remote work environments.
Differentiates Your Company
Corporate gifting helps you stand out from competitors. Thoughtful and meaningful gifts leave a lasting impression and make employees more loyal to your company.
About 78% of employees report increased job satisfaction after receiving a meaningful gift from their employer.
Choosing the Right Branded Gifts
Consider these factors to select the right gifts to send your employees.
Ensure the Merchandize Reflects Your Brand
Branded merchandise serves as an expression of your brand identity. Making sure every item aligns with your brand’s values and aesthetics is crucial for promoting brand recognition; this should be at the forefront of your brand strategy.
For instance, if your brand emphasizes sustainability, opt for eco-friendly merch like reusable water bottles or organic cotton T-shirts. In that case, purpose-driven branding reinforces your commitment to environmentally conscious practices.
Personalize the Gifts to Your Audience
Understanding your team members' preferences and needs will help you pick the perfect gifts. Custom-branded products that solve specific problems or fulfill practical needs are more likely to resonate with the recipients and carry a higher perceived value.
For instance, consider branded items like weather-resistant apparel if your business operates in the outdoor recreation industry.
Prioritize Quality and Practicality
High-quality gifts show that you value your team members. Premium practical items that recipients can use daily, such as stationery, office supplies, or tech gadgets, are usually well-received.
Investing in durable and functional merch keeps your brand top-of-mind for your employees long after receiving the gift.
Ensure Timely Delivery
Punctuality is critical for corporate gifting. Partner with a reliable supplier to guarantee timely delivery, especially for time-sensitive occasions.
Late deliveries can undermine the positive impact of your gesture — you wouldn’t want to send a Christmas gift in January, for example.
Effective Gifting Strategies for Hybrid Teams
You must employ all your tactical know-how to pull off a great gifting plan. Here’s how to go about it.
Choosing the Occasions for Gifting
These are some appropriate occasions for employee gifting:
- Thank-you gifts: Express gratitude to employees for their efforts; tailored gifts boost productivity.
- Performance rewards: Recognize top performers to encourage excellence and loyalty.
- Long-service awards: Celebrate employee loyalty with significant recognition for years of service.
- Year-end gifts: Show appreciation for adaptability, hard work, and dedication over the past year.
- Product launches: Commemorate product launches to give your team a sense of accomplishment and pride in the business’s success.
- Client onboarding: Celebrate onboarding key clients.
- Holidays & Festivals: Share festive gifts for occasions like New Year, Christmas, Diwali, or Eid.
- Promotions: Mark employees’ promotions with a thoughtful gift to commemorate the achievement.
Tips for Sending Gifts to Remote Employees
Sending gifts to remote employees, especially in different countries, can be trickier than you think. Follow these tips to please everyone:
- Respect cultural norms: Understand the recipients’ customs, restrictions, and gift-giving etiquette to avoid unintentional offenses.
- Account for international shipping costs: Research country-specific restrictions, customs regulations, and local holidays to prevent delays. Be prepared for additional charges, such as duties, taxes, and fees, which vary by country.
- Personalize gifts: Avoid generic items. Opt for personalized gifts that make recipients feel valued. Branded merchandise should create a memorable impact and not feel impersonal or disposable. If personalization of the products isn’t possible, consider including personalized notes from management or letters from the CEO as a thoughtful gesture.
Tracking and Measuring the Impact of the Gifting Program
Use these metrics to evaluate the success of the program:
- Response rate: This measures the percentage of recipients who respond after receiving a gift. It indicates the level of engagement. A high response rate in the form of follow-up emails from most recipients shows your gifts were appreciated and hit the mark.
- Gift engagement: This metric evaluates how recipients interact with their gifts over time, such as usage frequency or overall impact. This offers insights into long-term effectiveness and helps refine your future campaigns. Gather feedback on the usage and impact of the gifts on your team members to improve your gifting.
Why Branded Gifts Boost Employee Retention in Hybrid Teams
Gifting for hybrid teams is often overlooked as a tool for fostering connections in hybrid teams. Done right, it can be integral to building a sense of community and maintaining team morale even when employees are located in different parts of the world.
Branded gifts strengthen relationships between team members and cultivate a culture of recognition and gratitude, crucial for boosting employee retention. Branded merchandise is also valuable marketing for your company and will leave a lasting impression on recipients. Make sure to check out our 2025 Trending Lookbook to find the perfect gifts to build connections with your brand.
Are you ready to create unforgettable Brand Love moments for your hybrid teams with personalized corporate gifting? Contact your Boundless Brand Consultant today for a demo.
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