Bringing on a new employee can help grow your business and support your current team. But you want to make sure that the new hire also feels support on their first day, as well. One of the best ways to do that is by sharing swag and goodies from the company after anyone accepts a job offer. This will help them feel like they’re one of the group and to give them comfortable options for at-home work or cozy weekends-in.

Kotn Supply is here to help your human resources team with your talent acquisition and onboarding efforts. We’re dedicated to providing companies with the resources they need to purchase sustainable swag their employees will appreciate.

When produced sustainably, branded and personalized apparel and accessories will last, and you’ll help to create a company culture of sustainability and wellness every step of the way. When the time comes to pick out the perfect swag for your team members, we have the ideas and products you can rely on. 

Best Swag for Employee Onboarding

The onboarding process can be a little overwhelming at first, which is why it can be fun and useful to share employee benefits, including company swag, right out of the gate. Company swag can be comfortable and useful. 

It can be worn for all events and activities, like in the office, if appropriate, or out on the next wellness walk or hike. And you have lots of different styles to pick from when it comes to company swag and apparel that your team will truly appreciate.

Here are a few of our favorite options for making new hires feel right at home from day one:

Celebrate a New Position With T-Shirts

T-shirts are a classic swag option for a reason. To start, they’re very easy to brand and personalize, which means you can create company t-shirts that people actually want to wear.

If you’re looking to save as you build your business, you can even screen print the shirts yourself, which is a cool way of adding special graphics and designs. T-shirts are a straightforward option for swag, which means you can order a few different colors, styles, and designs for team members to collect over the years.

Another reason to consider sharing a t-shirt with new hires is that they’ll be able to wear it for retreats and activities. It’s an excellent way for them to feel like they’re a part of the team from the moment they walk through the door. This is useful for ensuring retention after the hiring process and for encouraging new ideas and development. 

Make Their First Week Exciting With Sweatshirts and Hoodies

If you’re looking for a cozy type of swag that can be worn in the chilly months or in the air-conditioned office, you can’t go wrong with sweatshirts and hoodies.

Sweatshirts and hoodies are versatile and useful and can be worn for everything from game day to workouts to road trips. You also have a lot of different styles and design options to pick from, including crewnecks, hoodies, zip-ups, and more.

The Quarter-Zip evokes the feeling of athleisure with a hint of a tech thought leader. The Zip-Up Hoodie is black or heather grey and is soft enough to wear at the end of a long day but can look professional when layered over a button-down or plaid shirt.

Sweatshirts are a well-loved type of company swag because they’re easy to customize, thanks to the blank space on the back and the front (if you skip the zipper). Sweatshirts and hoodies are swag apparel that they’ll want to wear again and again.

Comfy Sweatpants for Remote (But Not In-Person) Work

In keeping with the cozy theme is sweatpants. Sweatpants made from 100% long-staple Egyptian cotton are a cute and comfortable option that can be branded and logoed easily.

While they’re likely not an appropriate fit for the office, they can be a fabulous option for remote employees or those work-from-home days. Plus, if your company went remote during the pandemic, they’re ideal for every day. And if your company has a casual day of the month, matching company sweatpants can be a cute way to represent the brand.

There are several ways to customize and personalize sweatpants, from the color to the fit to embroidery, screen-printing, and direct-to-garment. Your new hire is sure to appreciate the addition to the cozy wardrobe. 

Outerwear Makes Fantastic Company Swag

Sweatshirts and hoodies are great for chilly days, but for those really cold months, consider business-branded outerwear. Branded outerwear can be fun and creative, and it’s a great chance for your employee to show off their team spirit when they’re out on the go. There are tons of options for outerwear, from jackets to raincoats, and each one will be useful and appreciated by your newest team member. 

Shorts on Their Start Date

Of course, you need warm weather outfits for the team, too. That’s where a pair of branded shorts can come in handy.

Shorts can be a cool and unique way to showcase your business, and they’re useful for sleeping, working out, or just wearing on those hot summer days. While shorts aren’t typically considered work attire, they’re great for the members of your team who work from home, and your in-office employees will enjoy changing into them at the end of a busy day.

Hats and Caps

Here at Kotn Supply, we love sustainable, long-lasting options for company swag. Hats and caps are one such option. Hats and caps are easy to create in a sustainable way, and your employee is sure to get a lot of uses out of them for fashion and utility.

The more times a product is used, the more eco-friendly it becomes, and because hats and caps can be worn for everything from fashion purposes to daily workouts, they’re a very sustainable choice for top-of-the-line swag.

Hats and caps as onboarding gifts are so versatile: You can design them in a wide range of colors and styles, from beanies to ballcaps, which means it’s a great way for them to show off their personality while still feeling like a part of the team. Order a couple of options for your team to pick from, and let your latest hire choose the one they like best. 

Tote Bags

In addition to apparel, you also want to share the best bags for new hires to carry their belongings to and from the office or to use when grocery shopping. The possibilities are really endless when it comes to branding bags, and you have your choice of backpacks, briefcases, drawstrings, and more.

One of our favorite options for sustainable, long-term carry-alls is a Natural Canvas Tote. They’re easy to customize with your company’s logo. Tote bags fill many purposes, making them sustainable and utilitarian.

Because you’ll have more space to work with, you can highlight brand graphics and characters, show off beautiful art, and more. Your newest team member will enjoy using their tote for work and personal needs every day. 

Accessories

Apparel isn’t your only option when it comes to welcoming gifts for new hires. You can also share accessories that they’ll be able to use in the office and at home. Not only can a lot of accessories be branded with the company name for that extra touch, but they’re often reusable and refillable.

That means it’s easy to help your business make the transition to sustainability every day. Consider a wide range of brandable accessories and goodies that new hires are sure to enjoy, including water bottles, coffee mugs, tumblers, and even umbrellas. The best accessories are useful everyday day. These tools will help you to welcome new hires into the new job with celebratory and attractive perks. 

Conclusion

From setting up direct deposit to reading the employee handbook, starting a new job can be stressful and overwhelming. One of the best ways for the management system and team to help make the new employee orientation process just a little bit easier is to share company swag and gifts that new team members will be grateful for.

The good news is that there are lots of different options to pick from when it comes to company apparel that will make a new recruit feel like part of the team. Consider sustainable and easy-to-personalize options like sweatshirts and t-shirts, shorts, and hats. You’ll also want to think about sharing branded bags, as well as accessories like water bottles and coffee mugs.

No matter what your company onboarding needs may be, Kotn Supply is here to help you find the perfect swag for the job. We make it easy to purchase low-impact company apparel that stands out, so you can surprise new recruits and hires from the moment they walk through the door. Build a welcome package they’ll be excited about with the support from our team today. 

Sources

How to Get a New Employee Up to Speed | HBR

The T-shirt: A rebel with a cause - BBC Culture

3 Ways to Make Your Small Business More Sustainable - NerdWallet