When we talk about branded gifts, there’s one concept that’s closely related: the welcome pack. Also known as a company welcome pack, it usually consists of a box, bag or similar container holding several essential items for someone who has just begun their relationship with the company — whether that’s a partner, a client or an employee.
· Benefits of a Welcome Pack
It’s affordable: One of the great advantages of promotional gifts is that they can be tailored to any budget. You can put together low-cost packs (particularly useful if you need large quantities) or, alternatively, create more exclusive corporate sets. It all depends on the recipient and the “message” you want the gift to convey.
A positive perception of the company: Receiving a gift naturally improves our opinion of whoever gave it to us. With merchandise, this creates a sense of gratitude towards the organisation for giving us something without being obliged to. In this way, the company demonstrates that it looks after both its clients and its staff.
A sense of belonging: Personalised merchandise featuring the brand’s logo creates a feeling of being closer to that brand. Recipients get a unique product that reflects the company’s image. This works just as well for clients as for employees — whether you’re a member of staff or a new client, you have a pack that identifies your relationship with the company.
An advertising tool: As mentioned in relation to backpacks and face masks, using these items during your daily commute or at an event, for instance, means other people will notice the company behind the product. Depending on the final design and the user’s preferences, this can spark curiosity and encourage people to find out more about the brand.
Onboarding: This pack shouldn’t be seen as a one-off gift, but rather as part of the company’s own onboarding process. Handing over notebooks, pens, a few sweets, a card holder, a lanyard and so on isn’t just about giving out office supplies — it’s about helping the employee settle in. This matters a great deal, since a new starter usually needs plenty of explanations about the company’s culture and how things work, along with a tour of the premises and equipment set-up. This simple gift helps the person feel more welcomed throughout that lengthy process and takes away some of the formality that usually comes with it.
· What Products Does a Welcome Pack Usually Contain?
Mugs: Coffee, tea, water… It’s very common to keep your own mug at the office and even at home (especially if the person works remotely), allowing them to enjoy their favourite drink morning, afternoon or whenever they fancy. As such, personalised mugs are almost a must-have in welcome packs, whether given to the individual on a one-to-one basis or made generally available — depending on whether you want to feature just the corporate logo or also the name of the team member receiving it.
Pens: A classic found in every type of business, since writing by hand remains essential. Whether it’s for jotting notes in a notebook or scribbling something on a sticky note, promotional pens turn up as part of the merchandising in almost every company. Whether at events or during everyday activity, we’ve all received a personalised pen with a logo on it more than once.
Notebooks: Following on from the above and useful in almost any context, corporate notebooks are a constant companion in our day-to-day lives. Although technological advances mean we now do most of our writing on a computer, send emails and manage documents online, notebooks aren’t going anywhere thanks to how practical they are for quick notes and easy reference. Pairing them with the item above is a sure win, particularly for packs aimed at employees.
Backpacks: A little less common, but a highly effective advertising tool nonetheless, personalised backpacks make a much-appreciated corporate gift. In terms of usability, they offer an extra accessory for everyday use or for specific occasions such as outings or events. From a promotional standpoint, though, they offer excellent brand visibility, as plenty of people will spot the logo on the train, the bus, or during a walk. We’ll go into more detail later on the difference between giving these to employees versus clients, but either way, they’re a great fit for all kinds of occasions
Bottles: Related to mugs but also a good complement to them, personalised bottles are another popular option. These offer a larger capacity than mugs, which is why they tend to be filled with water. In other words, not only do you get a corporate item for frequent use, but you also help cut down on disposable packaging — reducing unnecessary plastic use and lowering environmental impact.
These are just some of the standard recommendations, but the final choice should be based on your specific needs and your company culture.
It’s also worth highlighting that including unique personal touches is highly recommended. A personalised welcome letter, or having one of the gifts feature the person’s name, makes the gift that much more special.
· The Psychological Impact of the Welcome Pack on Employees
Earlier, when discussing the benefits of the welcome pack, we touched on a couple of points linked to its emotional dimension. Given that looking after mental health in the workplace is so important, it’s worth exploring this further.
Firstly, starting a new job can bring on stress and anxiety. A new environment, a different way of working, wanting to meet expectations, feeling useful from day one, and a huge amount of information to take in early on can all take a toll. That’s why the onboarding process should be as smooth as possible — and adding a stabilising element such as this pack can help the employee feel more supported.
Secondly, as mentioned above, having corporate items you can use daily (both in and out of the office) helps build a sense of belonging to the brand, encouraging the person’s integration into the company.
Thirdly, it can feel like a genuine starting point within the company — something that’s reinforced further if the kit includes manuals or guides to help the new starter get to grips with the basics.
And finally, receiving a gift is always perceived positively, so it can serve as a real motivational boost, helping the person begin their new role with enthusiasm and energy.
· Who Receives the Welcome Pack?
Welcome Pack for Employees
This welcome pack tends to be more geared towards day-to-day work life, helping the new starter settle into their role more comfortably (whether in the office or working remotely) and offering that extra bit of support so they don’t need to buy their own supplies. In this case, backpacks, pens, notebooks, USB drives, bottles and face masks are among the best options for giving new team members a warm welcome.
You can also include documents within this set explaining the company’s values, how to handle certain processes such as holiday requests or administrative matters, and any other useful information that might help clear up questions the new employee could have.
Welcome Pack for Clients
This differs somewhat from the above, as here the focus should be more on enjoyment than on practicality. Naturally, any of the gifts mentioned earlier work just as well, but there are further options worth considering too. Headphones or speakers, for instance, so clients can listen to their favourite music or podcasts, make a great choice. Personalised bags are also very useful, particularly for events.
Similarly, having promotional umbrellas on hand for prospective clients is a great idea. A sudden change in the weather could save them from an awkward situation — and they’ll remember exactly who came to their rescue when they needed it.
Want to create your own welcome pack? Tell us your idea!
Those were our recommendations for putting together the perfect welcome pack. Whoever your recipient is, make sure to create something appealing, useful, and fully aligned with your brand identity. On that note, we’d also like to take this opportunity to point you towards these gifts for building customer loyalty, so you can weave promotional items into your wider communications strategy.
Have you ever received a welcome kit yourself? What was in it? Let us know in the comments!