Turn a New Employee’s First Day Into a Welcome Experience
Starting a new job is a big moment.
For the employee, it comes with excitement, nerves, new faces, and a lot of information. For the employer, it is one of the first opportunities to show a new hire what your company culture actually feels like.
A thoughtfully curated employee onboarding gift box can help make that first impression count.
Instead of simply handing a new employee a stack of paperwork and a laptop, companies can create a welcome experience that says:
We are excited you chose to join us.
Bundled helps organizations design custom new hire welcome kits that make employees feel appreciated while simplifying the logistics for HR and People teams.
What Is an Employee Onboarding Gift Box?
An employee onboarding gift box is a curated collection of products and welcome materials provided to a new employee before or around their first day.
It can include practical items they will use at work, branded merchandise that connects them to the organization, and lifestyle products that simply make them feel appreciated.
The goal is not to fill a box with as much company swag as possible.
The goal is to create an intentional introduction to your organization.
What Should You Put in a New Hire Welcome Box?
The best onboarding gifts combine usefulness, quality, and personality.
Consider including:
• Premium branded apparel
• Water bottles or tumblers
• Backpacks or totes
• Notebooks and pens
• Wireless chargers
• Tech accessories
• Coffee or snacks
• Wellness products
• Desk accessories
• Company culture materials
• Personalized welcome messages
The exact products should depend on your employees, culture, budget, and workplace.
A remote technology company may create a very different welcome kit than a financial services organization or healthcare company.
That is exactly why Bundled does not believe in a one size fits all approach.
Company Swag Is Only Part of the Experience
A common mistake with employee onboarding kits is focusing entirely on branded products.
Your logo matters, but it should not be the only thing that makes the gift feel connected to your organization.
Consider incorporating your brand through:
• Custom packaging
• Company colors
• Branded cards
• Welcome messaging
• Custom tissue
• Thoughtful product selection
• Company values or culture materials
The finished experience should feel cohesive without feeling like a box of promotional merchandise.
When Should a New Hire Receive Their Gift?
Timing can make a big difference.
Some companies send onboarding gifts before the employee’s first day. This creates excitement and gives the new hire an unexpected welcome before they even start.
Others have the gift waiting on the employee’s desk on day one.
For remote employees, shipping directly to their home can create a shared first day experience regardless of location.
There is no single right answer. The important thing is creating a consistent process.
How Do You Manage New Hire Gifts All Year?
This is where employee onboarding gifting often becomes complicated.
Your company may hire:
• Two employees this week
• Ten employees next month
• Fifty employees during a growth period
Someone internally has to keep track of products, inventory, packaging, addresses, assembly, and shipping.
Bundled can manage that entire process.
Our team can handle:
• Product sourcing
• Branding
• Receiving
• Inventory management
• Warehousing
• Professional gift assembly
• Quality control
• Individual fulfillment
• Nationwide shipping
Your team tells us who needs a gift, and we help take it from there.
Create a Consistent Experience Across Your Organization
Whether a new employee works in your headquarters, a regional office, or their home across the country, they should receive the same thoughtful welcome.
A scalable employee onboarding gifting program helps companies create consistency across locations while reducing administrative work for internal teams.
It also gives HR and People teams one less thing to manage during an already busy onboarding process.
Start Building Your Employee Onboarding Program
A great employee experience starts with the little details.
Bundled helps companies transform new hire gifts into thoughtful, scalable onboarding programs that welcome employees and reinforce company culture from day one.
From gift curation and custom packaging to warehousing and fulfillment, our team manages the details behind the experience.
Explore our Employee Gifting Services and New Hire Welcome Kits resources to learn more.
Meet the authors Courtney Taylor & Chelsea Gheesling
