promotional apparel

Employee Welcome Kits: 5 Proven Ideas

Employee Welcome Kits: 5 Proven Ideas

We’ve all been there — those first-day jitters when starting a new job. There’s a ton of new information and training that you must learn while introducing yourself to your new team (and your new boss). It can be pretty overwhelming!

Companies can help new employees feel more comfortable and establish rapport with a custom welcome kit full of branded goodies. When you present the team members with a special box of company-branded merchandise to say, “Welcome to the team! We’re glad you’re here.”

But how do welcome kits for new hires help companies like yours with the onboarding process? These kits contain items that can increase employee engagement, outline employee expectations, give insight into the company culture, and help new employees get started right away. 

At Pinnacle Promotions, we can help you build a personalized new employee welcome kit with any budget. From high-end promotional items to the simplest of gifts, a kit of curated products can make a lasting impression on your new hires.

The Purpose of an Employee Welcome Kit

Employee welcome kits have a few key advantages:

  • Employee engagement
  • Insight into the company’s culture
  • Promotional products that support the job

When members of an organization are happier at their jobs, employee engagement is at a high. Giving promotional gifts is a kind gesture that increases overall employee morale to help drive contributions to the goals and successes of the company. A welcome kit shows new hires that the company is committed to its employees, which can provide insight into the company culture and organizational advocacy among employees. 

Items such as pens, notebooks, and desk calendars can help new employees get started on their new job duties. Consider adding new-hire resources and documentation into your onboarding welcome kit, such as a welcome letter from the team, a supervisor, or president, as well as an FAQ flier regarding important office information your new hires need to know.

5 Proven Ideas to Create a New Employee Welcome Kit: 

Are you ready to start building your new hire welcome kits but are unsure what products to add? Not to worry, we have your back! 

There’s a variety of products to choose from to help make your kit a hit with the new hires. Below are our five proven product ideas to include in your new employee welcome kit that will make them feel like part of the team:

Idea #1: Unique Gifts 

Onboarding new hires with unique promotional items and gifts shows that your organization thinks outside the box. Quirky, fun items will make your new employees smile and create a sense of loyalty. 

What qualifies as a unique gift?

We like to think of unique gifts as outside of the box, fun and trendy. Unique gifts are typically things like the Modern Sprout® Glow & Grow Live Well Gift Set or branded mini desk vacuums (yes, this is a thing, and it surely is unique!).

Idea #2: Office Essentials

Office essentials not only help new employees set up their space but can also help them quickly dive into their job responsibilities. Supplying new hires with a planner, branded pens, and sticky notes can help them feel organized, with effective note-taking during their onboarding training classes. 

Here are five office essentials employees love and appreciate:

  1. Notebooks
  2. Planners
  3. Folders
  4. Desk Organizers
  5. Notepads

If you’re searching for that perfect office essential gift to include in your welcome kit, any of these five items (or all) are great options. Notebooks prove useful for those who love taking notes and like keeping organized. Planners are excellent for those who love to plan their week and need to write down due dates. Folders help keep all those new hire documents together. Desk organizers? Need we say more? Notepads, just like notebooks, are perfect for jotting a quick reminder or writing down a fresh, innovative idea. 

Idea #3: Apparel

Employees love receiving branded apparel to wear around the office and at company events, but they tend to wear their favorites outside the office. Custom apparel comes in many forms, including polo shirts, button-down shirts, outerwear, and even uniforms. Giving apparel can help your new hires feel like part of the team from day one! 

PS: Employees LOVE branded jackets! 

We’ve heard from our clients that their employees absolutely love branded jackets. It’s a warm gift that truly goes a long way. The more stylish and on-trend your jacket, the more likely your employees will wear them out and about in their daily lives.

Shop our custom jackets today, and include it in your welcome kit! 

Idea #4: Industry-Focused Gifts

Create a greater connection with your new employees by gifting branded items specific to your industry. Think of industry-focused items that they can use throughout the day. Something that will help them do their job well is a must! 

Educators and healthcare workers might appreciate a lanyard to hold their ID badge, whereas baseball caps and all-weather jackets benefit those who work in the elements. This gesture allows your employees to work more efficiently once they’ve settled in. Be sure to view our collection of best work jackets to get an idea of what our customers love.

Idea #5: Wellness Gifts

Gifts that promote health and wellness show that your organization cares about the well-being of its employees. Heavy workloads can create stress, and an outlet where you can reduce stress can do a world of good for employee welfare. Items like a stress ball, fitness tote bag, and a water bottle can encourage a healthy lifestyle and work-life balance. 

Mental health is important. Show your care through purpose-built wellness gifts!

We all know that work can be stressful or tedious at times. These thoughtful wellness gifts help you promote a healthy work environment and encourage a positive work/life balance. Shop today and find the perfect wellness gift for your employee kit.

How to Create a New Employee Welcome Kit for Your Company

Sure, you can do it yourself. You can find the products, have them shipped (usually separately), and then assemble your kits by hand. Or you can let us do it for you!

Here at Pinnacle Promotions, let us take the hard part off your hands so you can do what you do best — hire and welcome top talent. Our promotional professionals will help you find the perfect products that fit your brand and budget. We’ll work our magic and curate an unique onboarding kit just for you. 

You’ll love the efficiency and product consistency across your organization. To learn more about our creative ideas and promotional marketing concepts, check out the Pinnacle Promotions blog or contact us today at 877.300.2007.

Get started today and reach out!

Posted by Admin in Marketing Ideas, 6 comments
Say Hello to Branded UNTUCKit Shirts

Say Hello to Branded UNTUCKit Shirts

Add Your Unique Logo to UNTUCKit Products

Nothing is quite as frustrating as wanting to feel good and look good in professional clothing. Thankfully there is a solution for looking stylish while feeling comfortable and casual. 

UNTUCKit is a brand of shirts made just for that — to be untucked without trailing shirt tails flailing in the wind. The shirts are created for comfort and style, with a large selection for men of all shapes and sizes. 

The UNTUCKit Story

In 2010, UNTUCKIT founder Chris Riccobon created a shirt that was professional, stylish and could be untucked without the added bagginess of the everyday collared shirt. In 2011, Aaron Sanandres, his classmate from Columbia University, joined him to help develop this idea into a stand-alone business. In 2015, UNTUCKit opened its first store in SOHO, New York. Today, UNTUCKit runs 80+ stores in North America. 

They have expanded beyond the collared shirt to incorporate polos, tees, sweaters and other men’s attire. UNTUCKit also carries women’s professional shirts and casual dresses for comfort and 

UNTUCKit the Way Your Want It

UNTUCKit has been changing the game of professional comfort for over ten years. Are you ready for your brand to truly stand out?  Adding your company logo is the distinguished look you need to make the right impression. See all of our UNTUCKit apparel options and find your next fit today! 

Corporate Branded UNTUCKit Shirts 

At Pinnacle Promotions, we help you unify your brand with stylish, comfortable apparel options. Whether it’s for your team or your customers, your company will make the right impression with UNTUCKit logo shirts. Here are a few of our favorite options:

UNTUCKit Men’s Las Cases Special Wrinkle-Free Long Sleeve Shirt allows for comfort and versatility. The wrinkle-free cotton is super soft, making it the go-to shirt for professional business trips or a day full of meetings.

Need a comfortable summer look for your team? UNTUCKit Men’s Classic Coufran Short Sleeve Shirt offers relaxed and wrinkle-free wear with short sleeves to help beat the summer heat.

The UNTUCKit Women’s Bella Long Sleeve Shirt is the perfect fit with slimming darts and stretchy cotton fabric for women of all shapes and sizes. It also has the added benefit of Perfect Placement Buttons, ensuring your shirt always stays closed with no gaps.

Let us create your branded apparel the way you envisioned it. Contact us today at 877.300.2007 for a free virtual proof with your logo on any UNTUCKit shirt!

Posted by Chrissy Petrone in Cool Promotional Products We Love, 0 comments
Unique Promotional Products for Prom Giveaways

Unique Promotional Products for Prom Giveaways

The theme. The dresses. The dance moves.

Prom can be one of the most exciting and unforgettable events for high school students, and giving away the right promotional products leaves them with more than just memories.

The key is to give away items that they can treasure long after their done with high school, and with everything from promotional cups to T-shirts and even chocolate, we’re sure some of these promotional products will leave them dancing even long after the music stops:

1. Promotional Drinkware and Tumblers

Branded cups and tumblers make easy and inexpensive party takeaways that are sure to leave a lasting impression. Popular among all ages, promotional tumblers are the perfect way to leave students with a promotional item they’ll use long after their high school career has ended.

24 oz. Revolution Tumbler Item #24REVNEO

24 oz. Revolution Tumbler Item #24REVNEO

2. Promotional Chocolate

Okay, we can’t exactly promise that this sweet promotional product won’t get eaten right away, but c’mon – what’s cooler than getting your logo on a sweet piece of promotional chocolate? Get your school mascot or logo on one these party treats to leave them with some sweet and tasty memories.

Logo Caramel Chocolate Apple Item #LCCA

Logo Caramel Chocolate Apple Item #LCCA

3. Promotional T-shirts

Custom promotional T-shirts are among some of the most popular promotional products on the market, and a commemorative shirt makes for a great giveaway item. Not only are you providing everyone with a keepsake, but you’re also getting your mascot, brand or logo onto a wearable item that’s sure to gain exposure. Prom night wouldn’t be complete without the perfect promotional T-shirt.

Port & Company 5.5-oz All Cotton T-Shirt Item #PC54

Port & Company 5.5-oz All Cotton T-Shirt Item #PC54

4. Promotional Photo Frames

Take a second to think about how many pictures are taken before prom, at prom AND after prom. Between eager parents, selfies, photo booths and more, the opportunities to create photographic memories are endless. Therefore, providing your students with a promotional photo frame that’s screen-printed with the event name is a promotional item they’ll be using for years to come.

5" x 7" Aluminum Frame Item #1070-56

5″ x 7″ Aluminum Frame Item #1070-56


With the right promotional products for prom, partygoers can focus on the most important part of the night: making memories. Be sure to check out Pinnacle Promotion’s selection of promotional items for Prom Night to give away memories that won’t fade with time.

Pinnacle Promotions

Posted by Admin, 0 comments
Top Healthcare and Medical Promotional Items

Top Healthcare and Medical Promotional Items

Finding the right medical promotional items for your healthcare company can seem like a daunting task – but it doesn’t have to be. With everything from promotional fitness items to promotional first aid kits, there are numerous ways to promote your healthcare and wellness brand.

Getting your logo on these types of promotional products are perfect ways to ensure maximum brand exposure. Every time someone takes your promotional water bottle to the gym or uses one of your custom-printed bandages, your brand is getting in front of an entirely new audience.

With all the medical promotional items to choose from, one could find it difficult to find the right ones to use. So to help you out, we made a list of our top three favorites:

1. Walking Enthusiast Kit

When it comes right down to it, everybody wants to be able to see the results of their exercise, whether it’s running, jogging or simply just walking. Our Walking Enthusiast Kits not only help them track their movement throughout the day, but this promotional walking kit also helps to get your brand moving, too!

Walking Enthusiast Kit Item #3804

Walking Enthusiast Kit Item #3804

2. Travelers Exercise Kit

Traveling can sometimes put a dampener on a healthy lifestyle, but not anymore! Our next favorite medical promotional item is the Travelers Exercise Kit, which is perfect for those who are always on the go! This kit comes with everything from jump ropes to hand exercisers, and it’s convenient enough to toss into a purse, travel bag or even a laptop bag. Get your logo on one of these traveling promotional products for a little first class brand exposure.

Travelers Exercise Kit Item #PL-4401

Travelers Exercise Kit Item #PL-4401


 

3. Ultimate Gym Set- Water bottle, earbuds and armband

Give the gift of fitness with The Ultimate Gym Set, fully equipped with promotional water bottles, headphones and armbands. This promotional gym set not only encourages workouts for your recipients, but it also gets your logo onto items they’re going to be using on a daily basis.

Ultimate Gym Set- Water bottle, earbuds and armband Item #GFT4106

Ultimate Gym Set- Water bottle, earbuds and armband Item #GFT4106

With health and fitness on the rise in popularity among the masses, getting your brand onto healthcare and medical promotional items is one of the most effective ways of getting impressionable exposure. Be sure to check out our promotional products for health and wellness to learn more about the products above or to browse other options.

Pinnacle Promotions

Posted by Admin in Top Trending Topics, 0 comments
3 Surprising Things You Don’t Know About…Promotional Apparel

3 Surprising Things You Don’t Know About…Promotional Apparel

When shopping for promotional apparel, don’t make the mistake of missing out on 3 key factors that matter and should be part of your decision-making process.

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We interviewed our Sr. Merchandising Manager Megan McConnell and she shared her top 3 things that people need to know about purchasing promotional apparel.

Protection Factors

The trend of protection factors in fabrics also applies to promotional apparel. OSHA recommends your workforce be protected from UV Rays and monitor themselves for skin cancer regularly.

Many customizable items have fabric that is rated for UVA-blocking ingredients. Also, you can find micro-bacterial fabrics throughout promotional categories such as apparel and even home goods.

Port Authority Ladies Tech Pique Polo

Port Authority Ladies Tech Pique Polo

Port Authority Tech Pique Polo

Port Authority Tech Pique Polo

Quality Standards

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has strict requirements for apparel labeled or sold as “Youth” apparel. The fabric must be labeled for origin of location, contents and safety issues like flammability. A hooded promotional sweatshirt labeled for “Youth” does not have drawstrings around the hood, per USCPSC guidelines.

Gildan Youth Heavy Blend Hood

Gildan Youth Heavy Blend Hood

Get a sample!

Pinnacle recommends you request an actual sample when purchasing promotional apparel or uniforms. This helps with both product use and sizing. With a sample in hand, you can see better how the embroidered image will look and you can get a feel for sizing in length and width. Looking for tall or extended sizes? Talk to your Account Manager for more information! Call us today at 800-351-4226.

When thinking about promotional apparel for your organization or your customers, think about these 3 surprising things that help guarantee the customized apparel you choose will help you to Make the right impression.™

Pinnacle Promotions

Posted by Admin in Top Trending Topics, 0 comments
3 Must-Haves for a Killer Trade Show Display

3 Must-Haves for a Killer Trade Show Display

Trade show season is upon us! If you will be presenting at a trade show this season, you need to read this!

Of course, everyone on the trade show floor will have a booth contest, caricaturist, prize wheel or some other sort of entertainment. But, don’t forget about the basics. Do you have what it takes for a great trade show display?

Here are our picks to guarantee you have a killer trade show display!

1.

In a show with hundreds of vendors, grab the passers-by with an eye-popping display. But make sure it is something you can take down, put up, and travel with easily!

2.

Don’t go bare! A classy table cover and side banners add a simple elegance and buttoned-up look to any booth space.

3.

Attendees will remember you long after the show is over if you have unique, economical giveaways. Essentials include a reusable branded tote for carting away the show goodies, and a functional giveaway such as a promotional stylus pen or mini-journal.

Stay top-of-mind on the trade show floor, and long after your attendees have returned home. A powerfully branded display, with tables drapes and banners will reel in your audience. The perfect promotional giveaway item will help you make the right impression long after the show attendees leave your space.

Comment, and tell you your thoughts on trade show display must-haves!

Posted by Lee in Top Trending Topics, 0 comments
3 Surprising Things You Don’t Know About…Embroidery

3 Surprising Things You Don’t Know About…Embroidery

Embroidery, as a process, goes back thousands of years. The earliest recorded embroidered garment dates back to 700 CE. Today, the embroidery process is completely digitized, though some of the foundations of embroidery are still key to the process as a whole.

Old Tools

-Hoop
The use of the embroider hoop dates back to the beginning of the process. They were originally made of wood, bone or ivory. Today, they are made of wood or plastic. Even machines with multiple stations still require one hoop per station. Hoops are necessary to keep the fabric taut while working.

Photo by Teunie

Photo by Teunie

-Fabric
Thread or yarn is used in the embroidery process. Modern commercial embroidery thread is most often made of cotton or rayon, and available in unlimited color combinations.
Photo by PKM

New Tools

-Computer design
“In 1980, Wilcom introduced the first computer graphics embroidery design system to run on a minicomputer. “
The ability to design a multi-colored image has come a long way, but it still the hardest art to set-up because it requires the highest minimum font sizes. Detail is limited because in embroidery you are using thread instead of ink, and are confined by the size of the thread.

-Computer machinery
Current embroidery machinery can run more than 55 heads at once with more than 25 colors at one time. Tajima and Barudan are two top embroidery machine manufacturers.

Photo from Tajima

Photo from Tajima

Method

-Process
The age-old process of pulling the fabric tight, setting it into a hoop and stitching into it, remains the same. However, the types of fabric and the speed of which determines the length of the process. The average logo contains approx. 8,000 stitches or less.

-Material
Embroidery is a sturdier, more substantial imprint process than screen-printing. You can embroider on most fabrics, from cotton to blends to full polyester or rayon. The favorite location for apparel, and the spot that receives the most impressions, is the front, left chest.

apparel_manapparel_woman

Screen Shot 2015-01-23 at 11.34.03 AM

Embroidery remains the second most popular imprint method for promotional apparel. The ability to customize embroider on a bucket hat or a polo shirt, a soft-side cooler or picnic blanket, allows the customer to be flexible in the promotional product choice, even when limited by design. Click for more information on other imprint methods. Contact us for more information about your logo and how we can embroider it on just about anything!

Pinnacle Promotions

Posted by Lee in Top Trending Topics, 0 comments
Can’t Miss Trade Show Tech Trends

Can’t Miss Trade Show Tech Trends

Whether you are attending the trade show, hosting the booth, or the guest speaker, trade show technology is on the rise, and fast! Technology is making an impact across all aspects of the trade show world. Here are some key areas technology is changing the way we conduct and attend trade shows.

Giveaways

Giveaways have become more prevalent than ever at trade shows, and the use of tech trade show giveaways has increased year over year. Giveaways have transformed beyond uni-function pens, keychains, and bags.

-The promotional pen is no longer just a pen; it is a pen stylus and LED light combination.
Screen Shot 2015-01-16 at 2.44.26 PM
-The branded keychain is no longer just a keychain; it is a LED flashlight and bottle opener.
FA1130_500

-The imprinted bag is no longer just a bag; it is a full-color, screen-printed, reusable tote bag complete with embedded QR codes that links to the full event schedule online.
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Security

Security has become an exceedingly important part of the trade show experience. It is more important than ever to protect your identity when traveling for business. It’d not just your personal information that is at risk, but a compromised corporate credit card can be a nightmare for both employee and company.

– RFID-protection (RFID, Radio-frequency Identification, is the wireless use of radio frequency to access information and transfer data) technology can be found in everything from logo’d travel wallets to laptop bags and briefcases. 0011-28_500

-We recently wrote about the rise of RFID protection in promotional products.

Apps

Last but not least, get a good app! Whether at a small venue near your office, or McCormick Place in Chicago there are several apps that can help the trade show traveler on the go!

Google Maps can help you avoid traffic and arrive on time at the right destination.

-Whether parking at the airport or convention center, you’ll probably leave the facility with your arms full and tired feet. Don’t wander! Use the Find My Car app to help you locate your vehicle right away.

-This great blog post highlights a few other apps that can help make your trade show experience better.

Whether the attendee or host, your trade show experience will be touched, and more than likely improved by the increased use of technology. Be on the cutting edge of what you see on the trade show floor, and stand out among the competitors by upping your technology game with unique giveaways. Be safe with RFID technology promotional products. And, don’t forget to use Find My Car so you aren’t left wandering the convention center parking garage after a long day on the show floor.

Pinnacle Promotions

Posted by Lee in Top Trending Topics, 0 comments
Marsala is a “wine” choice for the Pantone Color of the Year 2015

Marsala is a “wine” choice for the Pantone Color of the Year 2015

The Pantone color matching system is the standard from which designers and graphic designers work for developing logos and brand guidelines. The color system is universal and allows for all areas to communicate in a color language that is fixed, and not left to interpretation.

Each year, Pantone chooses a “Color of the Year.” The color is decided upon at a secret Pantone meeting held in a European capital each year. The color is reportedly chosen in conjunction with many of the cultural influences that Pantone believes are relevant in our present lives. The color is meant to capture the spirit of the year.

Pantone’s Color of the Year for 2015 is Marsala. It is a mix between red, rust, and burgundy.
Screen Shot 2015-01-08 at 2.46.28 PM

Beyonce’ has already sported the breakout color this year. And if Bey has done it, we can expect more stars to follow.

Last year’s color was radiant orchid. Not all that many things are radiant orchid. But, we saw it make big strides in items such as apparel and drinkware. {link to blog}

The challenge we see for Marsala will be finding the right mix between red, dark red and burgundy. And, which products will highlight this subtle hue the best. Will a pen simply appear to be dark red rather than Marsala? Will a matte-finish mug showcase the color better than a promotional glossy-finish mug because of the light glare from gloss? Perhaps branded apparel and imprinted bags will win the day for the unique qualities of Marsala.

To help our designers, idea-makers and customers get into the color of the year we created a Pinterest board.

What promotional items do you think will look best in Marsala?

Pinnacle Promotions

Posted by Lee in Current Events News, 0 comments
The 20 Year Old T-Shirt

The 20 Year Old T-Shirt

What an amazing year we have had at Pinnacle! We had so many great moments. One of our highlights was the fact that Pinnacle Promotions celebrated our 20th birthday this year! We threw a party, we had personalized balloons, we had custom sunglasses, we gave the Pinnacle entire team promotional t-shirts. We held a contest and gave away an iPad in a branded tablet cover as a Grand Prize, and logo’d Bluetooth speakers as a First Place Prize. All of this to say, will any of these promotional products be around 20 years from now?

Turns out the answer might just be YES!

We love this article about a t-shirt that resurfaced after 20 years and the search to restore it to its original owner. The focus of the original story was donated clothes winding up for sale in third-world countries. We have written similar posts. As one commenter states below, “(I) can tell you that there’s no lost value on “bad” clothing donations.”

A journalist noticed one shirt in particular that had personal details on the front and a name on the tag in the back. The man who saw the shirt decided to track down its original owner. With a little social media and a lot of luck…here’s what happened:

“We Found This 20-Year-Old T-Shirt In Kenya. The Internet Found The Original Owner”

Courtesy of Gregory Werner/NPR

Courtesy of Gregory Werner/NPR

Courtesy Jennifer Rasansky

Courtesy Jennifer Rasansky

The value of a promotional product never goes out of style. The average promotional item is kept for 6.6 months, according to the Advertising Specialty Institute’s Impression Study (link). And in this case, some are kept for more than 20 years! Look around; do you own a promotional product that you have had longer than 6 months, a year, 5 years, even 20 years? If so, snap a picture and post it to our Facebook wall at facebook.com/pinnaclepromotions.

Pinnacle Promotions

Posted by Lee in Cool Promotional Products We Love, 0 comments