Employee appreciation. The instant we hear those words, gift cards and plaques come to our mind. All forgettable. It’s been so for years now. Even in organizations that genuinely want to show some appreciation to their employees, the culture is slowly becoming a regularly scheduled practice that simply seems disconnected.
Then there are companies that want to stand out while offering something not forgettable to their employees. They invest in creating memories because these memories can turn ordinary workplace recognition into something extraordinary.
I believe that the most preferred kind of gift for such an approach is custom apparel, arguably.
Let me explain.
Why Custom Apparel
Do you get excited when you get a corporate mug from your employer before the holidays? Some of us appreciate the better design on the mug, compared to the mug we got last year. That’s about it. There is no excitement because customized mugs as employee appreciation gifts are simply not the norm anymore. The perceived value went down though mugs are still taken to keep everything on budget. But custom apparel is different. Though the idea may sound generic, the item itself retains a high perceived value generally. The value goes up if the garment is seasonally-relevant, cozy and functional. Apart from this, custom apparel for corporate gifting has a psychological aspect too.
When you hand an employee a top quality, functional piece of clothing, it wouldn’t feel like a generic item though technically it is. Once the recipient wears it, they actually experience the comfort. They feel the effect. Seeing their colleagues wear the same clothing evokes a sense of belonging. The vibe changes and the team spirit solidifies their connection to the workplace and with others in the team. Ultimately, custom apparel boosts morale and makes them feel like the organization recognizes them and their team for who they are and what they do.
Performance Recognition
Celebrating a fantastic year of good business, good vibes and achievements need not be just congratulatory mails, gift boxes and a team dinner. An in-person vote of thanks, a custom jacket for each, and a little celebration in office can have a deeper impact. There is a principle here that some organizations derive, making their employees feel like a family. Top performers can be subtly rewarded for their efforts with something they can wear a lot.
Corporate retreats and team events essentially get an upgrade with custom apparel. For the organization, their employees wearing matching outfits received as gifts from the company is also a testament to employee recognition.
Picking The Right Apparel
Not all apparel is created equal. Here are a few steps I take when selecting swag that doesn’t eventually end up in the donation pile.
Personally check the quality: Because of budget constraints, I have sourced cheap t-shirts a few times. I have noticed enough eye-rolls.
Choose something that feels good and looks professional: Something they can wear at the office or anywhere else. I personally go for polo shirts because they don’t cost as much as hoodies or sweatshirts of similar quality. And the garment is versatile enough with a high perceived value too. Depending on the budget, you can go for Core 365 polo shirts or a higher-end Under Armour polos.
Limiting the branding: A rather recent lesson I learned is that employees nowadays don’t prefer their employers’ brand popping on what they wear. It should feel a little personal too. So I try to minimize the branding.
No bulk retail orders: Sourcing the garments from a trusted retail store in bulk is actually not as cost-effective as we think. The investment can be further minimized if the apparel is sourced from a wholesale supplier with volume discounts and free shipping.
Being choosy about the time for recognition: It wouldn’t be practical to hand out custom apparel to employees for every milestone achievement and project completions. Sometimes you just have to settle for something less so the next gift appears more valuable and more heartfelt.
To wrap things up, here are a few things I learned along the way:
- Never neglect size inclusivity
- Get employee input on styles
- Take the season into account
- Employees prefer quality and not just comfort
- Vet the customization service before ordering a bulk customization order
- Compare prices and request quotes before sourcing the garments
- Subtle modifications on the gifts just for top performers
To be honest, you may still face disappointments because not everyone perceives the same value in something. But at the end of the day, they do feel recognized.
