“Finally, something with your name on it.”
I could never find my name in holiday gift shops. I’d spend hours scouring the shelves of brightly coloured mugs, keyrings and wristbands, hoping to find my seven letters amongst them.
But, alas, I never would. And I’d leave with a much more underwhelming souvenir that didn't have my name on it, making the whole experience unenjoyable and, ultimately, forgettable.
But they’d always have ‘Natalie’... not that I’m bitter.
Finding, or better yet, being gifted something with your name on it always feels extra special. Because that pen/waterbottle/notebook with your name on it is now 100% yours, no questions asked. It’s like it was meant to be, and fate brought you together (queue the rom-com music).
You just know your new gift will solve all your problems - because it has your name on it.
We know just how impactful personalised gifts can be. Whether gifted internally or externally, if some thought had gone into the gift, it’ll be a winner.
And when it comes to gifting your employees with personalised products, it does wonders at boosting morale.
That’s why, in this post, we’ll:
Looking for the perfect personalised branded Christmas gift this festive season? We’ve got everything you need to make this year your best yet. Take a look at our Christmas gifting range and get ready to put the ho ho ho into HR.
Employee morale is how your employees feel about where they work. This is reflected in their attitude towards their role and what they think of the company as a whole.
So it’s pretty important.
Brands that have a high employee morale will have staff who feel supported, cared for, and positive about their roles.
Companies that have employees who have low morale feel unsupported, conflicted and have a negative outlook on where they work.
Employee morale is important because if your team have high morale, they’ll be more productive, they’ll be enthusiastic when talking about your brand externally, and they’ll want to keep working for you.
Companies with high employee morale rates have an increased profitability of 21%, have 41% fewer people off sick, and a decreased staff turnover of 59%.
Basically, they’ll love working for you.
If your team have low morale, they won’t put their all into their work, they’ll look for opportunities to leave and take their talent elsewhere, and they’re more likely to be absent.
Cough, cough, sick days, please.
However, with sick days costing the UK economy £103bn in 2023, this isn’t something you can ignore.
Personalised gifts are so loved because every detail feels unique and tailored to you.
Plus, receivers experience something called ‘vicarious pride’ when opening a personalised gift.
Dr Diletta Acuti, marketing expert, University of Bath School of Management
Studies also found that recipients are more likely to cherish personalised gifts, making them less likely to end up in landfill.
Read more: How does company merch affect morale?
A good employee Christmas gift will make employees feel recognised, understood, and appreciated for all the hard work they’ve put in over the last year.
Quite a lot to do with a little gift, right?
That’s where the personalisation element comes into play - as that adds a whole lot of ROE (Return on Emotion) for not a lot of extra work.
Return on Emotion is all about turning every activation into an unforgettable, brand-defining moment fueled by powerful, emotional connections.
With 95% of purchase decisions driven by emotion, merchandise, especially personalised products, harnesses this insight to build meaningful connections that inspire loyalty and engagement.
You can read more about Return on Emotion over at Brand Revolution.
Packed with personality, merch packs are a showstopping employee gifting solution that is easy and quick to organise. You can choose from an assortment of different themes with our pre-designed packs, or you can create your own for that extra personalised touch.
To find out more about how we can help you make your merch pack some real impact, check out the range now.
Read more: Looking for a stress-free merchandise solution? Introducing merch packs!
Practical. Personal. Perfect. A yearly planner is the ideal gift for employees at Christmas. It’ll make them feel valued, help them stay motivated, and help boost their morale. Win. Win. Win.
You want your employees to stay happy, healthy, and hydrated into the new year, right? That’s why a personalised water bottle is our go-to gift at this time of year.
We love giving candles or diffusers as gifts. They’re such a luxury, and gifting the magic of a wonderfully festive-scented home will always be appreciated. Add a personalised card into the mix, and you’re onto a real morale winner.
Notebooks tick all the boxes when it comes to giving the ultimate employee gift. From foil debossing to completely bespoke designs, these are so easy to customise, whatever your budget.
Did you know that 11% of people would opt for a hamper as a gift if they could? Our favourites are the ones from Social Stories Club, as they’re full to the brim with the best social enterprise brands. And everyone loves a hamper full of delicious festive treats!
For when you need to take your morning cuppa on the go.
Depending on how corporate your brand is, plushies are currently trending and would be a great ROE for your brand. You could tailor the plushie to each team member or department, and get really cute with it by creating adoption certificates. C-U-T-E.
Do your employees have a particular charity they’re fond of? Or, do you, as a brand, have a charity you always donate to at this time of year? A great personalised, feel-good gift could be a donation in the name of your employees to a charity they really care about.
Read more: What makes a good corporate Christmas gift?
Keep them warm and keep them working, that’s the old saying, right? By gifting personalised clothing, you’re telling someone you value them for being themselves. Aww.
An especially lovely gift for virtual employees, headphones are a fantastic high-end splurge. Plus, they can be used for work and in the employee’s personal life.
If given the choice, 20% of receivers would opt for a smart device, so why not surprise them this Christmas with the ultimate mood booster?
Read more: The most popular promotional merchandise trend of the year: branded little luxuries
Tote bags have to be one of the most useful gifts on this list. You can make them super personalised, plus, you know, it’ll be the highlight of their weekly shop.
If you’re on a tight budget, then chocolates or baked goods are definitely a popular choice. Research has shown that if employees know the budget is small, they’d most likely pick this gift for themselves, with 37% opting for chocolate.
Everyone loves a mug. Whether you’re an avid tea drinker or a coffee fanatic, a personalised mug for the office would never go amiss (literally).
Read more: 17 luxury budget gift ideas for under £10
Online experiences are perfect for some personalised team bonding. Remote workers live on video calls, so what’s one more? You could organise an online quiz (with an IRL prize to win), or a virtual happy hour with some unique cocktail recipes - yum!
Subscription gifts offer flexibility and personalisation that’s often appreciated more so by remote workers. They can treat themselves to something they enjoy, whilst still feeling truly valued by the company.
Those who WFH are usually rather fond of home decor, especially things that make their space feel cosy. Gift a blanket, a candle or a fondue set (yep, we can personalise fondue sets) for that cheesy, homely touch.
Read more: 14 ways to help your remote workers get into the festive spirit
Cards can add personalisation quickly, easily and cost-effectively.
Get creative with the packaging of your gift to make the whole thing an experience. Think: tissue paper, boxes, and ribbon.
There’s something so magical about opening your front door to an unexpected gift. Instead of just delivering in bulk to your office, why not deliver straight to their home address? With everyone using up their annual leave at the end of the year, it’ll guarantee they receive the gift this side of January.
I hope this has helped you figure out what you’ll be getting your employees this Christmas! I can’t help with the other bazillion people you’ve got to buy gifts for, but remember, personalisation is what makes your gift memorable, magical, and a must-have.
Still looking for the perfect personalised branded Christmas gift this festive season? We’ve got everything you need to make this year your best yet. Take a look at our Christmas gifting range now and get ready to find your perfect personalised present.
Unless your name is Natalie.
A: Personalised gifts boost employee morale because they make employees feel seen, valued, and individually appreciated - turning a simple item into an emotional connection.
A: The personalised gifts that work best for Christmas are practical, thoughtful items like planners, water bottles, mugs, hampers, or merch packs that can be customised to each employee.
A: Yes, personalised gifts are cost-effective for businesses - even small personalised touches drive higher engagement, reduce turnover, and improve productivity, giving you major ROE (Return on Emotion).
A: When choosing gifts for remote workers, choose gifts that bridge distance, such as online experiences, subscription boxes, or cosy personalised home comforts.
A: Make employee gifts feel more special by adding extras like personalised cards, premium packaging, or home delivery to turn the moment into a memorable festive experience.