Discover the secrets to happier employees in this week's edition of the Happy Office Hour powered by Brand Sauce. Chock-full of industry insights, hot new products for your company store, and valuable info to make your office happier and your company culture the envy of your industry.

A Dash of Industry Insights 📰

Industry Headlines, Insights, Data & Upcoming Events

🌱Sustainable Swag Innovations: The promotional products industry is getting a green makeover! At Sustainable Brands 2024, companies showcased groundbreaking eco-friendly solutions: seaweed-based packaging, QR-tracked reusable bottles, and creative recycling programs. With innovative materials like bamboo, recycled polyester, and even plantable promotional items, corporate gifting is proving that brand awareness and sustainability can go hand in hand.

📅 Upcoming Events: On November 14th, co-founder and CEO of Brand Sauce, Ross Greenstein, will be speaking on a panel at the Appreciate@Work seminar to discuss the importance of building a culture of appreciation within your organization. You can register here today.

🚨 Marketing Trend Alert: According to Harvard Business Review, consumers who receive both physical catalogs and email marketing purchased 24% more than those who just received emails. Maybe it’s time to get back to analog and reconsider print advertising…

🎯 Industry Pulse: Gen Z is revolutionizing branded merch with a demand for customization - pop-up shops and personalized swag are replacing one-size-fits-all corporate gifting. Learn more here.

Upcoming Events - Mark Your Calendar

Appreciation@Work Seminar Hosted by achieve Engagement on November 14th

Join us on November 14, 2024 for the Appreciation@Work seminar, where we’ll explore the most effective strategies for building a culture of appreciation within your organization. In today’s workplace, employee appreciation is more than a nice gesture—it’s a critical driver of engagement, retention, and overall business success. During this powerful, interactive session, you’ll discover:

• How to build a sustainable recognition program that motivates your workforce.

• Innovative, real-world case studies on what’s working in top organizations.

• Actionable strategies to promote a culture of gratitude and recognition, even on a limited budget.

• Tactics for maintaining high levels of engagement in remote and hybrid teams.

Food for Thought

The Impact of Work Friendships & Team Chemistry 🧪

Gallup research reveals why having a "best friend" at work matters more than ever in our post-pandemic world. Here's what the data shows:

1. Employees with workplace friendships are significantly more likely to engage customers, innovate, share ideas, and get more done in less time

2. Only 2 in 10 U.S. employees report having a best friend at work - representing a massive opportunity for culture building

3. Since the pandemic, workplace friendships have become even more crucial for employee satisfaction and retention

4. Companies that actively promote workplace friendships have seen up to 80 percentile point improvements in engagement scores

💡 Key Takeaway: In today's hybrid world, workplace friendships aren't just nice to have—they're a crucial driver of business success.

The Secret Sauce to Making Employees Happier 🌶️

3 Creative Ways to Build Company Culture Through Employee Recognition Programs Powered by Brand Sauce

Happier employees are the secret sauce to a healthier bottom line. Below are 3 creative programs our clients utilize to build culture, improve morale, increase retention, & ultimately improve their bottom line.

1. Holiday Gifting Program: Offer employees the chance to select a meaningful holiday gift for themselves or their families, thereby extending your company’s brand within their communities.

2. Recognition and Rewards Strategy: Recognize employees’ hard work and achievements with meaningful rewards. Delight them with store credits or announce potential rewards for achieving key performance indicators (KPIs).

3. Employee Points Program: Implement a points-based program that rewards employees for a job well done. Allow them to accumulate points which they can then redeem for gifts of their choice.

Need help implementing & automating a new program? As you know by now, this is our secret sauce! Just book a meeting with me this week & I’ll personally help you and your team introduce a new program to boost team morale.

P.S. In our last edition, we shared 3 of the most popular programs our clients use to build a better culture. You can review those in our last newsletter here.

Swag School: Learn Which Products are Trending

Hottest Products of The Week Featuring Rupt

Join Madison from the Brand Sauce team while she unboxes a care package from the Rupt team.

➡️ Watch the Unboxing video here.

➡️ Learn more about Rupt here.

Weekend Update

Around The Water Cooler With Ross

© 2024 On Demand Global, LLC., DBA Brand Sauce