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

⭐️ PPAI Board Chair Andrew Spellman on Leadership: In this segment, Andrew Spellman, & Brand Merch Network Contributor Jeff Solomon talk about the importance of sustainability, premium merchandise, profitability, & leadership. Watch here.

Coming 🔜: In 2025 Brand Sauce will be introducing a playbook geared towards transforming company culture through strategic swag.

🌱 The Circular Economy: In this segment, Ian Rosenberger, Founder and CEO of Day Owl, discusses the importance of creating products and a company that has a net positive impact on the world. Listen here.

Company Swag School

Why Quality Matters: The Real Cost of Cheap Swag 🎯

We spotted a great article by Jim Hollis that perfectly aligns with our philosophy on strategic swag. Here's the key takeaway: while it might be tempting to save money on promotional products, choosing quality over cost can significantly impact your brand's perception and ROI.

Consider this: the average promotional product stays with consumers for over a year. That's 365+ days of brand visibility – but only if the item is worth keeping. High-quality promotional items don't just last longer; they create better first impressions, boost brand image, and demonstrate that you value your relationships with customers and employees. Plus, they're actually more cost-effective in the long run, generating more impressions and reducing the need for replacements.

At Brand Sauce, we've always believed that strategic swag isn't just about putting your logo on something – it's about creating lasting impressions with items people actually want to use.

Source: ASI

HR Solutions Powered by Brand Sauce

New Hire Programs That Simply Work

How does your company welcome new hires? Is it just a standard email, or do you make it a moment worth sharing?

Why not turn onboarding into a celebration and great social media content? Imagine a fun video of the new hire being slow-clapped into the building on their first day—memorable for them and shareable for you!

In all seriousness, welcoming new hires on social media is a simple but powerful gesture. It:

• Recognizes the new team member.

• Creates authentic, positive content for your company’s online presence.

• Shows that your company values its people.

You can spotlight new hires individually or as a group—whatever works best for your culture.

To make the experience even better, send each new hire an email with $100 to spend in the company store. It’s a great way for them to pick out something they actually want and start feeling part of the team. A warm welcome sets the tone for a great employee experience.

Employee Engagement Spotlight

Creating Sweet 🍭 Company Culture

Want to see employee engagement done right? Check out this incredible Inside Out-themed gingerbread house created by Ashley for her company's holiday competition. The prize? A paid day off! It's a perfect example of how creative competitions can bring out the best in teams while adding some fun to the workday. This kind of friendly competition shows how simple initiatives can spark joy and showcase hidden talents within your organization. (And yes, she won that day off!)

Need help cooking up your own employee engagement initiatives? Let's chat about our Employee Engagement Playbook, where we'll show you how to use strategic swag to create memorable moments that build lasting company culture. Book a call with our team today.

Weekend Update

Around The Water Cooler With Ross

For many, the holidays are a mix of joy, stress, laughter, anxiety, and let’s be honest… too much food. Over the years, I’ve adopted a simple mantra to get through the chaos: “Enjoy the chaos.”

It’s a phrase I’ve repeated countless times—especially when people ask, “What are your plans for the holidays?” My answer is always the same:
“The holidays are absolute chaos for me, but I will enjoy every minute of it.”

This usually earns a smile, but more importantly, the more I say it out loud, the more I prepare myself to embrace the madness with a positive attitude.

Here’s what chaos looks like for me this year:
Living in a blended family and with relatives spread across the country, the holidays always come with tough decisions. Someone, somewhere, is bound to be disappointed—no matter how we plan.

This year, Madison and I each have our kids for the first week of winter break. We both want our kids to spend time with grandparents and cousins, so we’re splitting up: Madison will be in San Diego with her family, and I’ll take Bo and Max to Florida.

Splitting up isn’t ideal. I’ll miss Christmas morning when Ryleigh and Kinsley come rushing down the stairs at 6:30 a.m., begging to start opening presents. But it’s what makes sense for everyone this year.

For the second week of the break, when we don’t have the kids, Madison and I will head to Florida together—because if my family doesn’t see Madison at all, they’ll be very, very sad.

And here’s where the real chaos begins: I’ll fly back to San Diego with Bo and Max on Friday, only to wake up on Saturday and fly back to Florida with Madison. Is it ideal? Absolutely not. But remember the mantra:

“Enjoy the chaos!”

So, here’s to embracing the madness, the imperfect plans, and all the joyful, chaotic moments in between.

Happy Holidays!

P.S. I’d love to hear about the chaos you’re diving into this holiday season. Don’t be shy—reply to this email and share your story!

-Ross

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