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.

Community First

Big Shoutout to achieve Engagement

It was an honor to speak at achieve Engagment’s “Appreciation@Work” event this past week alongside Mike Kohn, and Jennifer Winchester. You can watch a highlight reel of all the speakers here.

P.S. You might see a familiar face at 6:09 😉 

A Dash of Industry Insights 📰

Industry Headlines, Insights, Data & Upcoming Events

🗓️ Upcoming Events: Madison and I will be attending the industry's largest trade show, where we'll get an exclusive first look at what's next in promotional products. With 1,000+ exhibitors showcasing hundreds of thousands of items, we'll be your eyes and ears on the ground. We'll be sharing insights on the hottest trends and newest products for 2025 through our social channels and newsletter. Can't wait to bring you behind the scenes of this industry-only event!

📊 Branded Swag by the Numbers: Did you Know 86% of employees are proud to wear branded swag outside of work?

🦃 Did You Know? On Average 50 million pumpkin pies and 46 million turkeys are consumed each Thanksgiving.

💳 Trends: By 2025, the number of businesses offering gift cards to their company swag store is expected to increase by 23%.

Industry Alert

PPAI Research Unveils Company Swag Trends

New PPAI research reveals two major shifts in company merchandise.

Sustainability Surge:

• 65% of distributors report increased demand for eco-friendly products

• 78% believe sustainable merchandise will shape the industry's future

• Growing emphasis on supply chain transparency

Customization is King:

• 77% of suppliers call customization "very important"

• 82% now offer personalization options

• A trend toward lower minimums and print-on-demand

What This Means For You

The data validates what we've been seeing: modern teams want sustainable, personalized merchandise they can feel good about.

Source: PPAI Research Report, 2024

Stirring Words

Matt Rieck Speaks on Employee Appreciation

Matt Rieck, CHRO at Inszone Insurance, speaker, consultant, coach, and author of The Employee Retention Bible struck a chord during his latest session. He covered a range of unique ways(including company swag) that you can make employees feel appreciated.

“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, people will never forget how you made them feel”

If you want to be a company that people want to work for, you need to follow Matt’s lead & cannot let employee appreciation fall by the wayside.

You can watch Matt’s entire session here.

The Secret Sauce to Building a Better Culture

4 Ways to Elevate Employee Engagement with Branded Swag Effortlessly

Personalize Rewards

Custom-branded swag that reflects individual employee achievements or milestones creates a personal connection. It shows that you’re recognizing their unique contributions and efforts.

Milestones

Celebrate work anniversaries, promotions, achievements, and birthdays with branded merchandise to make employees feel valued and appreciated. These moments are opportunities to reinforce company culture and employee engagement.

Create a Sense of Belonging

Providing branded apparel and merchandise gives employees a way to feel connected to the company, even if they’re working remotely. Wearing the company brand fosters a sense of unity and pride, regardless of location.

Reinforce Company Values and Culture with Branded Items

Use swag that aligns with your company’s mission and values - whether it’s eco-friendly products or items that promote wellness. This reminds employees of the bigger picture they’re part of and helps strengthen engagement.

Want to learn more ways & hear how our clients are using Brand Sauce to improve employee engagement? You can schedule a strategy session here.

Weekend Update

Around The Water Cooler With Ross

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