Creating the Perfect Employee Welcome Kit
You want your new employees to feel like they are part of a team. That might sound easier said than done, so where should you begin? Communication, effort, integrity, and growth into company principles all improve when the workforce feels united under one banner, one message, and one brand.
A great way to integrate new team members is an employee welcome kit—a package of branded merchandise, employee handbooks and other onboarding items, and other goodies (snacks, gift cards, etc.), designed to make new employees immediately feel valued. Here’s everything you need to know about this oft-overlooked tool and how to add it to your company’s onboarding process.
Why Should Your Company Use Welcome Kits?
Welcome kits can include practically anything. In fact, it’s one of the few things that’s absolutely fine to get carried away with. Think food, welcome notes, employee handbooks, company-branded attire, vouchers, and more. They are easy to make and inexpensive, but they go a long way in the impact they bring.
You truly have only one chance to make a first impression, and a welcome kit is a great way to start your relationship with your employees on the right foot. Imagine you’re a new employee walking in (or logging in remotely) on your first day of the job. At your desk or front door is a thoughtfully-prepared gift box with all the essentials, including a few chic pieces of company swag. There’s no doubt that even this small gesture can transform first day jitters into excitement and eagerness to contribute.
Some of the main reasons to use a welcome kit include:
- Introduces company culture: The act of giving and sense of unity is a major benefit from a welcome kit; but the actual items you choose to put in the kit can strategically communicate company culture as well. Highlight the values and the message your company stands for by handpicking and curating the perfect kit.
- Motivates employees: Welcome kits help new hires feel at home from the first day. When they see that the company is willing to invest in them, it motivates them to return that initial respect with hard work and integrity in turn.
- Great first impression: By providing new employees with a considerate and customized welcome kit, they know they are well taken care of by a company that is willing to support them.
- Includes remote employees: It can be hard for remote employees to feel the same team morale while being removed from the rest of the in-person crew. Furthermore, there are far less opportunities for managers and owners to be able to show appreciation to remote employees. Fortunately, welcome kits stand as an easy, streamlined solution to show all your employees that you really appreciate their work, no matter how far away they live.
Welcome Kits Contribute to Onboarding Success
Welcome kits can be a critical part of your onboarding process, which is an extremely important experience for your new hires. What’s at stake in your onboarding process? These statistics show exactly
- Effective onboarding can improve new hire retention by 82%. (UrbanBound, 2025)
- Organisations with structured onboarding see 50% higher employee retention. (Harvard Business Review, 2025)
- 20% of employee turnover happens within the first 45 days. (Glassdoor, 2025)
- Employees who go through strong onboarding are 58% more likely to remain with the company after three years. (LinkedIn Talent Solutions, 2025)
Creating Your Kit: What to Include?
You’ve committed to employee welcome kits, but now comes the fun part! What are you going to include in your welcome? Here’s the catch: no company is the same, each with their own vision, message, and goals, so neither should all welcome kits be the same either.
Each welcome kit can and should be customized to fit your company’s brand—you’ll simply defeat the purpose by choosing a few inexpensive items and calling it a day. Here is a list of the most popular items usually included in a welcome kit that can be molded to your company’s unique brand, voice, and overall vibe:
| Welcome letter | Every good welcome kit should include a personalized letter from the leadership of the company, and especially from the new employee’s manager. This will serve as a warm welcome with a brief message expressing gratitude and optimism at their arrival. This is truly something that will make a first impression, so make it special! |
| Employee handbook | Another essential aspect to the welcome kit is an employee handbook. While the new hire is undoubtedly going to receive training, a personal copy of a handbook that outlines the company policies, culture, and values is certainly a nice thing to have when needed. |
| Department and team information | A new employee will be grateful to get clear and direct information about their team and department, including how to contact others if they need. Being able to communicate with others and ask for help is sure to help your new hire feel secure and safe should they have any problems or questions. |
| Bags | Bags are a versatile and functional item; send the whole kit in a branded bag, so when the employee uses the bag outside of work, it continues to act as a marketing tool that allows others to see your brand represented. |
| Clothes and attire | Clothing and attire is a classic choice for welcome kits. Hats, t-shirts, and sweatshirts are versatile like the bags mentioned above, which is great for employees to wear during work and outside of it. This is a chance to add fun and personality to the kit, and it creates a sense of pride and community among the employees to make them feel at home right away. |
| Office supplies | Office supplies are a core addition to any welcome kit, but just because it’s a standard doesn’t mean it should be boring! The best part about adding supplies such as pens and notebooks is that they too can be customized to fit your company’s brand while also preparing your employee for the job itself. |
| Tech necessities | Depending on the type of job, it is critical to outfit the new employee with the technology they need to get started without any difficulty. Whether it’s a company-branded mouse and keyboard, chargers, or headphones, equip your new hire with tools for success. |
| Out of the ordinary | What are some unique items that show the company’s character and personality? Is it a quirky fanny pack and essential oils? What about department-specific figurines or plush toys? Golf tees, trophies, and turntables? |
Work From Home or on the Move?
One last thing to keep in mind is where and how the new employee will be working. Nowadays, it’s not uncommon to work from home – a clever addition to the welcome kit would then be to outfit your employee with a remote-work survival kit. Snacks, chair pillow, and a jump rope are both useful and might get a good laugh.
On the other hand, if the new employee will be on the move most of the time, consider a travel mug, umbrella, or sunglasses! The more personal you can make the kit according to the employee’s job, the better. It shows that you care and makes them feel like they matter.
Welcome Kits Made Easy with Accent Branding
If you want to build welcome kits but aren’t sure where to start, contact our team today. We can set up an online company store for your business—complete with an online ordering feature and inventory tracking—that you can stock with a wide range of branded uniforms and merchandise. You and your team simply choose which items you want stocked, then compile orders whenever you need them. We handle all online store maintenance, logistics, and shipping, so you can focus on running your company.
Let Accent Branding pave your way toward a successful onboarding experience for every new hire. Get in touch today!