Employee gifts, award and recognition programs, and sales incentives are powerful tools that can improve productivity, decrease employee turnover, and encourage teamwork in the workplace. Many large corporations spend up to 3% of payroll on these programs because they find that the benefits more than pay for themselves. At ePromos, we help all types of companies reap these rewards by creating gift and recognition programs that cater to your needs and your budget.
Employee Holiday Gifts: Employee gifts are a smart investment because they make a greater statement of appreciation than an equivalent amount of cash. Cash may be interpreted as compensation or even become an entitlement, while a well-selected gift item will always be appreciated. A good holiday gift will also be more valuable to the recipient than the equivalent cash gift. A $50 gift may be a $100 value to the employee and pay back much more in employee loyalty and satisfaction. Here’s how:
* Pick a brand-name gift. ePromos offers brand name merchandise like Columbia and Patagonia at prices far below retail, even with custom embroidery.
* Many of our holiday gift items are price blind – leather, wood, brass, and silver items are perceived as expensive, yet are surprisingly affordable.
* We have many great technology products, like USB memory sticks, that are handy for both office and personal use.
Awards and Recognition:Employee recognition programs have been shown to increase employee satisfaction and are used by many companies to encourage values like teamwork, service, creativity and more. Whether you have an “Employee of the Month” program or decide to focus on something more specific, there are a few important things to think about:
* Make sure your recognition program is fair. Setting concrete criteria helps encourage specific behavior and ensure fairness. This also gives you the opportunity to select an item that is relevant to the award.
* Your recognition program should be highly visible and consistent. Desktop awards and plaques accomplish this well.
* Consider having a recognition program for teams as well as individuals. Lapel pins and motivational books are good picks for team-based award programs.
Sales Incentives: Sales incentives are a tangible way to motivate your sales force, and 65% of professionals find them more memorable than cash. Unlike holiday gifts or recognition programs, sales incentives are directly linked to sales goals. The value of these incentives will depend on the structure of your organization, but will generally be in proportion to the sales goals you are setting. Here are some tips:
* Steer clear of cash: In addition to the reasons listed above, cash, and even gift certificates may be subject to income tax, decreasing the value of the award.
* Motivate your whole sales force by offering a merchandise incentive to any rep who qualifies rather than a vacation for just the top rep.
* If you haven’t used sales incentives in the past, start modestly and increase your program in proportion to its success.
Now you know the fundamentals of developing a successful employee gift, recognition, or sales incentive program. The next step is to call 1-800-LOGO-216 and speak to a trained promotions specialist who can help you every step of the way.
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