Study: 73% of Employees Say Promotional Products Improve Company Morale

Receiving promotional products as gifts makes employees feel happy and appreciated

Impact of promotional products on employees of different levels

% who feel appreciated Experience level % who feel connected

• 52.7%

  

  Junior
  34.7%
• 59.9%

  

  Mid-level
  34.9%
• 66.4%

  

  Senior
  41.6%

How a lack of company gifts makes employees feel

% who feel unappreciated

• Gen Z

  

  44.1%
• Millennials

  

  34.3%
• Gen X

  

  30.3%
• Baby boomers

  

  25.1%

Quality Logo Products

Gift-giving is often a way of showing someone you care about them, and that stands true for promotional gifts from companies as well. Whether someone is just joining a company in an entry-level position or has spent years working there and is now at a senior level, gifts from an employer can go a long way to show appreciation for the people you work with every day.

To put this to the test, we asked full-time workers across the country how they feel when their company gives them promotional products. Our study found that people who receive promotional products as gifts are consistently happier with their jobs.

Our data revealed that more experienced employees tend to feel happier when they receive gifts. Senior-level workers specifically are the most likely to feel connected at work when they receive promotional products. In addition, men are more likely than women to feel connected as a result of receiving promotional products.

Specifically, our data found that the higher the experience level, the more likely an employee is to feel appreciated when receiving these gifts. In general, senior-level workers are the most likely to feel connected at work when they receive promotional products. Similarly, men are more likely than women to feel connected as a result of receiving these gifts.

On the other hand, when viewing how a lack of gifts impacts employees, it was the inverse. Younger generations are more likely than older employees to feel unappreciated when they don’t receive promotional products from their company.

Overall, 73% of people believe company promotional products contribute to a sense of belonging or pride within the company. An additional 60% say receiving these gifts positively impacts their overall perception of their company.

Giving company promotional products as gifts helps with employee retention

% who received gifts and how long they stayed at their company

• 72.2% Less than 1 year

• 77.1% 1-2 years

• 82.2% 3-5 years

• 82.3% 6-8 years

• 82.9% 9-14 years

• 88.1% 15+ years

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So if employees are overall happier when receiving company promotional products, there must be a correlation in retention, right? Absolutely. On average, our study found that people who receive these gifts stay at their companies for 1.5 years longer than those who don’t.

As the percentage of workers who receive a gift from their employer increases, we also see a rise in time spent at that company. When it comes to staying with a company, 41% of people who have received gifts say it is likely they will still be working there in two years.

Overall, 88% of workers who have received promotional products as gifts have spent 15 years or more working for their company. This shows that as employees continue to feel appreciated and connected to their place of work, they are more likely to stick around long term.

The most liked promotional products by employees

After determining the impact promotional products have on employees, we decided to turn our attention to the items themselves. After all, it’s important that your staff enjoy the products you are giving them and that they will continue to use them in the future.

Overall, pen and paper, apparel and technology are the most liked categories for promotional products among workers. Perhaps this is due to the versatility of those items as 69% of people say they wear or use company-branded items while not at work.

1. 

   Sweatshirt 80.0%

2. 

   Jacket 79.5%

3. 

   T-shirt 79.0%

4. 

   Water bottle 78.2%

5. 

   Mug 77.2%

Rank	Item	% who like it
6	Power bank	75.9%
7	Tumbler	75.5%
8	Backpack	75.4%
9	Notebook	73.9%
10	Pens/pencils	73.6%
11	USB charger	72.5%
12	Portable speaker	71.3%
13	Fleece apparel	70.7%
14	Tote bags	70.3%
15	Blanket	67.1%
16	Duffel bag	66.8%
17	Sticky notes	63.4%
18	Headphones	63.3%
19	Day planner	62.6%
20	Umbrella	62.5%

Quality Logo Products

Although pen and paper was the top spot for the most liked category of items, when we get into specifics within those categories, apparel actually tops our list with sweatshirts, jackets and t-shirts snagging the top three spots. With custom corporate apparel, you not only provide your staff with items they will like and reuse, but you also improve brand recognition as they continue to wear those products outside of the office.

Next up on the list of favorites are Custom drinkware products with water bottles and mugs in fourth and fifth place, respectively. Similarly to apparel, people often bring their water bottles and travel mugs with them while working out, traveling and more. This continues to boost awareness and exposure of your company as others see your employees carrying products with your logo.

The least liked promotional products by employees

1. 

   Footwear 62.2%

2. 

   Fanny pack 61.9%

3. 

   Plastic cup 59.7%

4. 

   Fidget spinner 59.2%

5. 

   Koozie 58.4%

Rank	Item	% who dislike
6	Popsocket	58.2%
7	Sunglasses	58.1%
8	Lotion	57.7%
9	Button-down	53.7%
10	Coaster	53.4%
11	Drawstring bag	49.6%
12	Keychain	49.2%
13	Mouse pad	47.5%
14	Headwear	47.3%
15	Bottle opener	47.2%
16	Lanyard	46.0%
17	Phone stand	45.8%
18	Stress ball	43.3%
19	Glassware	42.5%
20	Hand sanitizer	42.4%

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Like most things in life, where there are favorites there are also least favorites. So to help guide your decisions regarding which promotional products would increase happiness and feelings of belonging within your company most, we also asked workers which items they most disliked to be gifted.

Up first is footwear, with 62% of people saying they dislike receiving it. In general, people often have very different opinions and preferences when it comes to socks and shoes, so if you are considering custom footwear as a gift, try getting feedback from your employees first to determine if it fits their style.

In second place for disliked promotional products are Fanny packs. While some people enjoy rocking the ‘90s fashion, others don’t particularly plan to use it in 2024. Up next on our list are plastic cups and fidget spinners in third and fourth place, respectively.

While many items made their way onto the most disliked list, just remember every office and employee is different. What may turn off certain people, may be an exciting gift for others. So to ensure you are selecting items that will make your employees feel appreciated, try asking for their opinion.

Favorite promotional products by generation and gender

Generation Z

Rank	Item
1	Sweatshirt
2	Jacket
3	Tumbler
4	Backpack
5	Water bottle
6	Mug
7	Power bank
8	T-shirt
9	Tote bags
10	Portable speaker

Millennials

Rank	Item
1	Sweatshirt
2	Jacket
3	Power bank
4	Backpack
5	Water bottle
6	Tumbler
7	Mug
8	T-shirt
9	Notebook
10	USB charger

Generation X

Rank	Item
1	Power bank
2	USB charger
3	Sweatshirt
4	Jacket
5	Portable speaker
6	Mug
7	T-shirt
8	Water bottle
9	Backpack
10	Tumbler

Baby boomers

Rank	Item
1	Jacket
2	USB charger
3	Sweatshirt
4	Fleece apparel
5	Backpack
6	Mug
7	Portable speaker
8	Water bottle
9	Power bank
10	Tote bags

Quality Logo Products

While knowing the most liked items can help begin your search for the perfect promotional products to gift to your employees, there are still differences in preferences. From the opinions of different generations to those of the men and women on your team, understanding the nuances of their selections can help you determine which products are best to customize and give to your employees.

We found that overall, similar items made the top 10 list, but the differences come in the ranking itself. For Gen Zers and millennials, sweatshirts and jackets both rank first and second for promotional items, but Generation Z considers tumblers an item worthy of the top 3, while millennials rank it 6th. The most noticeable differences between the younger generations are that Gen Zers like to receive tote bags and portable speakers, while millennials preferred notebooks and USB chargers.

Gen Xers seem to lean into versatile products because powerbanks and USB chargers top their list of favorites. Although this generation still ranks sweatshirts and jackets high, technology reigns supreme for their promotional gift preferences.

While baby boomers have similar favorites to the other generations with jackets and USB chargers claiming the top two spots, we see a new item making its way to the ranking, fleece apparel. Although it ranks below sweatshirts, the eldest generation enjoys the soft and plush-feeling fabric.

Women

Rank	Item
1	Sweatshirt
2	Jacket
3	Power bank
4	Notebook
5	USB charger
6	Tumbler
7	Tote bags
8	Backpack
9	Portable speaker
10	Mug

Men

Rank	Item
1	Jacket
2	Sweatshirt
3	Water bottle
4	Backpack
5	Power bank
6	Mug
7	T-shirt
8	Tumbler
9	USB charger
10	Portable speaker

Quality Logo Products

Similar to the generations, we see the same favorites topping men’s and women’s lists, as sweatshirts and jackets take the top two spots for both groups. The main difference our study found is that women consider notebooks and tote bags among their favorites, while men prefer t-shirts and water bottles.

So as you plan for the promotional products you want to gift to your staff this year, consider a variety of items to appeal to the preferences of everyone in your office, regardless of their age or gender.

The occasions employees expect promotional products from employers

The top occasions employees received promotional product gifts

Rank	Occasion
1	Onboarding
2	Work anniversary
3	Holiday
4	Promotion
5	Their birthday
6	Birth/adoption

The top occasions employees expect promotional product gifts

Rank	Occasion
1	Work anniversary
2	Promotion
3	Onboarding
4	Retirement
5	Their birthday
6	Holiday

Quality Logo Products

Of course, timing is everything. Companies can find endless opportunities to celebrate their employees, and we wanted to help determine which times are the best for gift-giving. We did this by turning our attention to when employees have received gifts in the past, and then we determined if those events aligned with employees’ expectations.

Starting with past experiences, we asked workers when they had received promotional products. Topping the list was onboarding, as employees begin work with a new company and receive their first branded items.

Work anniversaries and holidays are next up on the list for occasions in which employees have received gifts in the past. Receiving a gift to remember time spent with a company can be meaningful to workers and oftentimes can influence them to continue using the product for a long time. In fact, 61% of people say they still use company promotional products they received from previous employers.

Although we discovered when employees typically receive promotional gifts, companies can get the most out of gifting when they give workers branded swag when they expect it. After all, the goal is to boost a positive work culture, so knowing the best times to give items can go a long way in leaving a lasting impression. First up on the list is work anniversaries. After spending an extended time working for a company, many people feel gifts can show appreciation for their hard work.

Next up, employees say they expect promotional products as gifts after receiving a promotion. This is another example of workers seeking items to confirm their worth and the level of appreciation shown by their employers for their dedication.

While special occasions offer an excuse to purchase fun promotional items for your office, there truly doesn’t need to be a reason. Our study found that 1 in 4 workers think they should receive promotional products from their company at least once a quarter. So as you scroll through the many offerings of custom products, consider planning gifts throughout the year.

Show Employees Appreciation With Promotional Products

While promotional products are great for marketing efforts, they can also serve as a powerful tool to enhance employee happiness and retention. With the branded gifts, companies can also boost morale and foster a sense of pride and community within the company.

Whether they’re wearing a company t-shirt, drinking out of a branded mug or using a company pen, employees serve as walking ambassadors for their company as they proudly use their gifted swag. These small gifts serve as an investment in your employees, which is investing in the future of your company.

When it comes to company-branded gifts, 80% of people say it’s important that they are manufactured by a high-quality brand. So take the guesswork out of the buying process and turn to the team at Quality Logo Products. We’ll partner you with a dedicated sales representative who will help make your promotional product buying experience fast, easy and fun.

Methodology

In April 2024, we surveyed 5,000 full-time employees about what they think about company-branded promotional products and how they make them feel. Respondents ranged in age from 18 to 76 years old and were 49% female, 50% male and 1% nonbinary. Of those surveyed, 49% have been at their company for less than 5 years and 51% have been at their company for more than 5 years.