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Fall is in the air! The weather is getting cooler, the leaves are changing color, and Labor Day is just around the corner. As we head into the fall season, Labor Day is a time to celebrate the American workforce. This holiday was created to honor the people who work hard every day to make our country great. It is also a time for employers to show their appreciation for their employees. If you are looking for some Labor Day gifts to show your employees some love, look no further! In this blog post, we will discuss some great ways to say "thank you" to your team.

Celebrate Labor Day by Recognizing your Employees

One way to show your employees appreciation is with a thoughtful gift. You can never go wrong with a gift card to their favorite restaurant or store of course, but many times a great way to show your employees appreciation is through recognition and awards. You could consider giving out physical awards, such as plaques or trophies, or show your appreciation by giving your employees some swag! This could be anything from branded t-shirts to company mugs. Swag is a great way to show your employees that you care about them and that you are proud of them. It is also a great way to promote your company and build team morale. Whatever swag you choose, we will make sure it is high quality and something that your employees will be proud to rep.

Plaques and Trophies

One of our favorite ways to show employees our appreciation for all of the hard work they do is with custom plaques and trophies. Not only will your employees be thrilled to receive these thoughtful gifts, but they'll also be proud to display them in their office or workspace. Plus, it's a great way to show your customers and clients that you value your employees and their contributions. So if you're looking for a unique and memorable way to show your appreciation this Labor Day, look no further than custom plaques and trophies! We have multitudes of different awards and recognition plaques to choose from, and it's important to note that recognition gifts can be as stock or as custom as you'd like! Sparkling crystal and stately wooden wall plaques are always classic, but we can also keep it fresh and modern with custom mixed materials gifts.

Emblems, Pins & Medals
Gift Sets (Clocks & Watches)
Golf (Acrylic, Crystal, Glass, Marble, and Metal finishes available)
Paperweights (Acrylic, Crystal, Glass, Marble, Metal, and Wood finishes available)
Plaques (Acrylic, Crystal, Glass, Marble, Metal, and Wood finishes available)
Trophies
Vases (Crystal, Glass, Marble, and Metal finishes available)

Custom Swag

For businesses, Labor Day is a great opportunity to show your employees your appreciation with some fun swag and promotional gifts. Whether it's a branded tee with your company logo or a mug with their name, they'll know that you're thinking of them. Plus, they'll love showing off their new swag to their friends and family. The options for branded gifts are endless. We have many different swag options to choose from. So go ahead and give them something to show your appreciation - they deserve it!

Custom Apparel
- Athletic Wear
- Button Down Shirts
- Footwear
- Jackets
- Polo Shirts
- Sweaters
- T-shirts
- Vests
Custom Mugs & Drinkware
Custom Bags (Backpacks, Briefcases, Computer Bags, Coolers, Duffel & Sport Bags, Fanny Packs options available)
Custom Caps & Hats (Beanies, Camouflage, Visors options available)

Show Your Employees Your Appreciation This Labor Day!

We hope we have given you some ideas on how to show your appreciation for your employees this Labor Day. Remember, it is important to show your appreciation all year round, not just on holidays! A little recognition can go a long way in making your employees feel valued and appreciated and here at Southwest Solutions we will make sure of that. Thank you for reading and happy Labor Day from Southwest Solutions!

Do you have any other ideas for showing employee appreciation? We would love to hear from you in the comments below! Or give us a call at (520) 207-1900.

Got Questions?

Until next time,

Vera Minot

Vera is a creative-minded, heart-first promotional products (and print/apparel/direct mail/signage/etc.) professional who approaches all aspects of life with intention and enthusiasm. Vera is passionate about vocabulary, self-care, and authenticity (even in business!), and in her free time you’ll probably find her rock climbing or mountain biking, growing things, cooking, reading, and generally finding ways to get up to no good with her wife, Christa.

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Conventions, Networking, and Trade Show Giveaway Ideas

Name: Southwest Solutions
Price range: $$

Do you want to make a lasting impression on your business at the next trade show, convention, or networking event that you attend? The secret is to invest in intentional, custom promotional products with a helpful trade show giveaway ideas list. Branded promotional products are really beneficial to have at business events and also serve as a great marketing tool for your company. Common items like lanyards, hand sanitizer, and masks are sure to find their way into somebody’s pocket or everyday life. However, the real win happens when we have a conversation about the nitty-gritty of your business and your specific audience and choose particular tabling giveaways based on those details. You can even take it one step further and invest in eco-friendly products such as hats or tote bags. We want you to excel past your competition with promotional products that are branded, custom, and eco-friendly.

Eco-Friendly Hats

As the push for sustainability continues to increase, so does the popularity of eco-friendly products. People want to invest in and use products that they know aren’t hurting the environment. An eco-friendly hat is one that is made with recycled, sustainable materials like organic cotton, bamboo, or linen. Custom eco-friendly hats show your company’s efforts towards sustainability and also give you the chance to stylishly market your business. These will surely not be a wasted investment, as hats on average generate over 3,300 impressions (AKA eyeballs on your brand). There are also a variety of colors and styles to choose from so you can find an eco-friendly hat that best fits your brand and aesthetic.

Eco-Friendly Tote Bags

Another eco-friendly product that your business can customize and give out is a tote bag. Everyone can use a good eco-friendly tote bag to carry their things in, which is a fantastic trade show giveaway idea considering the vast amount of promotional items being handed out at these events. Throughout the day, people can use YOUR branded bag to carry all of the other business goodies that they receive. Even after the event is over, your big will be schlepping groceries, snacks, workout clothes - you name it. We all know how bags work, and we can all get on board with FEWER plastic bags that make their way to the ocean. Having people carry around a quality bag with your business on it will get others talking and spread brand awareness to new audiences that you may not have reached yet.

Print Lanyards

Customized lanyards are an easy product to transport to an event and are another great way to boost your company’s brand. Just like tote bags, people will have an immediate use for them and they attract attention. They can use the lanyard to display their nametag at the event and then afterward, can attach it to their car keys or use it for many other purposes. Not only will the lanyards be used, but everyone passing by or chatting with them will be able to see the business that is branded on it. Similar to a hat or tote bag, you can customize the colors or style to make them unique to your brand. Full-color dye sublimation imprinting means we can really leverage the design of the lanyard to make it eye-catching, but you can also get custom print lanyards covered in rhinestones, or with zoop-zoops (badge reels) attached to them. Neck lanyards not your jam? Wrist lanyards are a great in-between that are part lanyard and part keychain, 100% awesome.

Hand Sanitizer

Ever since the Coronavirus pandemic, hand sanitizer has become a basic staple in most public places, especially at social events like trade shows and conventions. Your brand can be present on a custom hand sanitizer container and will be used throughout the entire event as business executives and attendees mingle with one another. Since sanitizer is a prolific and common giveaway these days, it’s important to think strategically about the design you’re using on the imprint and/or the actual vessel for the sanitizer. Sanitizing spray pens, credit-card-sized sanitizer sprays, and funky-shaped bottles are a surefire way to stand out from the masses. The hand sanitizer will also be greatly used as people travel after the event for many months or even years to come. Knowing this, every time someone from a past event uses your hand sanitizer your brand will stay top of mind.

Masks

Similar to hand sanitizer, masks have also become commonplace in social settings. Even if masks are no longer required where you are, many people may still want to wear them just to be safe, especially at a business event where they will meet many new people in a confined space. For these reasons, getting customized masks that are branded with your business is a great idea. Not only will people thank you if they’ve forgotten or misplaced their masks, but the masks may also be worn at other places after the event, giving your business extra attention and exposure. Since masks are arguably one of the first things that people look at when they’re talking to someone, it’s a guarantee that your business will be displayed for all to see.

Investing in custom branded promotional products like eco-friendly hats, eco-friendly tote bags, custom lanyards, hand sanitizer, and or masks can make a big difference for your business. Not only will you get a lot of use out of these products, but they will also market your business in a subtle, yet very effective way. We hope this list of conventions, networking, and trade show giveaway ideas was helpful and sparked creativity in you and your brand. In the end, custom promotional products are the best way to spread brand awareness and get people talking about your company.

At Southwest Solutions, we create promotional products that impact the workplace and market your company. We want to help you figure out what items will work best for you and the vision you’ve created for your business. Give us a call at (520) 207-1900 and start the process today so you are ready for your next big event. Your employees will enjoy it, your customers will use it, and your business will thank you for it.

So, what are you waiting for? Get in contact with us and we'll get brainstorming on how to best please your clients!

Got Questions?

Until next time,

Vera Minot

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Best Employee Swag Gifts: Show Your Appreciation and Market Your Company (At the Same Time!)

Employee swag gifts can boost employee engagement and build a strong company culture, while effectively marketing your organization–if you do it well.

While plaques or paperweights may come with heartfelt appreciation, they tend to end up on office shelves–a missed marketing opportunity, not to mention a waste of resources. No one can see your logo on the shelf behind last year’s family Christmas card photo.

A better strategy for employee gift-giving is to offer branded versions of frequently used items, such as mugs, badge holders, or metal key chains. When your employees actually want to use the gifts you give them, they feel appreciated and morale around the office improves. If they use those gifts outside the office, they promote your brand at the same time.

Increase your company’s visibility and grow your brand while recognizing the employees at the heart of your business with high-quality custom employee swag gifts from Southwest Solutions.

Custom Mugs Beg to Be Photographed

A custom mug is a great gift for your employees for three reasons:

1. Everyone can use it. Mugs aren’t just for coffee! They can be used to enjoy other hot beverages such as tea or hot chocolate, as well as cold drinks like water, soda, and juice. A customized mug with your company name or logo makes a great desk decoration and even a handy place to store pens.

2. People love to post them on social media. #butfirstcoffee has been used more than three million times on Instagram, and nearly every post includes a mug! If that mug has your company name on it alongside a fun saying or design, you’re making brief and subtle contact with every person scrolling through the feed. Get your company name and logo in front of an internet audience by giving your employees photo-friendly mugs from Southwest Solutions. We have many different options, from engraved mugs to insulated tumblers to custom glass mugs, all with options for customization.

3. They’re long-lasting. You’re investing resources in promotional employee products that help turn your team into built-in brand ambassadors. Of course, you want to get the biggest return on your investment. An employee who drinks coffee from your mug every day might interact with that one gift thousands of times. Get something that is well designed and built to last, and you’ll continue to experience payoffs in morale long after your initial investment.

Custom Printed Badge Holders Build Community

Custom printed badge holders are the ideal employee gift for organizations looking to foster a sense of community and belonging.

Successful organizations thrive on teamwork. Give new employees a branded badge holder as a way of welcoming them to the team. (We have these in our own office and call them Zoop Zoops! It brings such an enjoyable and fun touch to the workplace!)

If you require employees to display their badges, support them in that endeavor with a gift of a custom branded badge holder. Not only is it a thoughtful gesture that fulfills a specific need but most people won’t bother to switch to something else.

Now your employers are wearing that great gift around the office every day. Each time they look at their colleagues, they get a visual reminder–we’re all on the same team. These subtle reminders help increase morale in the office and encourage cohesive collaboration.

The benefits of giving your employees branded badge holders don’t stop outside the office. Most employees don’t take their badges off during lunch breaks or immediately after work, so your logo will get additional visibility around town as they run errands. A branded badge holder helps get your company name and logo seen by post office clerks, restaurant workers, and dry-cleaners.

Custom Metal Key Tags Are Effective and High-Use

Metal key tags customized with your organization’s name are one of the best gifts you can give to reward your employees and subtly promote your company.

There’s a good chance your employee will begin to use it immediately, appreciating the reassuring weight of the metal and attractive, yet functional appearance. Thanks to the high perceived value of a metal key tag, it might stay in use for years or even decades. They can even become ingrained in the employee’s visual memory as a way to search for and identify their keys.

As the employee goes about their daily life, they take their keys out for more than just unlocking the car door. A custom metal key tag with your company name could be shown to any number of people, from the cashier scanning your employee’s loyalty program key fob to anyone watching them entertain a baby on the bus.

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These are just three of the many options that can be used to start an effective employee appreciation campaign - and two out of these three are under $5 each! Raise employee engagement, increase morale, and market your company at the same time using custom promotional items. Southwest Solutions has the ability to create countless types of custom gifts to show your appreciation for your employees. If you feel proud of the gift you’re giving and confident it aligns with your overall brand, you can’t go wrong.

If you’re not sure how to choose impactful employee gifts that boost morale and support your marketing strategy, give us a call at (520) 207-1900 or send us a message at [email protected] for expert advice! We’d love to work with you to design promotional items that meet your employee appreciation goals and increase your brand presence.