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Employee Appreciation

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Client Relations

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New Homeowner Gifts

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Company values spotlight

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Business Development

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VIP Event Guests

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industry thank-you's

〰️ Employee Appreciation 〰️ Client Relations 〰️ New Homeowner Gifts 〰️ Company values spotlight 〰️ Business Development 〰️ VIP Event Guests 〰️ industry thank-you's

WE ALL KNOW IT’S COMING, yet we still put it off. Planning for thoughtful year-end employee recognition feels much more like a topic for pumpkin spice season, not one for late July while we’re still fully-immersed in the summer heat. That’s true if you prefer to spend extra for all of the last-minute conveniences that come with procrastination. The other unintended consequence of procrastination is the worst…sameness. Bland, mass-produced gifts that can be given to anyone. That’s not want we should be aiming for here.

First, a note on the importance of employee recognition. Kudos to you if you already have this on lock. It’s important, it’s real, and not something you want to delegate to one of your team members. Don’t be the ‘get yourself something real nice’ kind of leader. Unless you’re the well-known gifting maven with time to spare, this is one of those tasks best left to the professionals.

Having a strong employee recognition strategy isn’t a nice to have, it’s a necessity. “But our employees are well-paid and well-treated. Isn’t that enough?” Actually, no. As employee priorities and expectations evolve, the leaders that do not also evolve their approach to employee engagement will be the ones left with high turnover, employee distrust and misalignment of values.

The good news is that, especially in the case of year-end gifting, doesn’t have it doesn’t have to be anything extravagant, out of budget, or difficult for you to execute. It is 100% about the individualized thought and effort.

Why buy gifts or experiences for successful people who don’t “need” anything?

Gifting is about showing thoughtfulness and care for the people that give up so much of their personal lives to serve your company. The commitment of loyal, engaged employees is a privilege to be earned not to be taken for granted.

MY CRITERIA for creating a better recognition experience for employees:

EARLY PLANNING - If you plan to have an in-person gathering, an early contract ensures you aren’t choosing from the few places in town that can still accommodate your group size for your very narrow pool of dates. This could dramatically impact your ability to keep the event on brand and within budget.

Understand your contract, including minimum spend, service charges, and how they handle significant changes post-signing, like a shift in the number of attendees.

Avoid in-season price hikes. Just like hotel stays, event spaces and private dining are more expensive when demand is high. Secure your date before seasonal pricing and higher F&B minimums come into play.

Location matters - If you’re already going to the expense of an outing, make it memorable.

EMPLOYEE EXPERIENCE - Local experiences, local artisan gifts and other touch points will elevate your employee experience from manageable to memorable. Gifts need to be well-planned and intentional. By including personalized cards and local vendor stories, for example, we can pull together a unique, well-planned experience that drives employee satisfaction and retention.

SENSORY GIFTING - Gifting, just like live events, should be planned with the recipient’s experience in mind.

How is it presented?
Is it personalized, and in what way?
Is it both meaningful and enjoyable?
Is it local to their community and celebrated as such?
Is the gifting experience Instagrammable?

Yes, it ALL matters!

But it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. When you outsource those tasks that are important but not your natural gift, you make room to focus on your strengths and maximize your own impact.

Budgeting Woes - I get it; it’s been a tough year for most people and companies. When your budget isn’t in a celebratory position, it’s time to double down on experience even more.

Bring your team together for recognition activities and discussions everyone can contribute to. The opportunities are endless, and can be tied directly to your goals.
The more personalized and thoughtful the activity, the less expensive it needs to be. We have some incredibly budget-friendly opportunities which, here again, are maximized through early planning efforts.

Here are examples of some of my favorite employee recognition activities I have planned:

Experience Roulette - Every gift was up for grabs, and every gift was a unique overnight experience from across the state. Using only the quirky hints that framed up each mystery gift, the employee had to decide whether to pick or pass the experience presented to them. What a fun time we had! And hearing the stories and seeing photos after their stays made it even more impactful. This was a special shared experience that put each team member in the driver’s seat of selecting a gift, and that was just the first experience. Being able to then further personalize their experience by going on that adventure takes the connection and impact to a new level.

Friendsgiving Luncheon - I enjoy a “Friendsgiving” theme for a year-end celebration, because November is the ideal month for this. December is too hectic and too tied to traditions that not all of your employees observe or enjoy. Additionally, many people will be in the race to use up their PTO at year end. Let’s normalize recognizing our team in November to drastically improve our odds for success and impact. One year we gave out very personalized awards acknowledging each person’s contributions, and the next year we went with a fun-forward luncheon with a murder mystery improv experience that the team loved to participate in. Let’s create something that energizes your crew!

If you are interested in enhancing your team recognition experiences, reach out or follow me for more guidance. I am working on a special gifting project right now for some stand-out employees that are due for some much-deserved recognition, and I can’t wait to share the details once they’ve had their special day! I can’t wait to watch my client shine from behind the curtain.

Ready to create a meaningful employee recognition experience for your team? Let’s Connect.

Planning for next year’s events calendar, and which experiences matter most to your goals? I’ve got thoughts on that too. Stay tuned!

Let’s Get Creative,

Creative Connections Studio

Rita Ramey, VIP Experience and Gifting Strategist