Onboarding Gifts for New Employees: Ideas for Day One

A first day at work is exciting, for the new colleague and for the team. A good onboarding gift says, without many words: we're glad you're here, and we thought about you. It doesn't have to be big. It should be more than a pen and a pile of forms, though. Below you'll find welcome gift ideas, what belongs in a welcome package and how the same idea works for work anniversaries and farewells.

What makes a good onboarding gift

• It gets used. New starters are handed a lot on day one. What finds a place in everyday life is remembered. The rest disappears into a drawer.
• It suits everyone. You barely know the person yet. Choose something that works without knowing their tastes, diet or hobbies.
• It says something about you. A gift linked to your company, your city or your team tells more of a story than something picked from a catalogue.
• It's ready in time. The package is on the desk on day one, or arrives at home before a remote start. That often matters more than the gift itself.

Welcome gift ideas

• A handwritten card from the team lead, with two sentences on what the team is looking forward to.
• A good mug or water bottle that stays at the office and quietly says: this is your spot now.
• Something local: coffee from the roaster round the corner, chocolate from your city or a note with the team's favourite lunch places.
• A person rather than a handbook: a named buddy for the first few weeks and a lunch together. It costs almost nothing and helps the most.
• Something for home that gets used every day. More on that below.

The welcome package: what to put in

A welcome package doesn't have to be expensive. A mix tends to work best: something practical, something personal and a small gesture that lasts beyond the first day. For example a notebook and pen for those first meetings, a short plan for week one, the card from the team and a gift to take home. If the package is posted, say for a remote starter, flat, light and sturdy wins.

A Soapi as an onboarding gift with your logo

The Soapi is a magnetic soap holder. You press a bottle cap halfway into a bar of soap, the soap hangs from a magnet on the wall and dries all the way round instead of going soft in a dish. It sticks to tiles, glass, mirrors or stainless steel without drilling, so it works in a rented flat too. And since everyone has a sink, it suits everyone on the team.

The part companies like most: we print bottle caps with your company logo, from 500 caps. The number of Soapis is completely separate. You order as many Soapis as you need right now, and the remaining logo caps wait for the next new starters or become a small giveaway at reception. The cap sits visibly in the soap, so your logo is seen every day in the bathroom or by the kitchen sink. All the details are on our page for corporate gifts with logo bottle caps.

• 10 colours, mixed or matched to your company colour.
• 10-year durability guarantee and made in Berlin: the Soapi is injection-moulded in Berlin.
• Material: The housing is injection-moulded from recycled plastic, around 90 % of which comes from discarded fishing nets and ropes.
• A small parcel that fits neatly into a welcome package and is easy to post.

It pairs well with a bar of soap, such as the soap from Marseille or soaps by Blaull, Grete Manufaktur or KLAR. If you'd rather give something for the hallway, the magnetic key holder uses the same technology and holds even heavy bunches with a car key.

Small teams: order directly, no enquiry needed

Only welcoming someone new now and then, and no logo needed? Then simply order in the shop. The Starter Kit at €14.95 contains a Soapi in the colour of your choice, a 100 g lavender soap handmade in Marseille and a cleaned bottle cap. For a small stock, Mix & Match works well: 5 products for €50, with free delivery within Germany. That way something is already in the cupboard for the next new starter.

Anniversaries and farewells: same idea, different occasion

A work anniversary can be more personal: a card in which the team collects a few memories, a meal together and a Soapi in a favourite colour. A farewell is more about remembering the time together. You'll find ideas in our article on leaving gifts for colleagues. And for the whole team at the end of the year, there are separate tips in Christmas gifts for employees.

Onboarding gift FAQ

Do I have to order 500 Soapis to get logo caps?

No. We print the caps from 500, but you choose the number of Soapis freely. Leftover caps are handy for future new starters or as a small giveaway.

How long does an order with a logo take?

That depends on the quantity and the printing. As a company, you buy from us at the retailer price: very good terms that normally only go to retailers who order from us regularly. Printing logo caps takes about two weeks from order to dispatch, often much less.

What about tax?

It depends on the occasion. Our article on tax-free employee gifts gives an overview of the rules in Germany. This is not tax advice. Please check your situation with your accountant.

In short

A good onboarding gift is ready in time, gets used and shows that someone gave it some thought. For the occasional new starter, order directly via Mix & Match or the Starter Kit. For your logo on the bottle cap, send us an enquiry and we'll come back to you with a quote.