Looking for corporate event gift ideas and inspiration for your next company party, conference, or corporate retreat? Check out these creative custom event gift baskets, business retreat gifts, employee gift boxes and more!
Gifting alongside corporate events is a surefire way to build anticipation, boost engagement and tell attendees just how excited you are that they’re joining you — whether virtually or in person!
We know you probably have a full schedule of company events lined up this year, from holidays to workdays. That’s why we’re sharing fun, creative corporate gift boxes and branded swag ideas that’ll get your wheels turning.
We also know you’ll find ways you can work corporate gifting into your next event — no matter the occasion!
Conference Event Gifting
Professional conferences are the perfect opportunity to wow attendees and amplify brand engagement with a thoughtful event gift.
For extra impact, we love tying the gift to the conference’s theme or highlighting the city where the event takes place. Personalized conference gifts provide countless fun and creative opportunities to create an experience that event attendees won’t soon forget! Check out these fun ideas for custom gift bundles for SaaS events.
Company Conference by the Beach
Listen closely. Did you hear that? We’re pretty sure that’s Will Smith’s iconic song “Welcome to Miami” playing in the distance!
So, you’re hosting a conference in Miami? We’re not not jealous. Let us guess: you probably have a beachside hotel reserved and dazzling speakers booked — but what about swoon-worthy conference swag boxes your attendees will talk about until next year’s party rolls around? …Thats where we come in!
Surprise conference-goers with a curated corporate gift box including all the essentials for a Miami-style good time!
Here’s what you’ll find in this swanky custom event gift basket:
- A floating flamingo to hold a beverage (maybe in a branded tumbler!) at the hotel pool
- A disposable camera to capture team selfies
- Bright bracelets to glow on the dance floor all night
- Liquid IV packets for the morning after lots of … “networking”
- A colorful sticker of Miami’s iconic lifeguard stand
- An Art Deco-inspired custom logo candle that attendees can keep long after the trip ends
- A pair of branded sunglasses would also make a great addition to this gift box!
Customize the gift by adding branded packaging elements, like a custom-designed gift box or a custom tote bag! Then, add a branded card insert with a special note to welcome attendees to the party (err, we mean “conference”). 😉
Pro tip: Include the conference schedule in the gift box to make attendees’ stay easy! Just add a printed version on the insert or provide a QR code for a digital agenda — they’ll always know what’s (or who’s) coming up next.
Corporate Convention, Mardi-Gras Style!
Setting up a booth at a convention down in N’awlins? Mmm … we can smell the Cafe du Monde beignets from here!
Get ahead of the game before the convention begins. It’s simple — hype your prospects with curated, French Quarter-inspired corporate gift boxes!
Take it from Paycor — that’s exactly what its team did with our sweet-and-spicy gifts for the SHRM 2022 Conference this past June! We filled these unique corporate gifts with treats from local businesses and lots of Louisiana vibes:
- Mardi Gras king cake praline cookies via the New Orleans Famous Praline Company
- Beignet-flavored popcorn via Cajun Pop
- A Cajun spice blend via Nourished Roots Spice Co.
- A bottle of TABASCO original hot sauce
- A New Orleans-scented custom logo candle that the city’s bold flavors inspired
We helped our friends at Paycor get these custom event gift baskets in their prospects’ hands before the conference began. Frankly, it’s a brilliant way to stand out from competitors and entice customers to drop by your booth!
And rest assured — you can leave all the shipping and third party logistics to us. That goes for whether you want to send gifts to attendees before a conference to thank them for registering or hand-deliver when they arrive. We know you have a million other tasks on your preconference to-do list. Let us make the gifting part stress-free!
But, let’s be real: we won’t all necessarily hit South Beach or Bourbon Street for a business conference. But don’t let that stop you from getting creative with your next big event! Great gifts for corporate events give you the opportunity to tell a story! No matter where your conference takes place or what theme you go for, you’ll always have fantastic opportunities to gift uniquely!
Company Retreat Gift Ideas
Shaking things up with an off-site business retreat? We love to see it!
Getting out of the traditional office setting is a great opportunity to boost team-building and strengthen client relationships.
Level up your next retreat with curated, perfect corporate gift boxes that increase attendance and create an unforgettable experience for clients and employees!
Annual Golf Outing
Who’s ready to hit the links?
Whether you’re hosting a team-building activity, VIP outing or annual fundraiser, tee up the perfect round. How so, you ask? Treat your attendees to a golf-themed corporate gift box they can use on the course!
For a gift that amateur and scratch golfers alike are sure to love, include must-have items:
- Something that’ll enhance their game
- A snack or beverage to keep them fueled
- A branded water bottle to keep them hydrated
- A set of golf balls (bonus points if they’re branded!)
- Branded sunglasses for a sunny day on the course
Ship the gifts to your golfers well before they reach the front nine, and they can definitely put them all to good use. Of course, you could present the gifts at the event as a thoughtful and memorable way to thank participants for attending!
Either way, there are no (sand) traps here. A recent study of corporate gift-buyers noted 80% said gifts improve relationships with employees and clients! And honestly, custom client gifts and employee gift boxes can be a struggle to nail.
Corporate Wellness Retreat
Corporate wellness retreats are becoming increasingly common. And that’s no surprise!
As companies make more changes to embrace a better work-life balance and boost employee wellness, they’ve introduced corporate wellness retreats as a way of disconnecting from the daily hustle of a stressful life. Offering specialized programs designed to promote health and well-being is on the rise.
Sign us up!
We’re seeing a similar trend in the gifting world right now. One of the most popular trends in gifting involves self-care and mindfulness!
Go ahead and lean into this trend for your next corporate wellness retreat. Treat your employees to a luxury corporate gift box filled with all kinds of items that inspire self-care, like a custom logo candle or blanket!
Swag Bags for Company Off-Site Retreat
Taking your employees on a teambuilding trip? Or a company wellness retreat in the great outdoors? Whatever the occasion, custom tote bags are a must!
Fill the bag with awesome items your team can actually use on the trip (and afterward, too!).
For Guild Education’s trip to the mountains, we created the ultimate survival kit filled with outdoor essentials like a branded water bottle, bug spray, a wireless charger, trail mix, a citronella candle, and a branded hat!
And there you have it! A simple yet effective way to use swag to show off company culture and enhance the overall experience for employees.
Gift Ideas for Event Attendees
It’s no secret. Virtual and hybrid events are here to stay!
Gathering virtually can have many benefits. That said, we know it can be difficult to build the same engagement and energetic vibes that characterize in-person events. And that’s a big deal, considering nearly half of marketers say audience engagement is the greatest factor in holding successful virtual events.
So, what’s the good news?
Corporate gifting can help turn an otherwise-impersonal experience into a truly engaging one. You’ll feel more connected to the topic and to one another! Branded headphones, branded mugs, and branded notebooks all make great virtual event gifts.
Virtual Zoom Conference
Has your company’s once in-person annual conference gone virtual? We hear you!
The folks over at Lessonly found themselves in the same boat with their annual Yellowship conference. In an effort to connect with customers and up attendance, the Indianapolis-based company came to us for curated branded products to send invitees!
Understanding your customer is key. That means when it comes to virtual event gifting, think about your recipients and how you can make it exciting for them to attend!
For Lessonly, this meant designing a custom client gift around coffee (nice). With a virtual gift, including a branded mug, attendees could enjoy a cuppa joe while participating in the conference. Talk about creating a buzz!
Best of all, the gifts did exactly what Lessonly hoped they’d do: increase attendance. More than 1,000 people logged on for Yellowship virtually!
Trade Show Survival Kits
In this digital age, techy gifts are a big hit for trade shows and conference swag. Think about giving away cool tech gadgets and accessories that’ll leave a lasting impression like…
- Bluetooth speakers and branded headphones: Portable and versatile, speakers and headphones will have attendees jamming to their favorite tunes or boosting presentations with great audio. Make it a branded speaker by adding your company logo for a personalized touch!
- USB drives: These practical goodies can store important files. Customize them with your logo and preload them with your awesome content.
- Wireless chargers: Everyone loves these for their smartphones. Show you’re all about convenience and give ’em a valuable item they’ll use daily.
Women’s Conference Gift Ideas
Just because your event has gone virtual doesn’t mean it can’t be meaningful! Check out these gift ideas for event attendees Zendesk’s virtual leadership seminar. The event’s headliner was Mel Robbins — lawyer, TV host, author and motivational speaker.
To really bring the experience to life for attendees, our corporate gift box included items they could enjoy before, during and after the event.
Our corporate gift box included:
- One of Robbins’ books
- Day-of essentials, like a tasty snack, branded water bottle, and branded notebook
- Empowerment cards to reinforce the event’s leadership lessons long after it ended
This gift box would also make a great personalized gift for tech executives! You could also give gifts for speakers at events, as well.
💡Gifts in a Click: Our online Gifting Portals make it easy to send gifts and swag to your recipients! Want to see for yourself? Get a Demo
Business Event Gift Ideas for Employees
How do you welcome new hires to the team?
As many of us know, starting a new job can be both exciting and a bit intimidating! Of course, welcome parties are a great way to ease the transition. But don’t stop there!
A thoughtful employee gift box can go a long way in helping newbies feel like part of the team.
Think of it as an opportunity to introduce the company culture and make a smashing first impression!
Plus, giving new employees a memorable gift like a custom sweatshirt or branded headphones can aid long-term retention. According to a study of 300 corporate gift-buyers, 41% said gifting resulted in significantly improved employee retention. (We’re just saying.)
Company Happy Hour
Did someone say “happy hour”? We’re in!
Get ready to raise a glass to your newest team members! Mixing and mingling with new hires at your quarterly happy hour are great ways to welcome them to the team.
Make them extra happy to be there by loading them up with treats and swag boxes that’ll help them feel like their new job is the best ever.
The team over at WordPress VIP loves a good happy hour-themed gift. And you know, we don’t blame them!
Of all of the premium gifts to choose from, we love this one because it’s full of (almost) everything you need to make your next happy hour interactive. Actually, you just add booze (or sparkling water — we’re flexible)!
Plus, this gift offers wiggle room if some of your new employees are partially or fully remote. Deliver a happy hour-themed gift box right to their doorsteps, and they can join in the fun virtually!
Pro tip: Include a branded tumbler and a recipe card in the gift. That way, everyone can mix up the same beverage during your virtual meetup … and show off their sweet swag!
Staff Retreat Gifts
Staff retreats are fantastic opportunities to bolster team bonds and build meaningful relationships among employees.
Plus, they’re a good excuse to show off your company culture!
We loved helping the folks at Design Pickle with these awesome camp-themed employee gift boxes for their annual Spirit Week retreat. This summer camp-themed employee event was the perfect spot for matching custom t-shirts and canteen stickers. What’s better to get you in the summer camp spirit?
We loved seeing LinkedIn photos of everyone rocking their branded swag at the Spirit Week kickoff!
Gift Ideas for Company Party
Planning to host a fun company party this year? Go the extra mile with a themed gift — no matter the occasion!
Our friends at Zendesk wanted to do something quirky and different for their employees. They’re back to the office in person this year, so their party needed to be ultra special.
After exploring some of our summer corporate gift ideas, they decided to have a National Watermelon Day party! What better way to engage employees than with an unexpected celebration to represent the fruits (pun intended) of their labor?
We filled this employee gift box with tasty treats and fun accessories that knocked their watermelon socks off! That’s right — matching custom socks.
Written by Torrance Hart. Updated Nov. 2023.