Welcome new staff with a handshake (pack)

A welcome pack is a simple but powerful way to help new staff or clients feel valued from day one. With the right mix of practical, personal and branded items, it can support connection, culture and confidence. Here’s how to create a handshake pack that feels thoughtful, useful and aligned with your brand.

What’s a Handshake Pack?

A handshake pack, also known as a welcome pack, is a curated collection of branded or personalised items given to new employees, clients or partners.

It is a way of saying “welcome aboard” while showing that your business cares about the experience people have from the very beginning.

For a new employee, a handshake pack could include:

• Personalised journal, pen or drink bottle
• Reusable coffee cup with a local café voucher
• Lanyard and security tag
• Branded backpack
• Hoodie and funky socks
• Cap or beanie
• Face mask and hand sanitiser
• Coffee mug or reusable cup
• Wireless earphones
• Power charger or cable
• Desk plant
• Laptop stickers with company values
• A voucher for your corporate store so they can choose their own items

There is almost no end to the ideas you can include in a pack. The best options are useful, relevant and connected to your workplace culture.

Sharing a welcome pack helps new employees feel part of the team before they have even settled into their desk. It can also help them feel more confident, prepared and excited to get started.

You can have the pack ready on their desk, present it during orientation or deliver it to their home office. It is also worth asking for feedback as part of your employee satisfaction survey, so your employee welcome packs keep improving over time.

Welcome Packs for Clients

Handshake packs are not only for employees. They can also work beautifully for clients.

If a client has signed a major contract, joined a new program or completed a large project with your business, a welcome pack can help the relationship start on the right note.

Many of the items from an employee welcome pack can be adapted for clients. Think about what would be useful in their day-to-day work, then add small details that reflect your brand.

A client pack could include:

• Branded merchandise relevant to your service
• A premium notebook and pen
• A personalised thank-you card
• A reusable drink bottle or coffee cup
• A product sample or campaign item
• A beautifully packed hamper
• A voucher or practical office item

A thoughtful gift reminds clients they are more than a transaction. It shows you care about their experience, not only the product or service you provide.

It can also support referrals, especially when the pack is beautifully presented and share-worthy.

Extra-Newbie Welcome Packs

Some companies take welcome packs even further by celebrating major life milestones.

For example, branded baby onesies, bibs or soft toys can be a thoughtful gift for employees welcoming a new baby. It is a warm way to stay connected while they are on parental leave, without putting pressure on them to stay work-focused.

This kind of gesture reflects a people-first culture. It says, “We see you as a person, not only as an employee.”

No Need to Stop There

A handshake pack does not have to be a one-off moment.

You can create a series of branded packs to support different stages of someone’s relationship with your business.

For employees, this could include:

• First-day onboarding pack
• Work anniversary pack
• Promotion pack
• Project celebration pack
• Wellness or wellbeing pack
• End-of-year thank-you pack

For clients, this could include:

• New client welcome pack
• Referral thank-you pack
• Event follow-up pack
• Renewal gift
• Project completion gift

You might also run themed campaigns. For example, a Good Health Month initiative could include fitness trackers, running socks, hand towels, drink bottles and other wellbeing-focused items.

These packs help reinforce your brand personality. Whether your business is playful, premium, practical or highly professional, the items you choose can help tell that story.

How to Create a Handshake or Welcome Pack

Start by thinking about the person receiving it.

Ask yourself:

• What will they genuinely use?
• What would make their first day or first interaction feel easier?
• What reflects our culture or brand values?
• Can we personalise the pack?
• How will it be presented?
• Do we need stock stored onsite or managed through a corporate store?

Working with a promotional merchandise supplier can help you choose creative, practical items that match your brand and budget.

You can also discuss whether to pre-order stock, build packs on demand or set up a corporate store so your team can order items quickly without holding large amounts of inventory.

As trends change, your welcome packs can evolve too. This keeps them relevant, useful and aligned with the way your people work.

Ready to Create Welcome Packs People Will Actually Use?

A welcome pack is more than a box of branded items. It is a first impression, a culture-builder and a practical way to show people they matter.

Whether you are welcoming new staff, celebrating clients or building a stronger onboarding experience, the right pack can make the moment feel considered from the start.

Speak with the Honeycomb Agency team to create thoughtful, practical and brand-aligned welcome packs for your staff, clients or next campaign.