Employee Welcome Kit: How to Create a Branded Onboarding Package
A great welcome kit sets the tone from day one and shows new hires they made the right choice. Here is everything you need to put together a branded onboarding package.
The first day at work sets the tone for the entire employment relationship. A welcome kit with branded items shows the company is prepared, professional and proud of its identity. Employees who feel welcome from day one become productive faster and stay longer.
In this guide, we show you how to build an employee welcome kit that hits the mark, regardless of budget and industry.
What is an employee welcome kit?
A welcome kit is a collection of branded products and useful items that new hires receive on their first day. The kit typically contains clothing, drinkware, office supplies and other items marked with the company logo.
The purpose is twofold: the kit gives new employees everything they need to get started, while building a connection to the brand from day one. Research shows that 69% of employees are more likely to stay with a company that has a strong onboarding process.
A well-planned welcome kit is not just a gift. It is an employer branding tool, signalling to the new hire that they made the right choice.
What should a welcome kit contain?
The contents depend on budget, industry and company culture. Here is an overview of typical products across three budget levels:
| Budget level | Price per kit (ex. VAT) | Contents |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | NOK 300-500 | Water bottle with logo, notebook, pen, stickers, welcome letter |
| Standard | NOK 500-1,000 | T-shirt or polo, thermal mug, notebook, pen, cap, tote bag |
| Premium | NOK 1,000-2,000 | Hoodie with embroidery, stainless steel thermal mug, power bank, leather notebook, goodie bag |
Prices are indicative and vary with order volume and printing method. Larger orders mean lower unit prices. Contact us for a quote tailored to your company.
Welcome kit checklist
Use this list as a starting point:
- Branded clothing: T-shirt, hoodie, jacket or cap with logo
- Drinkware: Water bottle or thermal mug with engraving
- Office supplies: Notebook, pen, USB drive
- Technology: Power bank, wireless charger, cable organiser
- Personal touch: Welcome letter or card from the CEO
- Practical info: Lunch guide, key card, first-week overview
The best welcome kits combine something useful (like a quality thermal mug), something personal (a welcome letter) and something that builds belonging (branded clothing).
Welcome kit examples by industry
Not every industry needs the same type of kit. Here are four examples showing how to tailor the contents:
Tech and IT
Technology companies attract talent in an extremely competitive market. A strong welcome kit shows the company invests in its people.
Typical contents: Hoodie with embroidered logo, wireless charger with branding, premium notebook, stainless steel water bottle, welcome letter. Budget: approximately NOK 1,200 per kit.
Construction
For tradespeople and construction workers, functional products are essential. Nobody needs a power bank on a building site, but everyone needs a good beanie.
Typical contents: Work beanie or buff with logo, thermal mug that handles job site conditions, reflective vest with print, notepad and pencil. Budget: approximately NOK 600 per kit.
Healthcare
In the health sector, hygiene and comfort are key factors. Branded clothing must withstand frequent washing.
Typical contents: Polo with embroidered logo, water bottle, magnetic name badge, small welcome pouch with chocolate and hand cream. Budget: approximately NOK 700 per kit.
Office and consulting
Office-based companies have room for creative welcome kits. The focus is on making a strong first impression.
Typical contents: Softshell jacket with embroidery, premium notebook, pen with engraving, thermal mug, tote bag with logo. Budget: approximately NOK 1,500 per kit.
Sustainable alternatives for onboarding kits
Many companies want their welcome kit to reflect their environmental values. Fortunately, good sustainable alternatives exist for nearly every product category.
Clothing: T-shirts and hoodies in organic cotton or recycled polyester. Brands like Neutral and Stanley/Stella offer GOTS-certified garments with low environmental impact.
Drinkware: Water bottles in recycled steel or bamboo replace single-use bottles. A quality bottle lasts for years and replaces hundreds of plastic bottles.
Office supplies: Notebooks in recycled paper, pens in bamboo or recycled aluminium. Even packaging can be sustainable with paper bags instead of plastic.
Packaging: Replace plastic bags with tote bags in organic cotton. The totes become an extra branded item the recipient uses again and again.
A sustainable welcome kit typically costs 10-20% more than conventional alternatives, but the signal you send is worth far more. Read more about branded promotional products and which materials deliver the best results.
Print, embroidery or laser engraving: choosing the right technique
The branding method affects appearance, durability and price of the welcome kit:
Embroidery is the top choice for branded clothing in welcome kits. The result looks exclusive, withstands countless washes and gives a tactile quality impression. Especially effective on jackets, sweaters and caps. Price: from approximately NOK 30 per unit at 50 pieces.
Screen printing works best for t-shirts and large designs in 1-4 colours. The unit price is lower than embroidery, and the result is sharp and durable. Price: from approximately NOK 15 per unit at 50 pieces.
Laser engraving produces a permanent, elegant result on metal, wood and glass. Perfect for thermal mugs, water bottles and pens. The engraving never fades. Price: from approximately NOK 20 per unit at 50 pieces.
UV printing is ideal for small runs and products with uneven surfaces. Full colour, durable result. Suitable for power banks, cable organisers and other tech products.
For welcome kits with multiple items, we recommend combining techniques: embroidery on clothing, laser engraving on drinkware and UV printing on tech products. This gives each element the best possible finish.
How to order welcome kits from Show Off
We have helped hundreds of companies create welcome kits that deliver. The process is straightforward:
- Tell us your needs: Number of kits, budget per unit, industry and audience
- We suggest contents and techniques: Based on experience and your budget
- Digital proof: You see logo and colours on each product before production
- Production and quality control: 2-3 weeks standard lead time
- Delivery: To the office, warehouse or directly to your location
For companies that hire regularly, we offer framework agreements with fixed prices and shorter lead times. We can also store finished kits and ship them as new employees start.
Have questions? Call Guro Gjesdal at 994 22 939, or send an email. We help you find the right contents for your welcome kits.
Planning corporate Christmas gifts? We help with that too. Or do you need promotional products and merch for a trade show? See our full range.
Frequently asked questions about welcome kits
How much does an employee welcome kit cost?
A welcome kit typically costs between NOK 300 and 2,000 per person, depending on content and quality. Simple kits with a water bottle, notebook and pen start around NOK 300. Premium kits with a hoodie, thermal mug and tech gadgets run NOK 1,000-2,000. Unit prices decrease with larger orders.
Can we order welcome kits from 10 units?
Yes, Show Off delivers welcome kits from 10 units and up. We tailor contents and printing techniques to both small and large orders. For regular orders, we can set up framework agreements with fixed terms.
What is the lead time for welcome kits?
Standard lead time is 2-3 weeks from approved proof. For companies with framework agreements, turnaround can be shorter, and we can store finished kits for ongoing dispatch.
Should we choose embroidery or print for clothing?
Embroidery gives a more exclusive look and holds up through many washes. It is ideal for jackets, sweaters and caps. Print works better for t-shirts and large, colourful designs. For welcome kits, we recommend embroidery on the main item (sweater or jacket) and print on simpler garments like t-shirts.
What are the most popular products in a welcome kit?
The three most requested items are branded clothing (hoodie or jacket), drinkware (thermal mug or water bottle) and a notebook with logo. These three offer high utility and daily brand exposure.