Employee Gifts: What to Choose So They're Actually Used
A practical guide to choosing employee gifts: budget levels, specific sets from our catalogue, printing techniques and timelines.
Employee gifts work when the item fits into everyday work life — on a desk, in a bag or in the kitchen. In practice, the most widely used items are pens, notebooks, thermal mugs and water bottles; the typical budget among Latvian companies is 8–35 EUR per unit (excl. VAT), while management or anniversary gifts range from 40–60 EUR. Production time with logo printing is usually 5–10 business days after artwork approval, so Christmas orders should be confirmed by mid-November.
Why some gifts end up in a drawer
The three most common reasons a corporate gift never gets used: the item has no everyday function, the logo is too large or intrusive, and the quality is noticeably lower than what the person already owns. If an employee already has a good thermal mug at home, a cheap plastic alternative with a big logo will never be opened.
A practical test before ordering: would I use this myself if it had no logo on it? If the answer is "no," it's better to reduce the quantity and increase the budget per unit. 60 quality gifts work better than 150 disposable ones.
Budget levels and what you get for them
| Budget per unit (excl. VAT) | What you can choose | Suitable occasion |
|---|---|---|
| from 5 EUR | Printed cotton gift bag, a single pen in a velvet pouch | Event attendees, a small welcome gift |
| from 12 EUR | Notebook and pen set, keyring set | Whole-team gift, new employees |
| from 25 EUR | Hardcover notebook + pen, thermal mug set | Christmas, year-end |
| from 45 EUR | Metal pen sets in a gift box, stainless steel bottle sets | Work anniversaries, management, partners |
Prices are indicative and exclude VAT. The exact price depends on quantity, printing technique and number of colours — from 50 pieces, the unit price usually drops by 10–20%.
Specific sets from our catalogue
Pens
- Parker IM achromatic ballpoint and rollerball pen set in a gift box, stainless steel, black/blue ink. Suitable for laser engraving — the logo lasts forever.
- Andante duo pen gift set, metal, black ink; laser engraving or pad printing.
- Lucetto set made from recycled aluminium — ballpoint pen and rollerball pen, available in 2 colours, can also be printed digitally.
- Didimis set made from recycled stainless steel; a good choice for companies communicating sustainability.
- Nemo velvet pouch for a single pen — an affordable way to turn a pen into a complete gift.
Notebooks and combinations
- Moleskine notebook and pen gift set — a recognisable solution when you want quality that needs no explanation; printed with heat stamping or screen printing.
- Laura set with an A5 hardcover notebook and ballpoint pen.
- Kendal set — Novella Austen notebook and Americano thermal mug; full-colour printing on the mug.
- Lig Mini notebook and ballpoint pen set made from recycled material, available in 5 colours.
- Tactical notebook gift set with embossing or engraving options.
Drinkware and small items
- Ocean Bottle 500 ml 3-in-1 gift set, stainless steel, 3 colours, 360° laser engraving.
- Minka set — pen made from RCS-certified recycled aluminium, keyring and RFID card holder.
- Odisha organic cotton gift bags, 140 g/m², sizes 30×25 cm and 42×30 cm — packaging that doesn't end up in the bin.
A wider range with prices is available in the promotional products with logo section, as well as water bottles and notebooks separately.
Printing: how big should the logo be and which technique to use
Laser engraving works best on metal items — the logo never wears off, but the colour will be the material's natural tone (silver or a darker grey). Pad printing is used on plastic and round surfaces, while screen printing or DTF transfer is used on fabric bags when the design has multiple colours.
Size guideline: a 30–40 mm wide engraving is enough for a pen, while an A5 notebook cover needs 40–60 mm. If the gift is for an employee rather than a client, the logo can be discreet, placed on the back or in a bottom corner. Prepare design files in vector format (.ai, .eps, .pdf), colours in CMYK.
Timelines and planning
| Stage | Time |
|---|---|
| Quote after request | 1 business day |
| Sample artwork for approval | 1–2 business days |
| Production with printing after artwork approval | 5–10 business days |
| Urgent jobs | by agreement |
During the Christmas season, December workload is high, so we accept orders until mid-November. For summer and autumn gifts (work anniversaries, team events), a 2–3 week buffer is enough.
What else is part of the gift
Packaging changes perception more than an extra 5 EUR spent on the item itself. A cotton bag with your company logo costs from around 2.50 EUR and serves as a second gift. We can also produce greeting cards or stickers to complete the set — see the stickers section.
If the gift goes to different groups (for example, office staff and factory staff), it's worth creating two sets: one with more pens and stationery, the other with a thermal mug or bottle suited to shift work.
FAQ
What is the minimum order quantity?
We also work with small quantities, in some cases from 1 piece, but the printing setup cost then makes up a large share of the price. An economically sensible threshold for most sets is 25–50 pieces.
How much do employee gifts cost for a team of 50 people?
With a budget of around 20 EUR per unit (excl. VAT) for 50 employees, that's roughly 1000 EUR plus printing. For this amount you could choose a notebook and pen set or an engraved thermal mug set. We prepare an exact quote once the quantity and model are confirmed.
Can I see a sample before placing a large order?
Yes. We can usually provide a physical sample without printing within 2–4 business days, and a digital mock-up with logo placement within one to two business days.
In what format should I submit my logo?
Vector graphics: .ai, .eps or .pdf with text converted to outlines, colours in CMYK or Pantone. If you only have a .png or .jpg, we can redraw it — this usually takes one business day.
Is it possible to split the order into several deliveries?
Yes, if the quantity is sufficient. We produce everything in one batch and deliver it in parts, for example by branch location — this doesn't affect the unit price.
