Promotional products have been a big part of the employee recruitment and retention conversation for many years. New hiring onboarding and training, employee appreciation gifts, corporate events, and other work team events have been a great place for custom promotional products. Custom bags have been an easy but effective way to engage employees and showcase the organization’s culture and values. But with a new generation of people entering the workforce, are these items still relevant?
According to a study conducted by the Society of Human Resource Management Gallup earlier this year, Gen Z is set to make up 36% of the working population by the end of 2022 and that number will continue to grow. As this new generation enters the workforce it’s important to understand their unique needs in regards to their careers and employers. Leslie Roark, CAS, CPIM, states that Gen Z-ers value workplace incentives more than any other generation. Hello promo products! This generation values perks that can be enjoyed daily and year-round. Customized promotional products fill that need by offering them a custom bag, for example, that they can use every day whether they’re in the office or working from home.
Gen Z also is very concerned about the environment and social issues, and they are conscious about what they consume and which companies they support. This is important to note when offering brand-name promotional products. High-quality, ethically made items will be most important. Mike Donnelly, president of Hinda Incentives, says that It’s important to offer a wide selection of promotional products incentives because Gen Z-ers are not the same and they value individuality. Remember to offer rewards to the individual, not the generation. Everyone has their own dreams! Bulletin Bag offers a wide range of custom bags that come in all sorts of colors and styles, so we have you covered on that front!
Gen Z are generally early on in their careers and may be new to the company they work at. Promotional products play a key role in recruiting and onboarding new employees, and ensuring they get off to the right start. Celebrating wins and showing recognition through customized promotional products is a fun way to create team culture and showcase employee appreciation.
So, to answer the question if promotional products are still relevant as this new generation enters the workforce, the answer is a strong yes. In fact, they may be more relevant than ever before. If you employ Gen Z workers, or were considering promotional products for your employees no matter what their age, then now is the time to start creating something unique and special for your organization!
