Employee Engagement
The Complete Guide to Employee Onboarding Kits
Everything you need to know about creating memorable onboarding kits that make new hires feel valued from day one.
3 min read
A new hire's first morning sets the tone for how they feel about the company. A well-made onboarding kit waiting on the desk — or at the door for someone joining remotely — tells them the team prepared for their arrival. A poorly chosen one ends up in a drawer. The difference usually comes down to planning, not budget.
This guide walks through how HR and admin teams can put together a kit people actually use, and how to order it without last-minute stress.
Start with what people will use every day
The best kits are built around items that earn a place on a desk or in a bag. For most offices that means a short list:
- Diary or notebook: an A5 PU leather diary suits most roles; a bamboo or cork cover works well if your brand leans eco.
- Pen: a metal ballpoint is the safe choice, and a stylus pen is handy for teams that work on tablets.
- Bottle: a steel sipper or a vacuum flask gets used on every commute and at every desk.
- Small extras: a keychain, a card holder or a mobile stand adds a finishing touch without adding much to the cost.
Resist the urge to add everything. Four or five good pieces feel more considered than eight average ones, and they fit neatly into a single presentation box.
Brand it so people are happy to carry it
An oversized logo turns a good product into promotional merchandise. A small, well-placed mark looks premium and is far more likely to be used in public. Match the branding method to the material: laser engraving on metal pens, steel bottles, bamboo and PU leather diaries; UV printing on ceramic mugs; screen printing on jute and fabric bags.
A subtle engraved mark on the diary and a crisp engraving on the pen usually look better than full-colour logos on every item. Let the welcome card carry your colours and your message.
Packaging and the first impression
The box is the first thing a new joiner sees. A rigid box with a foam insert keeps each item in place and makes the unboxing feel deliberate. Add a printed welcome card with a note from the team lead or founder — a few personal lines matter more than a long brochure.
If some kits are going to people who join remotely, plan the delivery addresses as part of the brief, and choose a box that travels well.
Plan quantities and timing
Most companies onboard in batches. Rather than ordering one joining date at a time, estimate hiring for the next quarter and order in a single run. Our minimum is 50 units per product, which covers a quarter of joiners for many growing teams, and bulk pricing improves as quantities grow.
Work backwards from the first joining date:
- Share your logo and product list — free digital mockups arrive within 24 hours.
- Approve the mockups. Nothing goes into production before you do.
- Allow 7–10 days for production and delivery, or ask about the 5-day express option if a batch joins sooner.
- Keep a few spare kits in the office for surprise joiners and replacements.
Keep the kit fresh
Review the kit every few months. Ask recent joiners which items they still use and swap out anything that isn't pulling its weight. Small updates — a refreshed welcome card each quarter, a sturdier bag before the monsoon — stop the kit from feeling generic without changing its core.
If you'd rather not start from a blank page, begin with one of our ready-made kits, swap any item to suit your team, and we'll send mockups for approval.