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Employee Appreciation Day 2026 falls on Friday, March 6 – a fast-approaching opportunity for POD sellers to quickly launch products to boost sales, and attract business clients. This is both a celebration and the perfect time to sell unique gifts that recognize achievements and reward employee dedication.
From creative designs to high-quality gift ideas, here are 50 ideas for Employee Appreciation Day that sellers can use immediately to engage customers and drive revenue.
Custom apparel
Employee Appreciation Day is approaching fast, and it’s a golden opportunity to boost sales with customizable products.
1. Custom socks
Socks work because they’re universally usable. They don’t depend on job role, seniority, or gender, and they fit naturally into everyday routines. Unlike novelty gifts, socks don’t get left behind after the event; they’re worn, reused, and appreciated for their comfort.
2. Unisex crewneck T-shirts
T-shirt are a product sellers should prioritize because they are easy to approve and easy to scale. Companies see them as a low-risk choice that works for most employees, so decisions are made faster.
When the fit and fabric are solid, buyers rarely push back. For sellers, this means shorter sales cycles, fewer revisions, and a higher chance of securing bulk orders.
3. Zip hoodies
Zip hoodies offer flexibility that few apparel items can match. They work indoors, outdoors, during commutes, or at team activities. Compared to basic T-shirts, hoodies signal a higher level of care while still being highly functional.
Check out Merchize options like:
- All-over Print Full Zip Up Hoodie
- Zip Hooded Sweatshirt Made in AU
- Zip Hoodie Lightweight
- AOP Sleeveless Zip Hoodie Lightweight
- Custom Fleece Hoodie Without Black Band
4. Custom embroidered hats
Hats are lightweight, easy to distribute, and suitable for a wide range of environments. Embroidery adds durability and a more refined finish, helping the item stay relevant over time instead of feeling disposable.
5. Custom backpacks
Backpacks stand out because they actively support daily work life: carrying laptops, documents, and personal items. This is a gift employees rely on repeatedly – reason almost employees like.
6. Unisex polo shirts
Polos sit comfortably between casual and formal, making them appropriate for meetings, events, and internal activities. They help employees look put-together without sacrificing comfort.
7. Custom beanies
Fully customizable beanies are especially effective in cooler seasons, offering warmth and comfort in a very straightforward way. They feel personal without being overdesigned and naturally fit into everyday wear.
8. Sports jackets
Sports jackets are ideal for companies that value movement, teamwork, and outdoor activities. They’re functional, comfortable, and often associated with shared experiences like team events or group activities.
Custom drinkware
Custom drinkware is a high-demand category for every season, giving you a golden opportunity to offer products.
1. Custom water bottles
Stainless steel, branded water bottles are one of best-selling gift items. They keep drinks hot for up to 12 hours and cold for up to 24 hours—perfect for long meetings or busy workdays. Sellers can pitch these as premium, practical gifts that employees will actually use.
2. Custom insulated tumblers
Insulated tumblers are a practical option for daily use at the office or during commutes. Sellers can highlight both eco-friendliness and custom branding, making it an attractive upsell for companies looking gifts for their employees.
3. Personalized reusable bottles
Reusable water bottles are a practical corporate gift that employees can use every day at work, at the gym, or on the go. They have a clean, professional look and a longer lifespan than many small giveaway items.
4. Premium bar tool sets
Or elevate employee appreciation with premium home bar sets. Sleek and stylish, these tools let recipients craft impressive cocktails, offering a unique, experiential gift experience.
5. Custom stemless wine glasses
Stemless wine glasses are ideal for special occasions or casual virtual gatherings. Pairing a stylish glass with a branded design creates a more memorable gift.
Travel gifts
Travel-friendly gifts are compact, useful, and perfect for showcasing company logos, making them highly attractive to businesses.
1. Mini tech organizer bags
Frequent travelers know the frustration of tangled cables or lost earbuds. A compact organizer with multiple compartments keeps chargers, adapters, and accessories neatly sorted. This practical gift is ideal for buyers to offer employees.
2. Custom tote bags
Tote bags are perfect for weekend getaways or short trips. Durable and stylish, these bags make thoughtful, versatile gifts that employees will carry everywhere.
3. Portable cold brew coffee makers
Finding a good cup of coffee on the go can be tricky. A portable cold brew maker lets employees enjoy their favorite brew anywhere. You can market this as a premium gift for coffee-loving employees.
4. Travel mugs
A durable travel mug is perfect for short getaways or weekend trips. With scratch-resistant coating and a tight-fitting lid, it’s ideal for outdoor use or relaxing breaks at home. It is truly an easy sell for any seller looking for gifts employees will love.
5. Sanitizing power banks
Running out of battery during travel is a nightmare. A branded power bank fits easily in any bag and reminds employees that their company supports them, while also keeping devices sanitized. Sellers can emphasize both utility and health-conscious appeal.
6. Premium passport holders
A stylish passport holder is perfect for employees who travel frequently. It keeps travel documents organized and secure while adding a professional touch. Sellers can market this as a high-value, premium gift, ideal for business travelers.
7. Luggage covers
Luggage covers protect bags from scratches and make them easy to spot. For employees who travel by plane often, this is a practical, fun gift.
8. Lightweight travel towels
Lightweight travel towels are compact, quick-drying, and perfect for trips or outdoor activities. Employees actually use them, making them a practical, in-demand gift that’s easy for you to offer.
9. Sleep masks
Soft, comfortable sleep masks help employees rest during long flights or nighttime travel. This is a small, low-cost, high-utility product that can be customized, making it an easy sell for sellers targeting corporate gifting.
10. Travel neck pillows
A travel neck pillow makes long trips and even working from home much more comfortable. It’s a gift employees genuinely want, which makes this niche highly promising for sellers.
Tech gifts
Think about it: especially when working from home, employees spend hours switching from phone screens to laptop screens to TVs. If they can’t completely disconnect, why not add a bit of comfort and convenience?
1. Bluetooth speakers
Listening to music daily improves mood and energy. Compact Bluetooth speakers provide clear, high-quality sound for music, podcasts, or even spontaneous dance sessions anywhere from living rooms to bathrooms. They are both fun and practical, making them a highly appealing gift.
2. Custom apple Airpods
Apple Airpods have become a daily essential for meetings, calls, walks, or listening to podcasts. Their sleek design, excellent sound quality, and portability make them a premium gift that employees will love and use constantly.
3. Custom laptop sleeves
Protect valuable devices with water- and tear-resistant laptop sleeves featuring soft inner lining. They provide safety and style, ensuring laptops survive daily commutes or home usage while giving employees a polished, modern look.
4. Wireless charging stations
Running out of battery is always frustrating. Wireless charging pads, especially multi-device models, allow employees to charge several devices simultaneously, reducing clutter and increasing convenience for desks or bedside tables.
5. Smart desk lamps
Proper lighting is essential for focus and productivity. Smart desk lamps with adjustable brightness and USB ports enhance workspace efficiency while adding a stylish, contemporary touch, perfect for home offices or creative setups.
Desk accessories
Employees love items that organize, decorate, and personalize their workspace, so desk accessories is completely suitable.
1. Wireless charging pads
No more tangled cords or dead devices during the workday. A wireless charging pad keeps desks tidy and devices fully powered. This is a gift employees will use every day, suitable for a wide range of people, with steady demand, especially for those working from home, making it a low-risk product to sell.
2. Ring lights
Ring lights improve video quality for virtual meetings or content creation, helping employees look professional and confident on camera. This is a high-demand gift, as more people are working remotely or creating content online.
3. Office supply organizers
Keep desks neat with organizers for pens, scissors, paperclips, and other essentials. This practical, functional, and visually appealing gift is something every office needs. Sellers will find it easy to sell, as it’s an useful product.
4. Custom stickers
Fun, motivational, or creatively designed stickers help employees personalize their workspace. This low-cost, highly appealing gift is perfect as a standalone product or as an add-on to gift sets, making it ideal for testing the POD market.
5. Personal water bottles
Even at their desks, employees need hydration. Portable water bottles are practical gifts used every day, combining convenience with health benefits. Sellers can confidently market them, as demand for functional water bottles is consistently high.
6. Personalized notebooks
Notebooks are always handy for jotting down ideas, taking meeting notes, or keeping track of tasks. Therefore, they are gifts employees need, making them easy for sellers to offer. Their universal appeal ensures consistent demand across industries.
7. Phone & Tablet stands
Phone and tablet stands make it simple for employees to view their devices hands-free during work or video calls. Compact, versatile, and convenient, these stands are high-utility gifts, giving sellers an easy-to-sell product that almost everyone can use.
8. Custom mouse pads
Mouse pads make any workspace more comfortable and stylish. With creative designs, they’re gifts employees will use daily, making them a high-demand item for sellers to offer.
9. Pen & Stationery holders
Stylish holders keep pens, pencils, and other stationery organized and within reach. This appealing gift improves workspace efficiency and organization, making it a product employees appreciate and sellers can confidently market.
Health & Wellness gifts
Supporting employees’ physical and mental well-being is one of the most meaningful ways to show appreciation.
1. Serene house wooden light diffusers
A wooden light diffuser fills the room with soothing aromas, helping employees unwind and reduce stress. Compact and elegant, it fits perfectly in any home or workspace. This is a gift people actually use daily, making it easy to sell and appealing to anyone seeking calm and relaxation.
2. Fleece blankets
Soft, cozy fleece blankets provide comfort during cold nights, Netflix binges, or reading sessions. Their luxurious feel makes them a gift employees love to use repeatedly. This type of product is practical, memorable, and has wide appeal, giving sellers confidence it will move quickly.
3. Custom yoga mats
A well-designed yoga mat encourages exercise, mindfulness, and movement. Perfect for at-home workouts or group fitness, yoga mats combine practicality, style, and motivation, making them highly attractive to employees who value wellness and easy for sellers to promote.
4. At-home fitness kits
Compact kits including resistance bands, small dumbbells, or yoga balls make staying active simple and convenient. Employees can maintain fitness routines from home, and these kits are practical, high-utility gifts that naturally appeal to health-conscious buyers, ensuring sellers a smooth sell.
5. Petite Bliss succulent plants with pots
Low-maintenance succulent plants bring a touch of nature indoors and help reduce stress. Their long-lasting beauty makes them a unique, visually appealing gift that employees enjoy for months. For sellers, plants are highly desirable items because they combine décor, relaxation, and practicality.
Meaningful gifts
Gifts that are thoughtful and practical enhance employees’ daily lives while leaving a lasting impression.
1. Apple airtags
AirTags help employees keep track of keys, wallets, or other essentials effortlessly. They’re a high-tech, practical gift that people actually use, combining convenience and modern appeal, perfect for sellers looking for reliable, in-demand items.
2. Umbrellas
A sturdy umbrella protects employees during rainy commutes, making it a practical everyday gift. Functional, durable, and universally needed, umbrellas are easy to sell because everyone encounters rainy days.
3. Scented glass jar candles
Candles with pleasing scents refresh home spaces and create a calming atmosphere. Beautifully designed jars make them a premium, aesthetic, and functional gift that employees love to display and use. This combination of décor and utility ensures high appeal for sellers.
4. Unisex bathrobes
Soft, luxurious bathrobes offer comfort for home relaxation or after-shower routines. With universal appeal, this gift is practical, indulgent, and widely appreciated, making it a strong choice for sellers targeting self-care enthusiasts.
5. Large insulated tumblers
Stylish tumblers keep beverages hot or cold during commutes, workouts, or home use. Practical, versatile, and easy to carry, they are daily-use products with broad appeal, giving sellers a reliable, high-demand item to offer.
6. Custom puzzles
Puzzles stimulate the mind and provide enjoyable, stress-relieving downtime. Their interactive nature makes them fun and engaging, ideal for employees and families. Sellers can promote these as unique, memorable gifts that keep customers coming back.
7. Skincare gift sets
Moisturizers, masks, and face washes encourage self-care and relaxation after a busy day. High-quality skincare sets are practical, thoughtful, and universally appealing, making them easy to sell to employees who value wellness and pampering.
8. Inspirational or personal development books
Books that motivate or teach new skills provide lasting value and encouragement. They are timeless, meaningful gifts that employees appreciate daily. For sellers, they’re easy to market as part of thoughtful packages for anyone seeking personal growth.
Create custom gift sets with Merchize & Boost your order value
For sellers, offering just one gift item isn’t always enough to make an impact. Instead, you can bundle multiple products into a personalized gift set for employees or corporate clients. These sets not only increase average order value but also give a complete, thoughtful, and professional impression.
Combine popular items at Merchize like t-shirts, insulated mugs, notebooks, tote bags, or desk and tech accessories to create diverse, eye-catching sets. Sellers can suggest custom logos or designs on each item, helping boost brand recognition while delivering a memorable experience to recipients.
Don’t wait, start planning early for Employee Appreciation Day with Merchize! This is the perfect opportunity for corporate clients to order gifts and for you to maximize your early-season sales.
