I wrote in my last post about my past life as a department supervisor. At that time, I was working at a mortgage company that had a massive customer service call center operating out of our building. While this team was on the phones lines, my department was working behind the scenes reviewing mortgage documents and initiating the correction process if mistakes were found. As the perpetual bearers of bad news, we were not very popular folks.

We had a company-wide program called “WOW”, which was our way of recognizing exceptional customer service. While, philosophically-speaking, our organization subscribed to the concept that everyone is a customer, whether external or internal, the only employees who ever won a “WOW” were our call center reps who had received great customer feedback. There’s nothing wrong with that; except… I had a department of 27 hardworking people who had never shaken the hand of our CEO and they were starting to get hostile.

Facing the potential of an angry mob, my team leaders and I leapt to action and created our own program. We used it only within our group to nominate each other for a monthly excellence award. The winner took possession of our travelling trophy – one that we ordered, incidentally, from Baudville:

The trophy passed through the hands of several proud team members before I left to frolic in more literate pastures. Hmmm, I wonder where it is today…

Jumping back to the present, I’m thinking about how the same recognition disparity could happen at Baudville. Except that it doesn’t. Every morning, we read in our comment cards how a customer had a great order experience with Andrea, or Ryan, or Justin, or Mary Jo. Hats off to them for sure for making our customers so dang happy.

But even when our customers have never spoken to us and can’t mention us by name, when I read that a trophy arrived flawlessly engraved, I know that we have Lindsay or another member of our custom team to thank. Or when that same order arrived so quickly that our customer nearly fainted, Marilyn probably helped make that happen. When I read that our web site is easy to use and shopping was a breeze, I know Nik probably worked late to ensure that. Jeff made sure we had enough products in stock to fulfill a massive order without delay. April designed a theme that everyone is raving about. Laura handled a tricky issue with a customer’s invoice.

I sound like I’m tooting our horn a little too loudly, I know. But, really, I’m blaring out the praises of all of the individual Baudvillians who make this place work. Just as we are all customer service, so are all of the members of your staff. How about saying thank you this year during Customer Service Week? It’s right around the corner: October 3-7.

In the spirit of everything I’ve just written, I’m recommending gifts from our TEAM theme:

Its design will appeal to everyone on your team and the message drives home that every person brings value to your organization.

Did this post inspire you to plan a company-wide Customer Service Week celebration? Tell us about it!    

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Allison is a self-proclaimed Copywriting Diva and has the certificate to prove it! She’s been writing for Baudville for two years and has worked in a variety of business settings for more than 17 years. Before becoming a professional writer 10 years ago, Allison worked as a department manager where she used Baudville products to motivate her team. She’s what we call a true believer!

At Baudville, we are dedicated to improving workplace environments through recognition and appreciation. Our products and awards are designed to sincerely appreciate individuals and increase employee engagement, retention, and motivation.

Our sister company, IDville, has the same mission but focuses on employee identification and security. Maybe you’re aware of their ID accessories, some of which are also available on Baudville.com. IDville has become known for its ID Maker suite of products, however, and helps customers find the right identification system for their needs. Their first class technical support helps you get everything up and running smoothly.

Now, IDville is helping organizations save even more time and money with their new Quantix time and attendance system. Quantix automates your time and attendance processes and reduces administrative time, streamlines time card management, and grants greater access to employees and managers.

Quantix is a System-as-a-Service (SaaS), so you don’t have to install any software on your computer and is completely web based. That means all your updates happen automatically reducing IT headaches and responsibilities!

If your time and attendance program looks like this...

Even though our Spirit Team hasn’t leaked any details about next week’s Customer Service Week   events, employees at Baudville are getting excited!

For our company, Customer Service Week is a celebration of ALL employees’ contributions to the customer experience. We understand that just because you don’t speak to a customer doesn’t mean you don’t influence their impression of Baudville. Marketing, packing, purchasing, accounting – all the departments at Baudville play important roles making sure customers find and get the right products.

We typically celebrate Customer Service Week with a theme and events every day of the week. (See this article  for more details about our past Customer Service Weeks.) It requires a lot of hard work and planning, but it always leaves a memorable impression on our staff.

Recently, I asked our employees about their favorite Customer Service Week events. Here’s what a few of them had to say:

“My favorite was when other departments covered thephones for the Customer Service Department so they could eat lunch together.” – Keri

 “I like all the snacks, but I’m a big pig. Oink oink! Usually there’s a tray of various goodies to choose from.  I like the selection of salty or sweet and the fact that each employee can choose what snack they want.”  – Kelly

“My favorite is lunch with a few games.  It’s a great time because everyone gets to come together to eat and hang out (even if it’s quick).  Also, there has to be prizes for the games!  They can be little ($5 gift cards), but that give it an element of competition and excitement.” – Christopher

“I LOVED the breakfast when we had omelets made to order, fresh juices, etc. There’s just something about having a great breakfast with everyone in the morning that I like even better than lunch. The day is new, and no one has been messing with you yet.” - Bruno

Worried that it’s too late to order gifts or plan for Customer Service Week? Don’t fret! Our same day shipping will get those team gifts  to your doorstep in no time.

Plus, we have lots of great articles with tips and ideas for Customer Service Week both on the Recognition at Work blog  and in our Recognition Resource Center . And don’t miss our Recognition TV episodes ! We share 15 minutes of ideas on both of these videos.

Our snack baskets have been a big hit with employees. Simply fill a basket with snack-size treats, like crackers, snack mix, and chocolate. Let employees pick their favorites!

Do you still need help planning Customer Service Week? Post your questions here for our recognition experts!

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Cori is Baudville's in-house Recognitionista (she's officially a Certified Recognition Professional, too)  and a member of the Millennial generation. Get her employee recognition tips and special discounts by liking Baudville on Facebook.

When I was asked to write a blog post for this week on a new product or theme, I have to admit that I procrastinated a little. I just didn't know what to write about because there is so much! Baudville's just introduced 200 new products and 6 new themes with the perfect price for all sorts of recognition budgets! 

Below I have highlighted some top new products in a price category that works best with your recognition budget.

Gifts $5 and Under:

• Sweet Treats: At just $4.95, sweet treats are a yummy gift for daily recognition. Tell someone thanks with our new Office Cheer theme. Plus, with Halloween around the corner it's a great trick-or-treat gift for the office!

• Quarter-Sized Notepads: These are perfect for the to-do list fanatics. Employees and coworkers can quickly jot down a note or a list. Quarter-sized notepads are just $1.99 each and sold in packs of 5 for $9.95. Make sure all of your over achievers receive a quarter-size notepad in our new Above and Beyond theme.

• Button Set:  Oversized buttons let the whole office know what a great job your team members are doing. Praise your team with buttons in our new Hello My Name Is theme.  Just $1.73 each and are sold in packs of 4 for $6.95!

Gifts $10 and Under:    

• Sticky Note Booklet: A great gift for managers and office employees. There are 9 different sticky note choices for just $7.95. You can mark your notes with a sticky note tab, write a note to yourself with a small sticky note, or write a note to a coworker with the medium or large sticky note! Say thanks with our new Thanks theme sticky note booklet.

• Twist Top Tumbler: Twist Top Tumblers are a practical gift for office use and for employees that are on the go. Twist Top Tumblers can hold both hot and cold beverages, and are a refreshing $9.95. Recognize a positive team member with our new Attitude is Everything theme.

• Stainless Steel Travel Mugs: We are excited to introduce a sleek new style to our stainless steel travel mugs. Our new stainless steel mugs feature a twist off cap and a spill-proof sip hole. Stainless steel keeps warm beverages warmer and cool beverages cooler for a longer amount of time. Tell someone they’re truly appreciated for just $16.95.

• Photo Frame Desk Award:  Give your team members a chance to display an important photo for only $17.95. Our new Pursuit of Excellence theme is a great way to congratulate a team member who has excelled.  The recipient can keep the Baudville artwork in the photo frame or replace it with a meaningful photo. Plus, you can choose to personalize this gift with a special message for just an extra $10, making the photo frame a great gift for just over $20!

So how could I just write about a specific product or theme when there is so many to choose from? I couldn't! As an intern, I would really appreciate receiving one of our new stainless steel travel mugs because I am constantly on-the-go for school. Plus, I am a coffee addict and love to have a fresh cup wherever I am!  Don't miss out on the full collection of new products at Baudville. Click Here to see all 200!



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Kendra is the newest Baudvillian. She is currently an advertising intellectual at Grand Valley State University, and is ecstatic about the change of atmosphere as Baudville’s web marketing intern. Watch out because this young professional just touched down at Baudville.

Back when I was working as a department supervisor, our division’s influential and much-loved Vice President of Operations decided to resign her position and pursue a completely new career path. My manager reported to her directly; but even those of us a step below felt insecure and anxious about how this major change would impact our daily lives. The thing was, everyone was quite comfortable and satisfied with the status quo.

Shortly after she made the announcement, she called several of us into a meeting and presented us each with a book that eventually made huge waves in the corporate world. It was called “Who Moved My Cheese?”—a simple, concise allegory about the pitfalls of not adapting to change. That was more than ten years ago and I’ve never forgotten how profound that interaction was or how meaningful and relevant (and perspective-building) her gift was to those of us about to be left behind.

Advice, inspiration, and appreciation during the momentous times in our lives can be significant and future-shaping—sometimes even world-changing. Knowing this, we hand selected an assortment of gift books to help you celebrate and commemorate these occasions.

Suppose you know someone who's graduating, retiring, or embarking on a new career… The One and The Five are both wonderful workbooks to help map out that next endeavor. Or, if you want to give these voyagers some words of inspiration, Reach for the Stars is filled with terrific, uplifting quotes.

Maybe you’re having a year-end celebration to energize and thank the hardworking members of your team… Here’s to You,Gratitude, and Together We Can will not only show your appreciation and help unite your team, any of these books can also help you set the tone for a successful year to come.

Perhaps your organization relies on volunteers and caregivers… Every day they offer their time, energy, and kindness. Memorable books, like The Heart of a Volunteer, Because you Care, or Be the Difference are all thoughtful ways to give back for all they do.

Flowers fade and chocolates fatten, but these gift books will last a lifetime in the minds and hands of those you want to thank and inspire. Don’t forget, presenting the book in person will make your gift more meaningful, and your handwritten note and signature in the inside sleeve will put a smile on your recipient’s face each time the book is opened!

Have you received a gift book at a pivotal time in your life? How did it inspire you? 

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Allison is a self-proclaimed Copywriting Diva and has the certificate to prove it! She’s been writing for Baudville for two years and has worked in a variety of business settings for more than 17 years. Before becoming a professional writer 10 years ago, Allison worked as a department manager where she used Baudville products to motivate her team. She’s what we call a true believer!