The sun is shining, the birds are singing, and Baudville products are sale-ing! That’s right: more than 250 Baudville products are on sale starting today, and because you’re a loyal reader, we’re telling you about it first!

What better time to stock up on certificates and accessories you need for the year? Or get a jump on the holidays by ordering your greeting cards early—at up to 25% off!

Maybe you’re thinking about starting a recognition program? Give some of our favorite gifts and recognition awards a try at great discounts you won’t see at any other time of the year. Even our bestselling Essential Piece® Cheers Kit is on sale!

The important thing is to shop now before we tell everyone about it! Happy sale-ing!

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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 three years and has worked in a variety of business settings for more than 18 years. Before becoming a professional writer 11 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’re fortunate enough to be hiring right now, which means we have all kinds of new faces walking our hallways. Whenever we have new employees on board, we always take a few minutes at our all-staff meetings to introduce them to everyone. There’s a fair amount of hoopla at these meetings, and I think a lot of our newbies leave them with their hair blown back a little. (I still remember my first one!) But, we only have these meetings periodically, so sometimes new team members can be here for weeks or even a few months before they get that big shebang welcome.

This got me wondering… about our new hires’ impressions of us and also about what we, as a company or as individuals, do to make people feel welcome here on a day-to-day basis. So, I asked them!

Terry told me: “The first time I met everyone here at Baudville, I was astounded with how nice everyone was to me. I have worked at companies previously where you had to ‘prove’ yourself in order to fit in. I am proud to be working at a company that chooses to lead by example.”

Mikki responded with: “When I was asked to join the Baudville team I not only thanked my supervisors for the opportunity; but also thanked myself for pushing towards a brighter future in my career. I have had more than just a welcome; I feel a close family already beginning for me here.”

Andrew gave his two cents: “I walked in and saw a ping pong table. I said to another person, ‘I want to play.’ And now I play just about every day at lunch! It reminded me of a time when I was researching Google’s work environment, and I said to myself, ‘I want to work at a place like Google’ … and now I’m here!”

Here’s what Midori said: “When I came on board with Baudville, they gave me a welcome gift in the Making the Difference theme. It made a difference to me to see employees thanking one another for helping them, or giving a Shout Out for a job well done, and to actually see management foster an environment where positivity is not only nurtured, but shared.”

And, finally, a word from John: “On my first day I was presented with some great Welcome to the Team gifts, which I loved. Come to find out we sell these each and every day. What a great way to welcome someone to your team.”

Well, all right! I’m sure glad to hear that everyone is doing their part. If you want the same enthusiasm from your new hires, simply:

Be helpful and friendly. Sounds obvious; but how easily do we forget, once we’re settled in and comfortable, what it’s like to be the new person? Encourage everyone to greet new people and introduce themselves. Take it another step by asking how it’s going and if they need any help.  

Include and involve. For us, that sometimes means inviting new employees to a game of ping pong; but it could also be to lunch, or to share their ideas in a meeting. Make them feel like they’re a part of your team – and they will be.

Get off on the right foot. Present new employees with a welcome gift filled with handy desk items they can put to use right away. This could be a Theme Gift Set, a Celebration Gift Set, or one of our new-ish Welcome Kits.

Remember, a proper welcome is more than a handshake. Done thoughtfully and with the involvement of everyone in the company, it can positively impact new hires and set the stage for a successful and long-lasting relationship. And that’s what you’re aiming for, right? 

Want to share how you welcome new employees? We'd love to hear 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 three years and has worked in a variety of business settings for more than 18 years. Before becoming a professional writer 11 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

For me, it seems like summer just decided to grace us with its presence here in West Michigan. While summer's rolling in, Baudville has been busy rolling out fabulous new products. A specific new set of products we are really excited about is the new Gift Sets.

Although Gifts Sets as a whole are not a new concept, we have launched two new Gift Set options. The new Journal, Pen, and Tote Gift Set includes a 100 page journal, coordinating pen, and a poly-canvas tote. The new Office Gift Set includes a 575-sheet note cube with coordinating pen, a 14 oz travel mug, and a kraft bag with tissue paper creating an outstanding gift presentation.  With the many Gift Sets available, you can mix and match providing an array of Gift Sets to recognize your employees and coworkers.

This week at Baudville we just got word of our company picnic  taking place in early August. If your company is having a picnic or company gathering this summer, field games are a great way to bring people together. Gift Sets are fantastic prizes for the winning team or individual. If you have 3-legged race, don't miss out on awarding the winning team with our new Teamwork Journal, Pen, and Tote Gift Set, or our new TEAM Office Gift Set . For an egg-dash, (set an egg on a spoon and run up and down a marked area, whoever still has the egg on the spoon and finishes first wins!) award the individual winner with our You are Truly Appreciated Journal, Pen, and Tote Gift Set, or our Making a Difference Office Gift Set.

Gift Sets have tons of practical uses for your employees and coworkers to use in the office or at home. At Baudville people like to bring tennis shoes to work and walk during lunch, totes make a perfect carrying case for their tennis shoes. I like to bring my totes to the beach, out for picnics, and to the grocery store as an extra reusable bag! Who doesn't need an extra pen and note cube or journal; I love to keep one by the phone in case I need to jot something down quickly. At Baudville, everyone has a travel mug or water bottle on their desk. Travel Mugs are great for coffee enthusiast, tea lovers, and just plain H2O aficionados, all of whom can use a mug on the go and at work.

Don't worry I saved the best news for last. By bundling and buying a gift set you save yourself or the company $4! Don't miss this practical summer steal!

*Don't forget to vote for your favorite summer team event stories on Facebook. The winning team receives Gifts Sets for the whole team! Vote now by visiting our Facebook page and like your favorite story (the team with the most likes wins).

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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.

I just returned from a vacation in Budapest, Hungary, where there was very little that wasn’t completely foreign to me. The language. The currency. The landscape. Really, pretty much everything.

After hiking to the top of Gellert Hill on day three, we were met with colossal monuments, a breathtaking panorama of the Buda and Pest cityscapes split by the Danube River, and a humbling military fortress, complete with rows of artillery cannons. Yep, we definitely weren’t in Michigan anymore.

The unknown certainly sets the stage for great adventure; but there comes a point when it doesn’t hurt to encounter something familiar as well. So, imagine my delight (I may have squealed) when we rounded the Citadella’s main façade and bumped into this:

My friends giggled as I insisted on taking a photo of this lapel pin display; but little did they know how close to home I suddenly felt. Or, my home away from home that is: the ‘ville.

As I basked in my warm fuzzy moment, I also felt a deep thought coming on: that in a culture that seemed so dramatically different from my own, there was common ground in something as simple as a lapel pin.

In any setting—not just a military one—lapel pins portray honor and accomplishment. They’re a badge to be worn with pride and prestige. That’s why they remain one of our most popular recognition rewards. And, apparently, our Hungarian friends feel the same way!  

We don’t have one of the Magyar flag (yet); but we do have an out-of-this-world variety of exclusively-designed lapel pins for just about any occasion. Plus, we offer custom lapel pins, so if you can dream it up, we can probably do it.

And, here’s a little secret: our designers are currently working on a whole new batch of lapel pins. So, stay tuned!

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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 and a half 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!

The holidays are right around the corner, and managers are already thinking about the perfect holiday gift for 2010. At the end of the year, it’s important to recognize the accomplishments and efforts of your teammates or employees.

A small act of recognition can boost spirits and motivation for the New Year. If employees don’t feel appreciated, they won’t be as engaged or put forth as much effort.

As the recognition experts, we’ve learned a lot about holiday team recognition gifts through the years. Here are a few of our top recommendations:

 Award Certificates
Award certificates are the most affordable way to recognize your team during the holidays. With an award certificate bundle, you can create 50 personalized awards for only $2 each. The award certificate bundle includes everything you need, so creating certificates is easy.

 Greeting Cards & Sweet Treats
Pair a personalized holiday greeting card with a small gift, like our Sweet Treats, for a tasty treat your employees can enjoy any afternoon. For the greatest impact, write a personal note to each of your employees.

 Our Most Popular Team Recognition Gift, Spinner Ornaments
If you pride yourself on being a part of the latest trend, then you’ll want to give our Spinner Ornaments for your holiday team recognition gift. Spinner Ornaments have been our most popular holiday gift for several years. Make your unique mark on the gift by personalizing each ornament and writing a personal note on the inside of the gift box.

We’ve given ornaments to our staff the last few years, and they are becoming a collector’s item among employees!

 Office-Friendly Gifts
Team recognition gifts that can be used regularly around the office are always well received by employees. Portfolios, travel mugs and gift sets are been popular because most employees can put the gift to good use. As a gift giver, it’s always fun to see your gifts in use!

 Award Trophies for Major Accomplishments
If you’re celebrating a major accomplishment on your team, celebrate in style! Present award trophies to the team. Customize trophy verses to reference the specific accomplishment and personalize each trophy with the recipient’s name.

Regardless of what team recognition gift you choose for this year, make your gift personal for each recipient by including a greeting card with a handwritten note. Employees will treasure and remember your kind words!