Although the Thanksgiving holiday has come and gone, at Baudville, we don’t see any reason to stop being thankful. In fact, we like to think we’re just getting warmed up!

As we reflect on the year, we can’t help but feel deep appreciation for those who make our business thrive: that’s you! We realize that you, our loyal customers, are truly essential to our success. Thank you!

We hope we can give back to you by continuing to provide you with products and resources that help your company be the best it can be. To do just that, we’ve been working over the past months to bring you a great batch of new products that you can use to start off the new year with excitement and enthusiasm. Watch for them in January, and until then…

Cheers to a happy and prosperous holiday season!

 
Happy Holidays from the entire Baudville team!

 

The Recognition at Work blog will be taking a break over the holidays, but we'll return after the New Year on January 3rd. Looking for more information and ideas? Visit our new Recognition Resource Center!

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Brad Darooge is President and CEO of Baudville and a positive mojo aficionado. He brings the positive mojo to work every day along with his bike. In addition to leading Baudville, Brad is also an amateur triathlete.

From the entire team at Baudville, we hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving! We will be closed Thursday and Friday for the holiday and to give our employees some much-deserved time off with their families.

Before you leave the office for turkey and pie, hop over to Baudville.com and send a free Thanksgiving ePraise. ePraise is a free ecard system created by Baudville to help managers and employees say thank you on a regular basis. Thanksgiving is a great time to let your team know you’re thankful for everything they do. And what better way to say it than with a free ecard? 

Thanksgiving is a great time to let your team know you’re thankful for everything they do. What better way to say it than with a free ecard?

 

Be sure to check the blog first thing Monday morning. We’re going to have a Cyber Monday special that will knock your socks off!
 

First, a big thank you to everyone who attended today’s Recognition TV webisode! If you weren't able to make it, click here to watch recorded version. I appreciate your participation and feedback – thanks for sharing some great ideas! Be sure to register for November’s webisode on Year End Awards and Events. It’s the last webisode for 2011 , so you don’t want to miss it!

If you’re looking for the gift giving best practices I shared today, jump over to Monday’s blog post, “Five Tips for Holiday Employee Gift Giving. “ And if you want to read my reasons for giving team gifts during the holidays, see my “Team Gifts for the 2011 Holiday Season ” blog post. This blog post is all about team gift ideas! Here are my suggestions from today’s Recognition TV:

New Holiday Themes
If you’re familiar with Baudville, then you know we design products in recognition themes to make your gift giving more effective and memorable. This year is no exception as we’ve designed four new holiday recognition themes  for you to use to recognize your team. Each theme says thanks in a different way and offers different gift options. These new gifts are perfect for recognizing your team at the end of the year. The message on the gift expresses your appreciation, it serves as a lasting reminder, and it’s something your team can use, whether it’s a travel mug or a note cube and pen gift set.

Our Penguin theme is one of four new holiday themes for 2011!

One of the most popular holiday gifts we offer is our Spinner Ornaments . These are a favorite even among our employees! Each year our executives recognize teams during our Year End Party by sharing their accomplishments with the entire company. The executives hand each person a Spinner Ornament engraved with the Baudville logo. It’s not uncommon for employees to swap boxes looking for their favorite ornament designs. Employees collect the ornaments over the years, and they begin to take on a very special meaning.

 

Lunch & Gifts
One of the most popular ways to recognize and thank your team at the end of the year is to treat them to lunch. Take the entire team out together to build camaraderie and celebrate the year. Present your gifts at lunch when everyone is together and in the holiday spirit. My father always took out his office for a lunch around the holidays, and he gave them Stainless Steel Travel Mugs  as a gift. Stuffed with a packet of hot cocoa and wrapped in tissue paper with a bow, it was a festive gift that the entire office used year round!

Low-Cost Ideas
These days, budgets are tight. Just because you don’t have a lot (or anything!) to spend, doesn’t mean you should ignore your team. Buy a set of holiday greeting cards  and have your organization’s logo printed on the inside. Write a personal note to every member of your team and mail the cards to their home. Receiving your card at home will be very unexpected, and I guarantee they’ll be talking about it in the office the next day!

Make your own team gifts with your famous fudge recipe or killer caramel corn. Whip up a batch of your favorite holiday treats and package them in holiday themed bags, boxes, or glass jars. Attach a gift tag for a festive touch.

Personalized Gifts
Make your gift unique by personalizing an item with the recipient’s name and the date. This makes it a special keepsake. You don’t have to give the traditional clock at the holidays, either. An engraved picture frame  is something everyone on your team can use. Or order an engraved journal  for every member of your team. Your team will be able to use the journal at work for meetings, notes, and brainstorming – and they won’t get their journal confused with anyone else’s!

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Lindsay is Baudville’s Product Manager, so she’s always shopping for the hottest new item! She’s been at Baudville for over seven years in a variety of marketing and product roles and knows the company like the back of her hand. Keep up with all of the new products Lindsay and her team create by signing up for Baudville new product email updates.

A thank you gift doesn’t have to be expensive or elaborate to make an impact. We recently received this letter from Phyllis in Pennsylvania who used our recognition themes and milestone awards to give her volunteers and teachers some much deserved recognition!

 

“I became aware of your products last year about this time. Although they are geared toward the workplace, I have incorporated their usage in my Sunday School with students and staff. When looking for a gift for our teacher appreciation brunch for the teachers, in 2009 we chose the note paper “Making a Difference.” We stressed that they each were making a difference by teaching our children. In addition, as the Sunday School Coordinator, I gave each of the teachers and helpers a Helping Hand milestone  as my personal thank you for their commitment. 

This fall, our Sunday School theme was “You are an Essential Piece of our Sunday School.” Each child was given a cardboard puzzle piece to decorate and put their name on, and we have put them together to make the whole. My gift to the teachers and helpers this year will be the Essential Piece milestone I just received. I will have a tough time keeping them until May when they are presented!

 

Your themes are terrific and the prices and quality of your products are outstanding. I just thought I would share with you how your products can be appropriately used outside of the usual workplace. 

Keep up your good work, and I’ll keep spreading the news of your products when possible!”

Phyllis demonstrates that regardless of where you work or the type of organization you serve, there are people who deserve your thanks and appreciation. This spring, write a thank you note or give a small thank you gift to express your appreciation! Tell us about your thank you gift this spring, and we'll post it on our blog and send you a free gift! Submit your stories on the blog, via email or on our Facebook page.

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Cori is a Certified Recognition Professional at Baudville and a member of the Gen Y generation. Get her daily employee recognition tips and special discounts by becoming a fan of Baudville on Facebook.