Now is the perfect time to get a jump on those summertime promos, before the beach fills up and the cicadas start singing. One idea with a lot of staying power is the picnic set. Why? They tend to come out year after year, and heaven knows they won’t get tossed aside or forgotten! Especially when they’re this nice. They can also be given under a multitude of circumstances: Special clients, service awards, retirement, even housewarming (great if you’re a realtor!) and of course as prizes during the company picnic.
If you’re envisioning Grandma’s old wicker basket with the checkered tablecloth nestled inside, guess again! While there are still nostalgic and (we think) very special models that bring back memories of Gram’s cherry pie, there are some pretty hip and trendy sets out there now too. Let’s take a look, shall we?
The first set (pictured above left) is a Four Person Insulated Picnic Basket in apple green. (It also comes in red or blue.) It contains a sewn-in aluminum frame so when the basket is empty, it collapses for easy storage. But the basket comes fully loaded! Plates, glasses, napkins, and flatware are included. The basket is waterproof and insulated so food stays hot or cold.
Next up is an interesting variation on “picnic”. We like this one because it’s great for travelers who aren’t exactly hip on that 6-hour-old gas station coffee. The Coffee Tote for Two People is a great solution. With a thermos, mugs, spoons, napkins, and cream and sugar containers, any java lover is ready to hit the open road or head out for some fishing with their favorite brew in tow. It comes in black, and you have your choice of subtle plaid or gingham napkins. This one is great for the guys as well!
Here’s a nice looking set for a romantic picnic for two. The main compartment and the detachable wine cooler are both insulated and waterproof. It contains wine glasses, plates, napkins, and flatware and has a nice long adjustable shoulder strap. With its luxury Bahamas designer fabric, it’s the perfect set for an evening walk on the beach. Included is a brass plate that can be engraved with the recipient’s name and/or company logo.
Of course we can’t forget the old fashioned wicker basket like Grandma’s, and this one is the souped up edition. She’d have been proud of it for certain, because as we know, in Grandma’s day they didn’t use paper plates and plastic sporks. This full reed willow set includes Italian ceramic plates available in two patterns, cloth napkins, stainless steel flatware, a cheese knife and cutting board, a wine bottle holder, and much more – all set for four people to have an afternoon of picnicking. We think Grams would have been proud of this one. It’s a good choice as an executive gift, retirement gift, service award, or a fine giveaway for your company picnic.
All the sets shown here can include your company name and logo, along with a recipient’s name. And as you can see, these are sets that will have years of use – no doubt be the first thing grabbed when the recipient heads out the door with family and friends this summer, and many summers to come.
If you like these ideas or have some of your own (we have a wide array of picnic supplies and more), feel free to contact us. We like picnics quite a bit, an although we won’t insist on being invited, we’d be happy to help you select the right gear for your company picnics and more. You can contact us by phone at 1-888/6646449 or email us. We’d be happy to help and we promise not to eat all the potato salad.
Giveaway Closed – Congratulations to TINA!!! You’ve been emailed regarding your prize. Thanks to everyone who entered, and stay tuned… the next giveaway is coming soon!
When was the last time you really felt appreciated for all you do in human resources? Come on, we know you don’t always get the kudos you deserve. Your job is tough – you are a valuable part of the company because you listen. You’re there when others need it, not to mention all the countless hats you’re asked to wear. As it turns out we work closely with human resources people like you every day here at General Motivation Company, and we’re always impressed with the amount of dedication it takes to do the job you do.
So we thought, hey, let’s do something different. We’ve had some pretty cool giveaways already, but this time we’d really like to extend a thank you to someone in HR. We chose a special jewelry set – the sterling silver and red coral earrings and bracelet you see in the photo – and we’d like to give it to one of you. (And yes we know, there are countless men in HR who would rather win something else, but we assure you we’ll do something more masculine next time. In the meantime, we invite you to enter to win this set too. It’d make a fantastic gift for someone near and dear.)
The rules to enter are simple, and we think they’re kind of fun. The giveaway will be open for entry for 2 weeks (through April 29, 2010), and there are chances for multiple entries! On April 30, 2010, we will randomly select a winner and if it’s you, you’ll be notified by email. We’ll also post it back here.
Let’s get you entered! (Please only enter if you currently work in human resources – we want to be sure we honor you, HR!)
1.) This giveaway is open to our email subscribers only – you maysubscribe here if you aren’t already. Then leave a comment here telling us you’re subscribed. (Subscriptions simply mean you’ll receive our articles by email. We won’t sell your address or send you pretend letters from the Prince of Namibia.)
2.) Leave us a comment! Tell us what first inspired you to go into the field of Human Resources. (You may comment once a day for extra entries. On following days, you can tell us what you like – or dislike – most about your job.)
A winner will be randomly selected on April 30, 2010, and we’ll notify you by email if you win. We’ll also post the winner here, so check back! Good luck and thanks for all you do!!!
When was the last time you needed some encouragement? Maybe there was a tough bump in your professional road, perhaps a creativity challenge or a personality conflict. Or perhaps you’d like to be encouraged in general, to help jumpstart an idea you have. For a fresh outlook on life, you may want to have a copy of this book handy: WOW: A Handbook for Living. Written by master management coach Zen Ohashi and Japanese musical artist Zono Kurazono, this inspirational and graphically pleasing book is a surefire way to get your spark back.
While one could certainly sit down and read WOW in its entirety in less than an hour, the authors encourage you to take your time about it. Each page has minimal text and interesting visuals, interspersed with several activities you can try. To get the best out of the book, read through from start to finish, attempting the activities as written. After that point, you’ll certainly find yourself returning to WOW again and again, so keep it nearby. You may just want to flip through later for a few words of encouragement or to find something to spark thought and creativity, and to remind you that the goals you set are worth the effort.
For those of us in business, you’ll find some valuable lessons within that you’ll find helpful not only for your own use, but for recommending to others as well. But WOW travels well to the home front too, and anyone owning a copy will no doubt find it impossible not to recommend to others.
1.) Leave a comment: What is one area of your business life that could use some inspiration and why? (Be creative! If the randomly selected winner doesn’t respond, you may be chosen based on your great response!)
Certainly one of the more popular choices in service awards programs is jewelry, for both men and women. Rings have a long history of being given as a symbolic gesture, which is probably what makes them such a fantastic service award choice, both for recipient and giver. Since the style, material, even price range is endless, the choices may seem daunting. But by keeping a few things in mind while you select, the process becomes simpler.
Price point is always important. Although gold prices are certainly not what they used to be, you don’t need to shy away from jewelry in the service awards program. Other metals make for great and beautiful buys as well. Consider sterling silver, which is enjoying a huge resurgence in popularity. Right on its heels is stainless steel, whose trend as a jewelry metal is growing fast due to its strength, durability, and shine – not to mention affordability! Of course gold is still a viable option, and there are plenty of affordable pieces out there in this most popular of precious metals. And recipients of gold will feel they’re getting not just a reminder of their years of service, but an investment piece worth hanging onto for future generations.
Also high on the list of consideration would be style. In the realm of awards catalog building, there are two basic directions here: Corporate and Fashion. Not to say that corporate rings can’t be fashionable! Indeed they can. Gemstones and diamond size easily signify years of service, and with a well-placed corporate logo, you’re offering a wonderful token of recognition to your employee. As years progress, diamonds can be replaced with larger pieces, which many people find rewarding.
Fashion pieces don’t offer the company logo, but employees often appreciate the choice of a fashion piece. When selecting rings for your corporate catalog, consider the year levels and what that might say about the recipient. For instance, someone who has worked for the company for 45 years might appreciate a more classic style in a jewelry piece, whereas many of the employees at the 5-year level may be more willing to choose from contemporary styling.
Whether the rings selected are $50 or $500 and up, offering a few choices is always a great idea, which will help reflect your varied staff. Style and durability can be had at all price ranges with a little guidance from those in the know. (We’d like to think that’s us.) What will result are service awards pieces that will be treasured for their representation of the years of relationship between employer and employee.
To learn more about using rings as part of your service awards program, feel free to contact us at General Motivation Company. We’d love to help!
It’s no secret – people want to know that their employers really do care about their well being. One effective way, with countless benefits to both employer and employee, is to institute an exercise program. Whether you’re a small office of 20 or a large corporation employing thousands, giving your employees an opportunity to benefit from some much-needed exercise can go a long way to having happier, healthier workers.
Many larger corporations (even some smaller ones) have found that by providing an exercise room for employees to use freely, whether during breaks or before and after work hours, their health care costs go down and productivity goes up. But you need not heat up the office credit card to build a state-of-the-art gym. Sometimes the simple approach is the most effective. Consider implementing stretching exercise breaks throughout the workday.
For just a few minutes once or twice daily, encourage everyone to stand up and go through simple stretching exercises. If you’re able to do them as a group, all the better – especially in factory and office situations where employees may be required to sit down for most of their workday. Companies who consider stretching breaks as a necessary part of the day most often report that their workers enjoy and appreciate the opportunity, and productivity increases after even just a 3 – 5 minute break. Health care costs also decrease, since simple stretching exercises have a way of reducing work-related injury. You may even discover that your employees enjoy the exercises so much that they participate in other physical activities even after the workday is done.
More than likely you already have an exercise expert right in your building. The proper exercise program can be as simple as asking the marathon runner in accounting or the yoga practitioner on the factory floor to spearhead the project. If there’s no one available where you work, consider consulting with a local gym or YMCA. Tell them what type of exercises you’d like to use, and ask them to help you set up the right stretches for your work environment.
You may also want to add some before- or after-work activities, such as bringing in a yoga or tai chi instructor. Ask your employees for input as to which they might prefer, then call some local martial arts and yoga schools in the area to see if they have an instructor or advanced student who would be able to come in once or twice a week – even every day - to lead a class.
Whether you go all out with an office gym and an early morning yoga class, or if you simply opt for two 3-minute stretching breaks, you’ll quickly notice all the benefits of exercise programs at work. Everyone will feel more energized and healthy, and there’s no doubt your employees will recognize that their company really does care about their well being. That may be the biggest benefit of them all.
Next up is an interesting variation on “picnic”. We like this one because it’s great for travelers who aren’t exactly hip on that 6-hour-old gas station coffee. The Coffee Tote for Two People is a great solution. With a thermos, mugs, spoons, napkins, and cream and sugar containers, any java lover is ready to hit the open road or head out for some fishing with their favorite brew in tow. It comes in black, and you have your choice of subtle plaid or gingham napkins. This one is great for the guys as well!
Here’s a nice looking set for a romantic picnic for two. The main compartment and the detachable wine cooler are both insulated and waterproof. It contains wine glasses, plates, napkins, and flatware and has a nice long adjustable shoulder strap. With its luxury Bahamas designer fabric, it’s the perfect set for an evening walk on the beach. Included is a brass plate that can be engraved with the recipient’s name and/or company logo.
Of course we can’t forget the old fashioned wicker basket like Grandma’s, and this one is the souped up edition. She’d have been proud of it for certain, because as we know, in Grandma’s day they didn’t use paper plates and plastic sporks. This full reed willow set includes Italian ceramic plates available in two patterns, cloth napkins, stainless steel flatware, a cheese knife and cutting board, a wine bottle holder, and much more – all set for four people to have an afternoon of picnicking. We think Grams would have been proud of this one. It’s a good choice as an executive gift, retirement gift, service award, or a fine giveaway for your company picnic.
