ESOP Life: Custom Swag for Empowering Employee-Owner Culture
Since becoming an ESOP company in 2020, we’ve found that carefully curated company swag plays a key role in nurturing a vibrant employee-owner culture. For the first time, we reveal our tried-and-true strategies for making swag a cornerstone of engagement initiatives to foster a deep sense of pride and community within our employee-owned organization.
The Impact of Purposeful Company Swag
What sets an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) company apart? Employees aren’t just workers—they’re owners. With a shared purpose and commitment to mutual success, one powerful way to celebrate this ownership mindset is through branded swag.
When thoughtfully crafted, promotional products become more than just giveaways—they ignite pride, strengthen team bonds, and reinforce the ownership culture. In this blog, we’ll explore proven strategies for leveraging custom-branded merch to energize your employee-owner culture, driving engagement and making every team member feel like an essential part of the company’s success.
Being part of an ESOP has made me feel more connected to the company. It’s cool to know that my efforts contribute to something bigger, and it’s great to be part of a team that values our contributions as owners!
Three Ways to Foster a Thriving Employee Ownership Community
We’re passionate about cultivating a sense of ownership and empowerment within our team, ensuring everyone feels invested in our shared success. To do this, we’ve explored strategies that not only educate employees on the benefits of our ESOP but also inspire them to embrace their roles as owners. Here are three proven ways we’ve engaged our own ESOP participants:
1. Stock and Roll: Share Price Reveal Events
One of the most anticipated moments of being an employee-owner is the annual share price reveal. It’s a chance for everyone to see how their contributions have driven the company’s value and to feel energized about the future. Turning the share price reveal into an interactive celebration not only sparks pride and excitement but also creates an opportunity to reflect on key milestones, inspiring teams to look ahead with renewed enthusiasm.
At CreativeMC, our employee-owner culture is a source of pride and purpose. We eagerly come together each year for The Wrap—our annual share price reveal party, inspired by the film term 'That’s a Wrap!' It’s a full-day event where we celebrate our financial performance, recognize standout contributions, and ignite our shared ambition for the future. Along with unveiling the year’s share price, The Wrap offers key insights into ESOP topics like eligibility and vesting, equipping employees with the knowledge to fully engage in their ownership journey.
Since launching The Wrap, our party planning committee has created many fun themes that dictate the event decor, attire, swag gifts, and share price reveal. A pinata game unveiled the Wrap Fiesta’s share price, while this year’s Wrap Disco featured covered cocktails and mocktails that surprised everyone with the share price printed on custom-printed rice paper. The team-building portion of the event included a branded, retro prop photo booth and a Hustle line dance choreography that kept the energy high!
2. Celebrate Team Triumphs: Employee Awards
In ESOP companies, having an "Employee-Owner of the Year" award creates an opportunity to celebrate an employee (or employees) who go above and beyond in driving the company’s success. This recognition not only boosts morale but also reinforces the importance of individual contributions to ownership. To make the moment truly unforgettable, pairing the award with a thoughtfully curated corporate gift just for employees—like a premium jacket or custom backpack featuring the company logo—adds a personal, lasting touch that celebrates the recipient’s achievement in a meaningful and lasting way.
CreativeMC’s annual recognition program is the Star Awards. While the biggest award is the Employee-Owner of the Year, there are 5-6 additional trophies awarded to the Sales leader (Mega Star Award), driver of the largest Sales growth (Shooting Star Award), and Operations leader (Super Ops Award). Winners go home with a stunning, engraved glass trophy and cash bonus prize so recipients can also treat themselves for their hard work and exemplary contributions.
3. Culture Club Kits: Culture Committee and Onboarding Kits
To further enhance ESOP culture, forming an internal Culture Committee is crucial to maintain the momentum of ownership enthusiasm. Employee engagement efforts don’t have to be elaborate events or costly initiatives. Small programs like a regular digital newsletter can serve as a valuable tool for communicating upcoming news, ESOP-related updates, and internal contests. By adding a fun twist, such as offering swag prizes like branded coolers or portable Bluetooth speakers for contest winners, the Committee creates anticipation and excitement around these efforts.
Onboarding kits provide new hires with a warm, thoughtful introduction to the employee-owner culture from day one. Whether sent to their home before the start date or presented on their first day, these kits can feature carefully selected items that reflect the employer’s brand. Popular choices include essentials like branded T-shirts, notebooks, and water bottles, or comfort-focused accessories like socks, candles, and desk plants. Paired with an informative packet explaining the ESOP structure, the kit not only welcomes new employees but also instills a sense of co-ownership from the very start.
Being part of an ESOP culture has truly transformed my work experience. I love how we come together to celebrate our successes, share ideas, and create events that bring everyone closer.
More than just numbers. ESOP = meaningful connections
An ESOP company’s unique structure gives employees a vested stake in its success. Integrating purposeful custom promotional products into team events, rewards, and internal communications boosts cohesion and motivation. From celebrating milestones to fostering team spirit, thoughtful gifts for employees enhance pride in ownership and inspire deeper investment in the company’s future—and their own.
