Onboarding
Employee welcome pack ideas worth unpacking
The best welcome pack is a sturdy bag holding a few things a new starter will use in their first week, waiting on their desk on day one. Keep the logo small so they'll carry the bag on the commute, and order a year's worth at once so each pack costs less.
5 min read · Updated 17 September 2026
Why a welcome pack is worth doing
Everyone remembers the first morning of a new job: the lanyard that doesn't work yet, the desk that was somebody else's last week, the laptop still being set up. A pack waiting for them says one simple thing: we were expecting you.
Most of what goes inside gets used up. The notebook fills, the snacks go, the card gets pinned up and forgotten. The bag is the part that lasts. If it's a good one, it's still going to the shops and the gym a year later, and that's the bit other people see.
What to put inside
Things they will use in week one, plus one or two that make them smile.
- A card signed by the team. Names and one line each. It helps a new starter put names to faces, and it costs nothing.
- A proper notebook and a pen that works. People take notes all through their first fortnight.
- A water bottle or a mug. Something for their desk that isn't from the office cupboard.
- The practical sheet. Wi-Fi details, who to ask about what, where the good lunch places are and which one does the best sandwich.
- A snack for 3pm. Ideally from somewhere local to the office.
- Something for the home desk, if they'll work from home part of the week: a good coaster, a plant, a decent tea.
A bag they'll carry on the commute
Choose the bag as if it were the gift, because it is. A light 150gsm shopper is fine for a conference, but for a welcome pack we'd go heavier: a 280gsm or heavier canvas tote feels substantial, holds its shape and takes a laptop, a lunch and a jumper without complaint.
A gusset (the fold-out base and sides) makes a big difference for anyone carrying a laptop, and a bag that stands up on the desk looks better when the new starter first walks in. Natural and black are the safe colours for work bags, and both suit almost any brand colour. Our heavyweight canvas bags are all good candidates.
Three bags we'd shortlist
Compare size, fabric weight and capacity side by side. All three are sturdy enough for daily use.
| Detail |  Premium Recycled Canvas Tote Bag |  Premium Organic Canvas Contrast Panel Tote Bag |  Premium Recycled Canvas Stand Up Tote |
|---|---|---|---|
| Printed from | £2.12 +VAT | £7.46 +VAT | £1.93 +VAT |
| Sample | £1.35 | £5.80 | £2.19 |
| Size | 38 × 42 × 10 cm | 52 × 38.5 × 16 cm | 46 × 38 × 20 cm |
| Fabric weight | 280 gsm | 407 gsm | 220 gsm |
| Material | Cotton | Cotton Canvas | Cotton Canvas |
| Capacity | – | 32 litres | – |
| Colours | 16 | 6 | 2 |
| Express | Yes | Standard only | Standard only |
Brand it quietly
Here's the thing about staff bags: people will carry a nice bag with a small logo on it, and they'll leave a bag with a huge logo in a drawer. Nobody wants to look like a walking advert on a Saturday.
So keep the logo modest, somewhere near the top of the front, in one ink colour. Black ink on a natural bag, or a single light ink on a black bag, looks smart and costs less than a multi-colour print, because each colour needs its own screen. If you want to say more, use the back for a short line people will actually agree with. A bit of wit works better than a mission statement.
If your brand has a precise colour, send us the Pantone reference and we'll match the ink. We check your artwork for free and email a proof before anything is printed. Our guide to designing for a tote covers print sizes and placement.
Order once for the year
Welcome packs are a steady trickle rather than a single event, which tempts people into ordering twenty bags every few months. It's the more expensive way to do it. The screen charge is a one-off for each ink colour on each order, and bigger runs cost less per bag, so one order for the whole year works out better than four small ones.
Count the new starters you expect in the next twelve months, add a few for returners and internal moves, and order that. Leave the year off the design so the last bag in the cupboard doesn't look out of date. Cotton and canvas bags fold flat, so a year's supply lives happily on a shelf in the stationery cupboard.
If your organisation pays by purchase order, we can invoice you: see payment options. And if you're choosing between two bags, order an unprinted sample of each first. More ideas for staff and event packs are on our welcome pack bags page.
Questions people ask
What should go in an employee welcome pack?
Things a new starter will use in their first week: a notebook and pen, a water bottle or mug, a card signed by the team, a sheet of practical information and a snack, all in a sturdy printed bag they can keep using.
What is the best bag for a staff welcome pack?
A heavyweight canvas tote with a gusset, 280gsm or more, such as our Premium Recycled Canvas Tote Bag or Premium Organic Canvas Contrast Panel Tote Bag. They are strong enough for a laptop and look good enough to carry every day.
Can you print each new starter's name on their bag?
No. Screen printing puts the same design on every bag in a run. A design that works for everyone, such as your logo and a line on the back, will last all year.
How many welcome pack bags should I order?
Enough for the new starters you expect over the next year, plus a few spares. One larger order costs less per bag than several small ones.
Can we pay by invoice?
Yes. Schools, councils and larger organisations can pay against a purchase order and invoice. Get in touch before ordering and we'll set it up.
Putting together a welcome pack?
Tell us roughly how many starters you expect this year and send your logo. We'll suggest a bag and check the artwork for free.