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RESOURCE LIBRARY

Holiday Party Time

Turn Company Culture Into Wearable Moments

Office Christmas and holiday parties have gotten a bad reputation. Some employees like them as an opportunity to get together with fellow employees and celebrate, while many others see them as time-consuming, awkward, or even stressful.

One big downside is deciding what to wear. No one wants to spend time figuring out what to wear and wondering how formally or casually they should dress.

Why not make clothing choices easy and fun for employees attending your holiday party? Instead of a night where people compare outfits, what if it became a celebration of culture that literally everyone could wear?

Gift cards · Prepaid cards · Direct payments · Merchandise · Charity · Swag

Person wearing a festive sweater and holding a drink at a holiday gathering
OVERVIEW

Plan an optional, inclusive holiday gathering

A thoughtful holiday gathering starts with a clear purpose, voluntary participation, realistic timing, and equivalent alternatives for employees who cannot or choose not to attend.

Optional apparel can be one fun element.

CURATED PARTY WEAR

Curate a choice of holiday party wear

The holiday party doesn’t need to disappear. It just needs to evolve.

Celebrate the holidays with personalized selections of clothing.

One simple idea is to provide a curated choice of clothing; customizable company swag that folks can make their own and wear to the gathering.

By shifting the focus from appearances to shared experiences, companies can create events that people look forward to instead of dreading. A curated, automated approach to something as simple as selecting shirt and clothing choices can transform the mood, the message, and the meaning of the celebration.

man wearing sweater to holiday party
White branded polo shirt
WEARABLE CULTURE

Culture you can see and feel

Clothing is one of the most visible ways people express identity. At work, shared apparel reinforce the sense that “we’re all in this together.” But not all company clothing lands the right way. A one-size-fits-all t-shirt dropped on someone’s desk can feel like an afterthought rather than a meaningful gesture.

That’s where choice comes in. Imagine a simple, curated selection of shirts made available to every employee before the party. Styles, colors, and fits that match different preferences. Personalization options might be offered that include a name, a role, or a fun message, so that no two items feel exactly the same. Everyone makes their choice online in a few quick clicks, and the items are produced to order and shipped.

Now everyone can show up at the party with confidence. There are no worries about who is wearing the nicest clothes, because everyone is dressed in a similar fashion, but in a way that still feels individual.

The party becomes more relaxed, more inclusive, and more focused on shared experiences than appearances. After the event, the shirts live on as a visible reminder of the event and the time of year.

Choice creates meaning

Choice has a big impact in making recognition and incentives memorable. People feel valued when they can select something that reflects their personality or needs. Offering a selection from a curated list of wearable choices ensures that no one has to sift through endless catalogs of styles and also avoids gifts that don’t fit recipient’s style.

Personalization adds an extra layer of significance. A shirt with your name on it feels different from one that’s just mass produced and handed out in bulk. Personalized recognition that allows a choice and a selection of color becomes more than just another piece of swag.

AUTOMATED SELECTION

Automate selection and preferences

Offering choice and personalization at scale doesn’t happen by accident. Ask any office manager who’s tried to collect shirt sizes manually. It’s usually a logistical nightmare with spreadsheet after spreadsheet, lost emails, and mismatched orders that makes what should be a simple idea feel impossible.

This is where incentive automation changes the game. Instead of manual processes and chasing details, sending reminders, and investing hours and hours of time, organizations can:

Choice and personalization

01

Set up a curated catalog with a few approved selections.

02

Allow employees to make their own choices online.

03

Capture sizes, colors, and personalization in a streamlined system.

04

Send reminders of impending deadlines.

05

Automate fulfillment so items are delivered directly or ready for the event.

06

Plan early so holiday parties go off without a hitch.

classic fit holiday sweater

No manual tracking, and no last-minute stress. Incentive automation creates a smooth process that is simple for organizers and effortless for employees.

Remember that some folks don't like gatherings

Employees may not see the value in attending holiday parties, especially if they don’t enjoy the planned activities or don’t feel they’ll benefit from the experience.

Make sure that employees know that opting out of a holiday party is OK, even though they will be missed.

Who knows?

Maybe the new shirt or sweater will get them to change their mind.

EVERYDAY WEARABLE CULTURE

Beyond the holiday party

The real beauty of wearable culture is that it lasts longer than a single night. Employees will wear their shirts again, at home, out with friends, or even in the office. The visible reminder keeps the sense of connection alive well past the holidays. Every time they pull it on, they’re reminded that they belong to something bigger.

The level of choice and customization that incentive automation offers extends far beyond holiday parties. The same ideas that make party shirts possible can also handle holiday gifts, milestone rewards, onboarding kits, partner and loyalty rewards or any other recognition program. Automation turns what used to be messy and time-consuming into something scalable, consistent, and enjoyable.

Onboarding kits

Imagine every new hire being welcomed with a curated apparel choice that matches their style, turning day one into a moment of pride.

Work anniversaries

Instead of a plaque, employees pick from branded jackets or hoodies that celebrate their years of contribution.

Team recognition

Launching a new product? Completing a tough project? Commemorative gear turns achievement into something tangible.

Channel incentives and rewards

Motivate and reward channel partners, distributors, and dealers for achieving sales or performance goals.

An optional celebration model

The holiday party doesn’t need to disappear. It just needs to evolve. By shifting the focus from appearances to shared experiences, companies can create events that people look forward to instead of dread. A curated, automated approach to something as simple as a shirt can transform the mood, the message, and the meaning of the celebration.

Incentive automation isn’t only about efficiency—it’s about enabling creativity and connection. It frees leaders from logistics so they can focus on designing experiences that reflect company culture in authentic, memorable ways.

When culture is something people can see, wear, and personalize, it stops being abstract. It becomes part of daily life. And that’s what turns an ordinary office party and any recognition moment into a memory employees will actually carry with them.

GET STARTED

Incentive delivery that means more and costs less

Design Sessions are a great way to review best practices and to create a complete delivery sample.

We’ll walk you through building a complete project in the campaign builder with your logo, your recipients, and your incentive selections.

No credit card required →