Merchandise for company parties: Christmas party, summer party and picnic
Christmas party, summer party, team picnic: company parties are moments when people get together differently than around a meeting table. Branded items play a particular role there. They are not thank-you gifts, but party accessories: they dress the setting, are used during the event, liven up the games and leave with everyone as a souvenir. This guide focuses on these products handed out during your internal events.
Party product or end-of-year gift: don’t confuse them
In December, two logics coexist. The end-of-year gift thanks an employee or a client for the past year: it is chosen with care, often wrapped, sometimes personalised. Our page dedicated to corporate end-of-year gifts covers this subject in detail.
The party product is something else. It is given to all participants, during the evening or the day, and it is used on the spot: a glass, a beanie, a cap, a team T-shirt. Its role is to create a shared atmosphere, make the party visible in photos and leave a light trace. It can be modest and quirky, whereas the gift must be refined.
The two readily complement each other: a party product handed out on arrival, then the end-of-year gift presented separately, at another time. Confusing them often leads to a compromise that fulfils neither role well.
The Christmas party: products for atmosphere
A company Christmas party generally follows the same running order: welcome, drinks, speech by management, meal or buffet, entertainment, sometimes a raffle. Each moment can feature a product.
- On arrival: a beanie or scarf in the company’s colours immediately sets the tone and guarantees a memorable group photo. The Winter and extreme cold selection brings together seasonal products.
- At the drinks: a custom reusable glass or cup, which everyone keeps all evening, cuts down on disposable tableware and saves people looking for their glass.
- During the entertainment: props for the photo corner, marked prizes for a quiz or a music quiz.
- For the raffle: a few higher-quality prizes, such as a speaker, a throw or an insulated bottle, which the winners are delighted to take home.
If part of the team follows the party remotely, send them the same beanie or cup at home in advance: everyone then wears the same colours on screen, and nobody feels like a spectator.
For a party held away from the premises, provide a bag so that everyone leaves with their products without forgetting them on a table.
The summer party and the team picnic
Summer calls for lighter, more colourful products. An outdoor party, a picnic in the park or a team day in the countryside often take place in full sun, and branded items become genuinely useful.
- Against the sun: marked caps, bucket hats and sunglasses, for a team that is protected and recognisable from a distance.
- For eating and drinking: a water bottle per person, refilled all day, and custom cooler bags to keep the picnic cool.
- For settling in: picnic blankets, towels, cushions, which will be used again on later outings.
- For playing: balls, frisbees and outdoor games in the company’s colours, which liven up the afternoon.
The summer selection groups together products suited to the sunny season. Also think of small hygiene and care items, much appreciated during a whole day spent outdoors.
Team T-shirts for games and team olympics
Many company parties include games: team olympics, rally, treasure hunt, sports tournament. Teams that can be recognised at a glance make the game easier to follow and more fun. The simplest solution remains the custom T-shirt, with one colour per team and the same marking for everyone.
A few practical tips:
- collect sizes in advance, when people register for the event, to avoid unpleasant surprises;
- choose clearly distinct colours and marking that is legible from a distance, on the back as well as the chest;
- give each team a name and add it under the logo, to strengthen team spirit.
These T-shirts often become sportswear or weekend wear. Careful marking, screen printing for uniform runs or flocking for team names, extends their life well beyond the party.
Organising distribution and thinking about the next edition
The logistics of a party are often tight: set-up, caterer, entertainment, music. Branded items must arrive ready to hand out, sorted by size or by team. Appoint someone to hand them out at reception and keep a small reserve for latecomers and last-minute guests.
Also think about the next edition. A product with no date or mention of the year can be used again: leftover cups or caps from the summer party will find their place the following year, or at a seminar. Generic marking, the company’s logo and tagline, proves more cost-effective than dated marking.
Finally, order ahead. Christmas parties fall right in the peak season for custom product production: the lead time for each product is shown on its page and runs from the approval of the mock-up. Prices, which are degressive, are displayed live in the configurator, allowing you to adjust quantities to your budget.
Questions fréquentes
What is the difference between a party item and an end-of-year gift?expand_more
The party product is handed out to everyone during the event and is used on the spot; the end-of-year gift thanks people for the past year and is chosen with more care.
How should team T-shirt sizes be managed?expand_more
Ask for everyone’s size when they register, then break down the quantities by size and colour when ordering.
Are reusable cups worthwhile for an evening party?expand_more
Yes: everyone keeps their own, disposable tableware is reduced and the product leaves as a souvenir. Undated marking lets you reuse the surplus.
Which products should be planned for a team picnic?expand_more
Water bottles, cooler bags, blankets, caps and outdoor games: products that are useful on the spot and reusable on later outings.
Should you order early for the Christmas party?expand_more
Yes, because the end of the year is the busiest period. The lead time for each product is shown on its page; prepare your vectorised logo in advance.