Hiring is expensive, and losing talent is even more costly. The average cost to replace an employee can run anywhere from one to two times their annual salary when you factor in recruitment, training, and lost productivity. For companies with teams spread across Singapore and APAC, that cost is even harder to absorb.
One simple, underused way to improve retention is the onboarding gift. Not because a tote bag magically makes someone stay, but because the gesture behind it signals something important: we noticed you arrived, and we are glad you are here.
This article covers why onboarding gifts work, what to include, and how to actually get them to new hires across Singapore and APAC without the logistics headache.
Why the First Week Matters More Than You Think
New employees decide surprisingly quickly whether they have made the right choice. Research consistently shows that the onboarding experience in the first 90 days has an outsized impact on whether someone stays beyond their first year.
A welcome gift does not need to be expensive to be effective. What it communicates is more important than what it costs. When a new hire in Singapore opens a branded welcome kit on their first day, the message is clear: this company prepared for me. That is a powerful start to a working relationship.
Onboarding Gifts as Culture Signals
Branded merchandise is one of the most tangible ways to communicate company culture. A well-curated welcome kit tells a new hire what kind of company they have joined before anyone has said a word in a meeting.
Quality matters here. A thoughtfully packed box with items that are actually useful sends a very different message than a cheap branded pen and a lanyard. For companies hiring across Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines, working with a local fulfilment partner means you can curate kits with regionally relevant items that feel considered rather than generic.
What to Include in an Onboarding Kit
The most effective welcome kits balance practical items with branded ones. Here is what tends to work well for new hires in Singapore and across APAC:
Practical items: Notebooks, pens, a good quality tote bag, cable organisers, or a phone stand. These are things a new hire will actually use from day one.
Branded items: A custom tumbler or water bottle, a branded hoodie or t-shirt if budget allows, or a quality tote with your logo. These build brand affinity and create a sense of belonging.
Personal touches: A welcome card from the team or founder, a note explaining the company values, or a small locally sourced item that reflects the culture of the Singapore office.
The Remote Onboarding Challenge
Remote onboarding is harder. When a new hire joins from home, they miss the physical environment, the team lunch, the casual introductions. A delivered welcome kit is one of the few ways to create a tangible first impression across a screen.
For companies based outside Asia with remote hires in Singapore or across APAC, shipping a welcome kit internationally is often the default plan. It rarely goes smoothly. Customs delays, damaged packaging, and shipments that arrive two weeks after the start date are common. The kit that was supposed to signal “we care” ends up signalling the opposite.
Working with a Singapore-based fulfilment partner removes that risk entirely. Everything is sourced, packed, and delivered locally. Your new hire gets their kit on time, in good condition, without your team spending hours on logistics.
The ROI of Getting Onboarding Right
The numbers make this straightforward. A well-put-together onboarding kit costs somewhere between $50 and $150 per person depending on what you include. The cost of replacing a mid-level employee in Singapore typically runs into the thousands when recruitment fees, lost productivity, and training time are factored in.
You do not need onboarding gifts to solve a retention problem on their own. But as part of a broader onboarding experience that makes new hires feel welcomed and prepared, the investment is hard to argue against.
Getting Welcome Kits to Singapore and APAC
If your team is based in the US, UK, or Australia and you are hiring in Singapore or across APAC, the fulfilment question is the practical one that needs answering.
International shipping from Western countries to Singapore typically costs $40 to $100 per package, takes 5 to 10 business days, and comes with customs risk. For a growing team that is onboarding regularly, those costs and delays add up fast.
The simplest solution is to work with a local partner in Singapore who can source, brand, pack, and deliver welcome kits within the region. No international shipping. No customs clearance. Your new hire gets a quality kit at their door on or before their start date.
Rocketswag is a Singapore-based swag fulfilment team helping global companies send branded welcome kits to new hires across Singapore and APAC. Get in touch to tell us what you need.
