Christmas Staff Gifts: Branded Hoodies and the Real Deadlines
By The Velocity Wear Team
Every December, UK businesses scramble for staff gifts. Hampers, vouchers, a bottle of something. A well-made branded hoodie or sweatshirt stands out because people wear it for years, and it quietly builds team identity every time they do. The only real problem is timing.
The dates that matter
Production takes 10 to 15 working days from artwork approval, plus delivery. Then you need time to wrap and hand out gifts before people break up for Christmas. Working backwards:
- Early October: choose the garment and design, collect sizes.
- By early November: approve the artwork.
- Late November: gifts arrive.
- First two weeks of December: wrap and hand out.
Couriers get busy in December. Planning to the wire is how gifts arrive on the 23rd, after half the team has left.
Pick a gift people actually want
- Heavyweight hoodie: the most-worn option for most teams.
- Embroidered crewneck sweatshirt: smarter, suits office teams.
- Quarter zip: good for client-facing staff.
- Embroidered towel set: a luxurious, unexpected choice for smaller teams.
Design it like a gift, not a uniform
Staff gifts should feel different from work kit. Use a smaller logo, a tonal thread, a nice colour, or a secondary mark. A subtle line like the year or an in-joke on the sleeve makes it feel personal. A giant logo turns a gift into a uniform.
Collect sizes privately
Send a short, private form with a size chart in centimetres. Offer a relaxed fit so nobody feels awkward. If you want it to be a surprise, ask for sizes as part of a general kit update in October.
Include everyone
Part-timers, night shifts, remote staff, people on leave. Missing someone at Christmas causes more upset than not giving gifts at all. Order a few spares for late starters too.
Presentation
Fold neatly in branded packaging with a handwritten card from the team lead or director. Hand them out in person at a team lunch if you can. Branded packaging is an add-on on our orders.
Tax
Gifts to employees can have tax implications. HMRC has rules on trivial benefits and on branded items. Ask your accountant how your gift should be treated.
Mistakes to avoid
- 1Starting in late November.
- 2Using the work uniform design for a gift.
- 3Guessing sizes.
- 4Forgetting remote staff and part-timers.
- 5Handing gifts over in a plastic bag.
Quick checklist
- Garment chosen by early October?
- Sizes collected privately?
- Artwork approved by early November?
- Everyone included, plus spares?
- Packaging and cards ready?
Gift ideas by team type
- Office teams: an embroidered crewneck in a soft neutral with a small logo.
- Warehouse and field teams: a heavyweight hoodie they'll wear to work and home.
- Client-facing teams: a quarter zip that works with smart-casual clothing.
- Hospitality teams: a relaxed hoodie for the walk home after late shifts.
- Small teams of under 20: combine hoodies with a partner business or add spares for new starters.
Adding a personal touch
A small detail makes a gift feel personal. The team's nickname for the office, the year on the sleeve, or an in-joke printed inside the neck. Keep it inclusive so nobody feels left out, and avoid anything that could embarrass someone if the hoodie is worn outside work.
Distributed and hybrid teams
If your team works remotely or across several sites, post gifts early in December. Royal Mail and couriers publish last recommended posting dates, and December volumes slow everything down. Include a card and consider a video call where everyone opens theirs together.
Budget per head
Set a clear per-person budget and choose the garment that fits it. Hoodies start from $31 and sweatshirts from $25 each at 20 pieces, less at 50 and 100. The calculator shows totals in pounds. A good hoodie often lands within a typical staff gift budget, especially for larger teams.
Get started
Hoodies start from $31, sweatshirts from $25 each at 20 pieces; the calculator shows pounds. Minimum 20 per design. See custom hoodies, or wholesale towels for a towel gift with a 50-piece minimum.
