Happy Box Blog

Leos are famous for their loyalty to their friends and family. They deserve a meaningful gift to celebrate their special day. Here are a few important questions to ask yourself when putting together the best custom care package for a Leo. 

How have they been feeling lately?
Leo’s are constantly volunteering to help others and always work hard! Because of that, they experience intense burn out. So if they have been especially hard, then get them something that will bring them peace, help them relax and bonus points if you can do it together. Share with them some spa items, a candle, or a couple of face masks to do next time you're together.

What is a cherished memory in your relationship?
Whether it’s the day you met, the first time you watched their favorite movie together, or that one time you were walking around town and a bird dive bombed out of nowhere causing your slushie to be thrown into the air, thus drenching you both in sticky, icy, red liquid, leading to an eruption of laughter followed by hours of inside jokes….No matter what it is, get them something that they can always look at and remember your good times. Funky socks, a journal, matching keychains, even as simple as something the color red, to signify the red stains that never came out of that hoodie that they now have in the depths of their closet. But definitely don’t stop there. Match the Leo energy and load that gift box up! In your gift note, mention why you chose what you chose and the call-back to a memory - trust us it will go a long way!

Do they have time in the day for themselves? 
Leos often forget to factor time into the day for themselves. They need you to help remind them to decompress. This is the perfect opportunity to let them know you see all that they do for others. Get them something that is easy to put together and makes them feel calm, cozy and safe. Our suggestions: hot cocoa bomb or relaxing tea, a brand new mug, gourmet snacks.

Leos love someone who is proactive and thoughtful. Take a moment to reflect on these questions while browsing our box builder to build the perfect birthday care package. Load up your custom Leo care package, pick the design for the box and hand written note, and send without ever breaking a sweat. We also have an option to let them choose their own gift, just in case your Leo isn’t big on surprises. 

Written by Annie Atwood

Did we just hear some jingle bells?

Every year, we work with hundreds of clients who want uber-customized holiday care packages - things like hot cocoa kits with their logo on the box, a handwritten note, and a logo mug. We love creating a mix of elevated SWAG and really useful, enjoyable and unique gifts - they make for the most amazing branded unboxing experiences whether you're gifting to your employees or to your clients.

We service these gift campaigns via our Concierge Gifting offering - where our creative gifting experts and graphic designers work one on one with them to completely customize and design their care packages with custom sourced and designed gifts.

Many often come to us late November in a scramble to get custom gifting done for the holidays in time - and they have to pay rush shipping fees or the  inventory they want is simply sold out. 

This year, to help everyone check corporate holiday gifting off their list early, we're launching our Christmas in July Sale* - we'll give you 10% off your ENTIRE bulk gifting order if you book your Holiday '23 AND you reserve/book your gift campaign by August 31. Don't worry - we'll hold your inventory and ship it in time for the holidays.

It's a win-win: there is unlimited logo customization available, we can source ANY product you can possibly imagine, and we can secure early bird discounts with our amazing partners and pass those savings on to you. Not to mention: you cross this off your list early this year! 

So, if you know you'll be doing some sort of custom holiday gifting this year - book some time today or submit your inquiry form so we can get started on your completely customized proposal. If you do move forward and reserve your custom campaign by 8/31, you'll get 10% off your entire order.

*To qualify: you must mention the Christmas in July in the inquiry form or on the consultation call. The discount of 10% off is off product/design services only - not on taxes or shipping as those are pass-through costs. This sale is only applicable on bulk concierge orders of 50 boxes or more and with a campaign of $3,500.

It's no surprise that summer results in employees being a little less engaged. The sun is shining, and people are thinking about being outside, at the beach or pool, or are excited about an upcoming vacation (that - let's be real - they're probably partially planning during work hours).

Here are three ways you can lean into the summer fun and engage the team: 

1. Have a surprise ice cream day at the office - this doesn't have to be fancy - think ice pops from the 3rd grade. It just gives everyone a reason to stop and be social for 20-30 minutes and take a little break. Send an email or all-office slack saying "Let's celebrate summer - ice cream and ice pops at 3:00 today in the kitchen!" and order via Instacart or Uber Eats variety of ice pops and single serve ice creams (the more nostalgic the better) and enjoy the time as a team.

2. Send everyone a small, themed gift with a note from leadership wishing everyone a happy, safe, and fun summer - lean into the fact that they are going to spend time outside and tell them to enjoy it!

We hear it again & again from our clients: "Can you suggest a quick and affordable way to drive employee engagement for my team this summer?"  We've shipped 500,000+ custom gifts, so we know a thing or two....

 Some gifts we've done in the past for our clients: summer lemonade kits, s'mores making kits, branded beach balls, & the CEO's favorite "beach read" book about leadership. Want us to brainstorm for your needs and budget? Submit an inquiry or book a call today.

3. This is definitely easier if you have a small team, but you can always do a "walking meeting" - or do an outdoor activity. It could be as simple as taking lunch outside together at a nearby park, or do a full-on outdoor picnic or a team lunch at an outdoor restaurant. Even better - schedule an afternoon to volunteer together at a local community event or charity like painting park benches or painting a school. 

Happy summer! 

by: Hannah Redmond, Co-Founder, Happy Box 

We all know anecdotally that maintaining strong relationships is vital for our overall well-being and happiness, but it's backed in data: according to a study conducted by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, having strong social connections and friendships can significantly impact our happiness and well-being. The study found that people with a strong network of friends had a 50% higher likelihood of reporting higher levels of happiness and satisfaction with their lives compared to those without close friendships.

The study found that cultivating and nurturing meaningful friendships can contribute significantly to our well-being and overall life satisfaction. So, investing time and effort in building and maintaining close relationships can truly enhance our happiness.

But, like many, my time is super limited - I'm a first time mom trying to run and grow a small business. I've managed to find three easy and quick ways to stay in touch with friends and the people I love that results in a positive impact on my relationships.

Take 10 minutes and look up all your friends' birthdays for the next three months so you're not blindsided and accidentally miss them. Every so often I will look at Facebook and add those important birthdays to my Google calendar, and make the event repeat annually so I never have to do it again. I do this for aunts, cousins, big clients, close friends. It helps me never miss a birthday text, card send, or gifting moment.

Share a fun memory on social media. Almost all social channels share memories on their platform - old images from 10 years ago with friends...take a moment to repost and tag your friend and say something sweet or funny about the memory! It always will elicit a great reaction and definitely spur up some fun memories and spark conversation. Pro tip: the older the better!

Finally, and this is the easiest one: whenever you're sitting idly for a few minutes, just reach out with a random text, for no other reason than checking in. Think: on a train for your commute, waiting for a doctor's appointment in a waiting room, on hold with customer service, waiting for a script to be filled at the pharmacy. Take a break from scrolling social or checking email and text someone proactively and out of the blue. It makes a really big impact when there is no reason at all - just say "hi, thought of you - how are you doing? How is your family?" It goes a long way to check in. I've made it a goal to "catch up" in those moments where I'm sitting and waiting for something - it makes waiting more enjoyable and productive.

by: Hannah Redmond, Co-Founder, Happy Box 

Me working from home with my toddler - Elmo on one screen and emails on the other

Here at Happy Box, we've already shipped THOUSANDS of holiday gifts, especially since we have our "buy now, ship in time for Christmas" shipping option.

So, we've compiled the top selling themed gift boxes our customers are currently building to help inspire your holiday gift shopping. 

Reminder: you can build a custom holiday care package in a few clicks on our Build a Care Package platform, which even includes your gift message, handwritten in your card. 

Top themes this year:

Ready to check holiday gifting off your list?

• Build a custom care package
• Shop curated care packages
• Peep our corporate options 

Happy Holiday Gifting!

With burnout at an all time high, it’s no wonder “quiet quitting” is trending right now. Quiet quitting is essentially the idea of employees just doing what they need to do to get by to "get by" and remain employed. It's renouncing hustle culture, and quitting the idea of going above and beyond at work, and its been trending on platforms like TikTok. A 2022 global workplace report from Gallup determined that only 21% of employees were engaged at work, and most didn't find their work meaningful following the pandemic.

But as mentioned in many articles about quiet quitting, the term just repackages the term “employee disengagement.” With remote and hybrid workforces, companies are struggling to find creative ways to keep driving up employee morale and engagement without doing the same thing over and over again.

It’s a better experience for everyone if employers create a place where employees feel valued, appreciated for all the time spent working. After all,  those of us working full-time jobs spend way more time with our colleagues than we do our own friends and family.

At Happy Box, we’ve executed thousands of custom, branded employee engagement gifting campaigns with the goal of keeping employees engaged: both one-time gift campaigns (i.e. gifts for all employees for Wellness Month), and ongoing gift campaigns (i.e. sending seasonally relevant surprise gift boxes for all employees). While gifting is certainly not the only thing that will keep employees around, we’ve found that when gifts are sent in a more creative manner, and at unique, creative “non-traditional” moments, they are more effective in driving engagement and retention. Your team appreciates - and expects - a holiday gift from the company. But the surprise & delight element of a “self care” kit after a crazy milestone or hard quarter is so much more appreciated and therefore positivity received.

The right gifts:

• Provide additional touch points for HR/management to hear feedback from the team (use the opportunity to ask for feedback, or include a survey)
• Create a socially-sharable “moment” that builds employer brand equity
• Show investment and drives emotional connection among remote teams
• Support your company’s mission and values - for example supporting small businesses or diverse suppliers/vendors 

With Three-Year Revenue Growth of 6,000+ Percent, Gift Platform Happy Box is Ranked in the top 100 Among America’s Fastest-Growing Private Companies 

NEW YORK, August 16, 2022 – Today, Inc. revealed that Happy Box® - happyboxstore.com -  is number 53 on its annual Inc. 5000 list, the most prestigious ranking of the 5,000 fastest-growing private companies in America. The list represents a one-of-a-kind look at the most successful companies within the economy’s most dynamic segment—its independent businesses. Facebook, Chobani, Under Armour, Microsoft, Patagonia, and many other well-known names gained their first national exposure as honorees on the Inc. 5000. 

Over the past few years, Happy Box has been modernizing the art of long-distance gift gifting for consumers and corporations alike with one objective: to create creative, unique gift offerings that sit squarely at the intersection of customization and convenience.

“We started this company as a side hustle, building care packages on the floor of our apartments,” says Ariel Redmond, Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer. “It is surreal when we step back and realize that in only a few years we’ve been able to build a brand and grow the business into what it is today: a full service consumer and corporate gifting platform that services clients like Uber, Accenture, Pinterest, Google, The New York Times, and so many more.

The Happy Box team listens to customer feedback to continuously improve and innovate their popular “Build a Care Package” offering - which includes the option to pick from a variety of gifts, pick a card to be handwritten, or record a personal video message, and even pick the box design the care package will arrive in. Most recently, Happy Box has added new features to their site to better service their growing corporate gifting customer base, allowing clients to upload branding/logos to items, cards, and even boxes right in a few clicks (minimums apply). Finally, the founders use their previous marketing agency background to run Happy Box Concierge, in which they service clients one-on-one to creatively brainstorm, source, design and fulfill completely custom one-of-a-kind gift campaigns that meet corporate clients’ business objectives. 

"Our corporate clients say they come to us because they've already done the antiquated, ‘traditional’ gifts a few times and they're looking for something different, unique, and creative," says Hannah Redmond, Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Office. "Especially since they’ve had to gift remote teams and clients a few times likely by now due to the new normal of hybrid and remote work. That's where our expertise comes in and we really shine - even our corporate clients who work with us again and again never gift the same thing twice. The opportunities for customization with Happy Box are endless.”

 “We like to say we're the Snoop Dogg of gifting in a sea of Martha Stewarts," says Ariel. 

The companies on the 2022 Inc. 5000 have not only been successful, but have also demonstrated resilience amid supply chain woes, labor shortages, and the ongoing impact of Covid-19. Among the top 500, the average median three-year revenue growth rate soared to 2,144 percent. Together, those companies added more than 68,394 jobs over the past three years. 

Complete results of the Inc. 5000, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, region, and other criteria, can be found at www.inc.com/inc5000. Happy Box, as well as the other top 500 companies are featured in the September issue of Inc. magazine, which will be available on August 23. 

“The accomplishment of building one of the fastest-growing companies in the U.S., in light of recent economic roadblocks, cannot be overstated,” says Scott Omelianuk, editor-in-chief of Inc. “Inc. is thrilled to honor the companies that have established themselves through innovation, hard work, and rising to the challenges of today.” 

“Being an entrepreneur is a rollercoaster with such extreme highs and lows,” says Hannah. “We have been challenged in ways I could never have imagined over the past few years, and making the list is an accomplishment that makes all the nights, weekends, and sacrifices worth it. We continue to face challenges daily but this recognition energizes us to continue to push harder and to innovate even faster.” 

Ask any Happy Box fulfillment team member what their favorite part of their job is, and 100% of them will say “reading the card notes as we hand write them.” The gift notes our customers write to their friends and family are so inspiring. You really get to see how genuine, caring, and kind people are.

Some of our favorite themes we see:

Thanks for being an amazing human.

Thank you for being my rock!

Thanks for all your hard work and dedication!

We were inspired to tell some of these stories.

Introducing a new content series: Happy Stories. We talked to six amazing women who sent Happy Boxes to loved ones. We asked them all about their experience choosing a gift recipient and all the gifts to go inside their Happy Box. You can view all the videos in the link below - and if you laugh or cry - we know the feeling ;)

Happy Stories Playlist

Moms are some of the hardest working people on the planet. Many are juggling careers, nap time (or lack thereof), household chores, feeding kids, and so, so much more.

As a new working mom myself, here are some tips for employers to make working moms feel supported.

1. Flexibility 

This is definitely the most important way to support the working moms on your team. Moms are great at multitasking, juggling tasks, and getting things done. Sometimes she will need to run out at 3pm to pick up her kids, or take a break at noon for tummy time - but rest assured she’ll always still find a way to make sure the work gets done.

2. Open communication

According to Harvard Business Review, employees who say they feel respected are more satisfied with their jobs and end up being more loyal to their companies. Talk to moms about when they may need a flexible schedule, or when they can make up work, or what they need to feel supported. It will go a long way with earning respect, managing expectations, and keeping employees long term. 

3. Send an appreciation gift

Sometimes a small gift to show appreciation can make a big impact. This Mother’s Day, send the working moms a treat to show them how much you appreciate their dedication to both their careers and their children!

Our co-founders Hannah and Ariel were always good at multitasking, staying up late, and waking up early, but things just got crazier… they’re both new moms! Eloise and Reyna came into the world in December, and it’s been a wild, exhausting, and fun ride ever since.

Hannah and Ariel shared some of their experience in the first few months of motherhood and running a business. 

What is the most difficult part of juggling new mom life and running a business? 

H: Well I'm currently writing this with one hand and holding a sleeping baby in the other arm...ha! 

Prioritizing has been hard but so important...there are so many things I WANT to or NEED to do all the time as a business owner and I never stop thinking about them, but I also want to ensure I'm prioritizing the baby and our new family dynamic as first time parents. The good news is, having a baby made me realize the importance of "me time" and "family time," and has forced me to take a step back and truly focus my energy on what is most important, even when it comes to deciding what to do each day for the business. I try to focus on work that drives the most impact.

The one thing that was probably the hardest was not really taking time off after giving birth. Ariel and I started working part time just days after giving birth (although fortunate enough to work remotely and have an amazing team to support us), but I do wish I had some more baby-only time in the first month. It is super frustrating that in a developed, resource rich country like ours, we don't have government-supported paid parental leave. But that's a whole other conversation...

A: Time management and figuring out when to work have been the biggest challenges! The days of 9-5 straight work are gone for me! Let's just put aside the fact that there aren't enough hours in the day to work on your business and stare at your baby lovingly (as much as I'd like to, at least!), I've had to figure out when I can get the most work done.

In the beginning, I would use my baby's 3 am feedings as time to catch up on email. Now, she's 4 months old and I'm using her long naps as my "get it done" time. I think giving yourself the time you want with your baby is crucial, so to me that means working whenever I'm not caring for her. Honestly, it's a balancing act, and perfecting is going to take some time I'm sure.

What is the most rewarding part of Motherhood?

H: Watching her discover the world is so beautiful. I love seeing her curiosity, and her pure joy at the simplest things. It really reminds me every day to focus on the little things. She has recently discovered her feet and is having an absolute BALL staring at them and wiggling her toes. So freaking cute.  

A: Literally everything. If there is a memory I could live in forever though, it would be the first time I made Ella laugh. But it's every moment you realize you are so important to this little person. She needs me for every single thing, and somehow, it's not annoying or infuriating. Somehow Motherhood is both thankless and the most fulfilling gig at the exact same time. Being a mom hit me like a ton of bricks and every moment is just so sweet and special. I'm 4 months in and savoring every moment because it truly is pure magic. 

How is Motherhood and a business owner similar?

H: I think both being a first time mom and an entrepreneur there are times when you realize there is NO manual for this and you figure it out along the way. Also in both roles you feel so personally responsible for people and their successes and growth. We have a small amazing team and we are always thinking about how we can do better for them, and same rings true for baby Rey. 

 A: Again, thankless and somehow super fulfilling! Being a mom is so hard, but the love you feel for this little person makes it all worth it. Watching Happy Box start as an idea, then turn into a website, and then turn into a business employing some incredible people--THAT feels good. I think every mom and founder alike would agree that the "low"s suck, but the "high"s are what make it all worth it–so savor them!

Has becoming a mom changed how you view running a business and working? 

H: I definitely feel my general priorities have shifted overall and baby is above all. I also think it woke me up to realize that it shouldn't be a "perk" to have a family-friendly culture, it should be the standard. It is so difficult having a newborn or infant and all parents deserve flexibility to be a parent - to take care of kids when they are sick, to leave early to make a recital, etc. I genuinely cannot imagine working late like I did in some of my previous corporate jobs and missing bedtime every night. Ariel and I take this seriously and as business owners will always insist our team to put family first above the work we do here.

Written by: Natalie Santangelo

May 8, 2022, the day we celebrate the mother figures in life a little extra. Mom, Mother, Madre, Mamá, no matter what you call her, make sure to celebrate her and show her how much you appreciate all she does for you. For someone so important it can be hard to decide what to gift her to truly show your gratitude. We wanted to make it a little easier for you with this Mother’s Day gift guide! 

Make her breakfast! 

No matter your cooking abilities, this is something that can be done at any level. Whether it’s simply bringing her some waffles and pouring a glass of orange juice, or cooking up pancakes and some coffee, she will definitely appreciate the gesture. This simple, yet wonderful action will allow her to start her morning feeling appreciated and loved. 

Go for a walk with her! 

Get some fresh air and take some time to enjoy the outside. Whether it’s around the neighborhood, or even if you go to a park nearby, take in the scenery with your mom. Leave your phones at home, too! Enjoy being unplugged and take the time to spend some quality time with mom a little bit more. 

Print out one of her recipes! 

Does your mom have a special dessert or dish that she loves to cook? Print out one of her recipes!  Laminate it so she has it forever. Elevate the night by cooking the dish WITH her, or for her! This is a great way to ensure she’ll feel appreciated. Even if you don’t like cooking, don’t forget, this is her day!

A Spa Night! 

What mom doesn’t need some extra relaxation time? Grab some face masks and nail polish and get ready to relax. Add to the night by queuing up a movie and ordering in her favorite take out! Relax, unwind, and enjoy!

Gift her a care package! 

Whether she lives far or close, Happy Box makes it easy to gift her a box of things she’ll love! Happy Box allows you to select the perfect gifts to go inside a box, or pick a curated box, to ensure she’ll receive a bunch of goodies that she’ll appreciate. Not only will she love everything inside of it, but it’ll save you a ton of time.

We hope this list wipes out all your stress for Mother’s Day! Lastly, from ours to yours, Happy Mother’s Day!

A few of us are new moms over at Happy Box, and are so excited to be celebrating the joys of mommyhood for our first Mother's Days this year! So we thought it would be fitting to round up the best advice all the moms at Happy Box got when they were new moms.

"There's no manual for motherhood/parenthood - just go with your gut. Always accept help when its offered, and ask for it when its not. Whenever you share a hug with your kids, don't be the one to let go. They will let go when they're ready; enjoy every second of them holding on to you." - Kat, Senior Manager, E-comm Fulfillment Operations & Mommy to Charlie and Teddy

"My biggest piece of advice from a 4-month old mom is: give yourself grace. You're healing, you're learning and you're sleep deprived. Try to see the good in every moment you have because it really is a beautiful time (even though everything is messy and you have no idea what you're doing). Enjoy every cuddle with your little one, savor every feeding, and bask in the love-fest that is being a new mom. Be open and communicate with your partner about your needs and how you're feeling, and accept help! Just give yourself time to learn and grow into motherhood! More practical advice: stool softener."- Ariel,Co-Founder/Creative Officer & Mommy to Eloise "Ella" 

"If it's working for your family, it's the right thing. Don't compare yourself or what you are doing and don't worry about it if it's working for you and your family. Also, no one knows your baby better than you. Trust your gut." - Rita, Director, Marketing, Growth & Operations and Mommy to Tyler 

"A few things I was told by more than one person that have really helped me through the newborn stage: 1. In the hardest moments, remember everything is temporary; it gets better. 2. Let things go. It’s so easy to be stressed by a messy apartment, or questioning if you’re doing things exactly right when you see "perfect" moms on Instagram…no one is perfect and you are doing your best - and that's enough! 3. A happy mama makes a happy baby: make sure you’re also prioritizing tiny things for YOU: a bath, enjoying a chocolate bar, a workout, etc. It will make you feel human again." - Hannah, Co-Founder/Chief Strategy Officer & Mommy to Reyna "Rey"