Happy Box Blog

You asked - we built it!

Now on many of our offerings, you'll see the option to ship a gift with just an email address, making it easier than ever to ship a thoughtful long distance gift.

"Many of our existing customers for both personal and corporate gifting have been asking for this," said Ariel Redmond, our Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer. We rolled it out to our corporate Concierge clients earlier this year and now have launched it for personal gifting, available on-site for a variety of our personal gifting offerings too like the Gift Box Builder our Curated Gifts. We've also always had this as part of our Gift Instantly option too, which many people use for last-minute gifting."

Here's how it works:

1. At checkout, you'll be asked if you want to ship using a physical address or an email address. If you select email address, you can add one or many email addresses, which will depend on how many gifts you have in your cart. 

2. Then you get to customize a fun gift message with memes, gifs, and your custom gift message:

3. Finally, you get to select your gift notification arrival date. Your recipient(s) will get this email notification and then get 3 more reminders, weekly to claim their gift. When they claim their gift, all they have to do is enter their current shipping address and the gift will be packed and shipped and sent right to their door. Easy peasy.

"We're continuing to innovate various shipping features and options, since our goal is to make personalized gifting as easy and seamless for our customers as possible," said Hannah Redmond, our Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer. The reaction to this new feature so far has been so positive so we're excited to show everyone what's next." 

Try it out by building a custom care package for any occasion, or by shopping one of our expertly sourced and best-selling gift curations. 

Our gift to all employers this holiday season is not gate-keeping this critical gift-giving truth nugget. So here it is: the one thing that takes a team gift from lame to LOVE IT is personalization. Here’s why:

1. By customizing a gift to their preferences, you’re making your team feel like you really see and appreciate them (which is so critical in a remote-work world). Plus, it means avoiding the dreaded, “I’m allergic” and “oh…I don’t drink,” convos. So you’re welcome.
   
   
2. Personalizing shows you’ve spent time and were thoughtful. Unlike, say, a digital gift card which screams, “I spent 2 minutes thinking about this.”
   
   
3. It may be the thing that keeps them from job hunting in the new year. 80% of employees who quit their jobs say lack of appreciation was a core reason, even above salary and bonus (Source: OC Tanner). In remote environments the feeling of appreciation and being “a part of the team” is hard to accomplish, which is why moments like these are the perfect opportunity to make a real difference.

It’s the holiday season - show your team you love them and appreciate them in the most professional and seasonally appropriate way with something unique this year. Happy Box is a great place to start. We’ll help you curate the PERFECT personalized gift, and we’ll handle all the details (like handwriting your cards for you and shipping to each doorstep). Think of us as your personal gifting assistant. What’s more, we’re certified women and minority owned and we source many of our gifts from other diverse-owned businesses, so you can feel great about gifting with us.

Ready to get gifting? Shop all holiday gift offerings here. You can build an individual care package in a few clicks or let them pick their own gift with Gift Instantly. Want bulk orders and robust branding on items and packaging? We do that too: reach out to our team about custom corporate gift offerings for the whole team. 

Amanda Green, Content Writer

Self care gifts are by far our most popular types of gifts at Happy Box, no matter what the occasion or season. And for good reason - self care gifts are always appropriate and appreciated.

Our team is pitched hundreds of gifts per month, from so many amazing brands. We're lucky enough to be in a position where we get to be very selective, and it usually pays off. We've just added some new fall gift inventory to the Box Builder, and here are some of our team's top picks for gifts this month.

And BTW, they have GREAT taste.

Callie, Sr. Manager Strategic Projects The Maple Leaf Cookies are a sweet treat that's easily becoming one of our seasonal best sellers 🍁
Nia, Art Director French Vanilla coffee - we're obsessed with the smooth taste (& the awesome packaging!) ☕
Sarah, Sales Assistant The Pumpkin Horchata soy candle - it's a fun twist on a fall classic and makes your home smell like a DREAM 🎃
Chris, Fulfillment & Warehouse Ops Manager XL Double Chocolate Chip Cookie - this is a BANG cookie - IYKYK, probably the best fresh baked cookies in the country 🍪
Ariel, Co-Founder & Chief Creative Officer You're doing f*king phenomenal mug - this literally cannot stay in-stock and is exclusively designed for Happy Box 💪
Hannah, Co-Founder & Chief Strategy Officer Vanilla Attachable lip balm...this is so fun because it can stick anywhere AND has a mirror - perfect for chapped lip SZN coming up 💋

Start building the perfect fall gift box by selecting from hundreds of unique gifts, seasonal and beyond, on the Box Builder today!

They don’t mean to be picky, which is why you might not know that they are. Virgos would rather keep something they don’t want forever rather than tell you it’s not their favorite. They are our charming, endearing and super empathetic friends! So of course you want to get them something special on their birthday.

This year, a custom care package that gives them an array of things to enjoy is the play. Give them an array of things to enjoy in their own custom, made-for-them care package. 

Need Virgo gift box inspiration? We got you. It’s important that your gifts be thoughtful, so we’ve illustrated the ideal care package for your detail oriented loved ones. 

Virgos' have a great appreciation for functionality and practicality in gifts. Their attention to detail and love for organization call for personalized planners or organizers to help them stay organized. Virgos appreciate high-quality, unique and fun stationery or office supplies for their meticulous nature, so make sure to browse the stationary section and add to your gift box.

The importance of self-care for Virgos is fundamental. The benefits of mindfulness and meditation-related gifts specifically for this perfectionist can not be overstated. In your Virgo care package, absolutely include items that they can use to defuse, unwind and zone-out. Lucky for you, we have an all-star selection of self care products to choose from.

Intellectual and creative gifts are another exemplary addition. Art supplies or creative tools for their artistic side as well as intellectual challenges, such as puzzles or brain-teasers are not only ideal, but practically demanded.

Meaningful and personalized gifts will always, without a doubt pull the heartstrings of a Virgo. They are sweet, sentimental beings, they deserve a gift that will rise to the occasion. At Happy Box, our amazing team hand writes every note for every gift box. Use this opportunity to tell them how much they mean to you, the amazing qualities they add to your life, and how grateful you are to have them. 

At Happy Box, not only is there a plethora of items to choose from, but they are sourced from small businesses who support sustainable living. Two qualities that will make any Virgo say “oooh yeah, I like that.” 

NEW: For all those last-minute gifters: If you’re running late on their gift for their special day, you can always send a same-day gift alert with our let them choose offering - where they can actually pick out their very own gift!

Written by Annie Atwood

Have a loved one who’s about to start college? Or heading back to the dorm for another year?

You could make the trip (or several trips) to various stores and then deal with the burden of packing, shipping…and hope that you didn’t forget anything or else it’s back to the post office…

Or you could save all that time, stress, energy and gas, build your favorite student their own personalized care package right from the comfort of your couch with Happy Box. There are literally thousands of combinations of gift boxes that could be arranged with Happy Box, which is why Box Builder is our most popular offering! Even better than the gifts themselves, each custom care package comes with your gift note, handwritten by an amazing member of our team. Really.

We've shipped hundreds of thousands of custom gifts, so we know a thing or two about custom gifting. Here are some tips to build the perfect "back to dorm" care package:

For those who enjoy the art of the surprise and are looking for inspiration, these are some categories to consider for your own customized back to school gift box. 

1. School Supplies: Students will never have enough to write with and on. But learning materials don’t have to be basic. Happy Box has options for not only notebooks, pens and other must-have items to keep your student’s mind on track, but also has items for some much needed mental breaks.
2. Home Sweet Home Feels: There’s something special about having a signature smell in your home. Or having a warm cup of gourmet coffee out of your favorite mug, or a thick, gooey cookie. Gift your student some home-making comforts, such as tea, hot cocoa, an XL cookie a great mug.
3. Self Care Essentials: From face masks and lotion to plant-growing kits and mindfulness flashcards, offer them a way to rejuvenate, relax and decompress during stressful exam seasons like midterms. Everyone needs a reminder to take a break sometimes.
4. Brain Fuel:  One thing all students need is an abundance of snacks. In the middle of the day or the middle of the night, those hard working minds need sustenance. Luckily, there is a variety of unique, delicious and fun foodie goodies on our website. There is a flavor for everyone, whether it’s salty, sweet, salty and sweet, and spicy for the ones who like a little burn.
5. Some Pizzazz: One of the best parts of the back-to-school season is the personalization of all your school materials. You’ve got the customized journal, the pens, the candles, the mug…and all of those things have ample real estate for stickers. Luckily, we’ve got you covered with an A+ selection of stickers for all personalities. If your student isn’t a “sticker person”, there are plenty of other choices to showcase their unique vibe - with pizzazz. 

Going back to school is an exciting, stressful and, sometimes, intimidating time. Every student deserves to start the school year with all the tools and comforts life can provide. That starts with assembling the perfect gift box. 

Our Happy Box team takes great pride in bringing warmth and smiles to all our customers. The quality doesn’t stop with our fantastic selection of items. On top of the handwritten note that comes with each package, every item is hand selected and hand packed. This minimizes the chance for mistakes or returns, and enhances your loved one’s experience by adding that “little something extra”. 

There’s no need to jump through hoops to make your favorite student feel special. Check out the thousands of combinations of gifts on our Box Builder!

Written by Annie Atwood

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