Building, sharing, and participating in culture isn’t always straightforward. It’s a process that requires nurturing and actively encouraging people to join in and celebrate. Whether you’re hoping to develop a culture around your business, your latest artistic project, or a specific movement, a crucial part of culture building comes from the materials you use to express it.
Something as simple as handing out stickers that have your logo or slogan on it is a powerful way to open the doors to your culture. It’s essentially like giving people a badge to wear – they feel like they belong to a group or that they represent part of a bigger trend.
At our core, we as humans are drawn to culture. It can bring us important social benefits and even contribute to our well-being. With that in mind, here’s how printed media can fuel your culture building efforts.
What is Culture Building?
Culture building is an ongoing practice to help people feel like they have a space in a shared setting (physical or otherwise). In business, culture building typically takes place through activities like games and events, where organizations can demonstrate what their values are and use them to bond people together.
However, culture building also happens on a daily basis through tokens. These tokens can include branded items and gifts that represent a business’s culture. People find these tokens useful or meaningful and so incorporate and display in their life, all the while showcasing their inclusion in the wider culture of the business.
Companies shouldn’t underestimate the impact of culture building among teams either. More than 90% of entrepreneurs and more than 80% of job seekers believe that a healthy work culture is key to success.
So, now that we know why culture building matters, how can you make it a reality?
How does Printing for Less Promote Culture Building?
Here at Printing for Less, we take care to practice what we preach, meaning we use the printed media tools in front of us to promote positive culture. Zach Rienhard, our Account Executive, says that the journey starts as soon as people join, when we give newbies a Printing for Less engraved mug, alongside socks and a postcard.
Fellow Account Executive, Kristi Eby, adds that she received a branded notebook on her first day, while Director of Sales, Katie Young, remembers that a class for training new hires included branded Yeti cups with personalized names for everyone.
These moments demonstrate to newcomers (who can easily feel like outsiders) that they are immediately welcome and seen.
Culture Building Through Printed Media
Culture building is delicate – it should be done in a genuine way to be a real reflection of the culture people are being encouraged to participate in. When it comes to printed media then, be cautious to produce goods that people actually want and will use.
Katie says that the Yeti cups were so successful because they made sense with people’s busy morning routines. Meanwhile, Account Executive Nathan Gardner, recalls a time when he had a customer who did an internal team building webinar and sent a branded kit to all the attendees beforehand. “The kit had different items that people held up in front of the screen at certain times, so people directly engaged with the printed media and team culture.”
The beauty of printed media and culture is that it creates a comradery among the people working at (or in contact with) your organization. “I’ve had a number of customers use printed media in onboarding campaigns, and others who’ve used it for holidays or ‘thank you’ gifts for employees,” says Nathan. Other clients have taken an alternative route, according to Zack, who notes that one campaign had printed foil scratch tickets. Each ticket had the potential to win a prize, and was one of the coolest and best received projects Printing for Less has been involved in.
The Benefits of Printed Culture Building & Branding
The list of advantages for investing in culture building is extensive. Research shows that culture building can boost retention, ensure a better fit with new employees, heighten teams’ satisfaction, and improve companies’ reputation as a whole.
Culture branding efforts through printed media can specifically engage remote employees more strongly because it gets them excited about a virtual event or reminds them that they are acknowledged and appreciated. All in all, printed media can be a bridge for remote workers who are at risk of feeling isolated from the organization’s culture.
Print media can also help praise people who have achieved certain targets. For example, if someone hits their sales record, you could send them an engraved trophy or glass to cheers with. Remember, culture building doesn’t stop once people seem comfortable in their environment, it has to be maintained and respond appropriately to the various milestones people encounter as part of your culture.
Ready to lay the foundations for your culture? Or add some exciting print elements to an already sturdy culture environment? Take a look at our vast selection of printed products and feel inspired.