Nearly two years into COVID, people are exhausted and employees in essential roles have especially taken the brunt of it. Working in person since the beginning, they contend daily with staff shortages, virus exposure and all sorts of other stresses.

Not surprisingly, it takes a toll. According to the January Household Pulse Survey by the U.S. Census Bureau, 34% of people working in person reported feeling anxious or depressed in the previous week.

The truth is that those in healthcare, manufacturing, grocery stores, pharmacies, education, sanitation, logistics, transportation and other critical sectors have kept the country up and running during a tumultuous time. And sadly, their work once again is going unacknowledged.

One of the best things you (and your clients) can do is to express gratitude to front-line workers. Promotional products suppliers and distributors have helped with that since the start of the pandemic by offering hard goods, apparel and food gifts that can be used both on the job and at home at the end of a long day. Just about any time, but especially now, a meaningful gift is richly deserved for these everyday heroes.

Convenient Tools

Michael Levy, president of Compass Industries (asi/46170), says recipients have appreciated name brands and USA-made products. Maglite flashlights, Leatherman tools and Zippo lighters can all be used either on the job or at home. Beckie Diltz, owner of Proforma Solutions For Printing & Promotions (asi/491054) in Bakersfield, CA, recently procured charging banks with suction cups for nurses who need to charge their devices in various places during long work hours. “We also sourced a charging tower for doctors that can charge an Apple Watch, iPhone, Airpods and another device simultaneously,” says Diltz. “And we provided all staff members at a rehabilitation facility with a UV light sanitizing box with interior wireless charging function.”

This USA-made toolkit (2AALED-LM38) from Compass Industries (asi/46170) contains a mini Maglite flashlight, Leatherman Sidekick multi-tool and AA batteries in a gift box.

After intense shifts, front-line workers also appreciate relaxing items for use at home. Michael DeLeeuw, CEO and founder of Hone LLC dba Essence Nasal Diffuser (asi/61457), says his company’s easy-to-carry aromatherapy nasal rings, in scents like lavender, peppermint and lemon, are perfect for overworked essential employees.

“Many nurses and front-line workers are having anxiety because of wearing masks for hours at a time,” says DeLeeuw. “Our scented rings help calm them down after a long day.”

Deborah Gaspar, marketing director at NC Custom (asi/44900), says appreciative self-care items like the Rise & Shine gift set (KT600) containing lip balm, mints, ground coffee and a mug, as well as the You Were Mint to Be Appreciated set (KT530) featuring peppermint bark, lip balm and a candle, have been in high demand for healthcare recipients in recent months. Sets that combine delicious food and self-care items show they’re appreciated, says Gaspar.

This new DIY lip balm kit (Set-DIYLB) from Raining Rose (asi/80489) contains sustainably sourced raw ingredients, five lip balm tins, and branding tin stickers.

Raining Rose (asi/80489), a certified B Corp, officially just launched DIY Lip Balm kits (Set-DIYLB), which contain sustainably sourced mixable ingredients, two flavorings and five tins with imprintable tin and box labels. All contents are recyclable, and they’re being positioned as ideal thank-you gifts for front-line workers

“It provides an activity employees can do from the comfort of their own homes,” says Ellen Bardsley, marketing automation and content lead at Raining Rose, “but yet it still feels like a shared experience with their colleagues.”

Comforting Treats & Soft Goods

Food gifts, which ASI Media named its 2021 Product of the Year for their unmatched ability to express appreciation at a distance, continue to be a top contender among popular thank-you gifts. Sweeter Cards (asi/90354) manufactures greeting cards containing gourmet chocolate bars, ideal for kitted packages sent to homes or for distributing at the workplace.

Gaspar at NC Custom says the company’s snack boxes, both small (HRK-SM) and large (HRK-LG), have continued to be “huge sellers” as appreciation gifts for front-line workers. “The large boxes of individually wrapped snacks were placed in nurses’ break rooms,” says Gaspar, “and the small boxes were sent to homes. They’re also on order for National Nurses Week [in May].”

Clients have also drop-shipped NC Custom’s Hot Chocolate Bomb gift set (MRSF9), containing a hot chocolate bomb, a Mrs. Fields cookie and a ceramic mug, with a “You’re the Bomb” thank-you message, as well as the Smash Chocolate Heart (SMCB2-DEX) with a “You’re the Heart of Healthcare” message.

The Hot Chocolate Bomb gift set (MRSF9) from NC Custom (asi/44900) includes a hot chocolate bomb, a Mrs. Fields cookie and a ceramic mug – all popular as drop-shipped gifts to front-line workers’ homes.

Suppliers say recipients continue to appreciate comfortable, eye-catching apparel and soft goods like blankets. During the pandemic and the supply chain challenges it caused, Nucom Ltd./Burk’s Bay (asi/74600) launched a special incentive jacket program for hard-working truckers. “We’ve seen a significant increase in rewarding drivers for safe miles driven and overall employee goodwill,” says Tim Klouda in key accounts. “Transportation companies have struggled these past two years with hiring and keeping drivers, and our leather and wool/leather jackets have been a great incentive.”

Apparel and soft goods that can be used at home after long days and express employers’ appreciation continue to be popular gifts. “We’ve seen a number of distributors order things specifically for front-line end-users that have nothing to do with work,” says Jeff Kranz, Central region sales manager for Top 40 supplier Vantage Apparel (asi/93390). “Cozy blankets, quarter-zips and hoodies can be enjoyed at home.”

This anti-pill faux mink Sherpa blanket (0640) from Vantage Apparel (asi/93390) measures 50” by 60” and comes in gray or navy.

Storm Creek (asi/89879) just launched a front-line worker-focused giveback program called #HealthCareStrong. When customers order a Pacesetter quarter-zip (2340/2345) or Sidekick crewneck (2430/2696) at full price, they’re given the option of ordering a second one for a healthcare worker. Storm Creek will ship the garment with a personalized note for free.

This quarter-zip (2345) from Storm Creek (asi/89879) is made of 50% recycled polyester – the equivalent of nine recycled bottles per garment. It’s part of the company’s newly launched #HealthCareStrong giveback program.

“We wanted to do something to lift the spirits of stressed-out front-line workers who have been making continual sacrifices to help the rest of us,” said CEO Teresa Fudenberg. “So we selected our softest, best-selling pullovers for the program – they’re comfortable, high-quality and versatile.”

It’s the second such pandemic program for Storm Creek, which also sent more than 900 pullovers to front-line workers in 33 states and Washington, D.C. in the spring of 2020.