We know how dreary it can get in that office sometimes. Tasks are endless, chairs grow uncomfortable, the hours stretch on, and some days even feature heated clashes with dissatisfied clients or frustrated colleagues. Hard work and facing up to unpleasant chores are an essential part of adult life. 

According to Gallup, employees who feel unappreciated for the things they do or put up with are twice as likely to quit their jobs – and a staggering two out of every three employees in the US feel unrecognized for their contributions. Showing your employees some appreciation could be one of the most underestimated strategies for creating a happier workspace, which ultimately boosts your business’ success. Because we have your back, here are our most trusted employee appreciation ideas (plus some corporate event ideas for Employee Appreciation Day) that will brighten everyone’s day and make the work environment more pleasant. 

 

Before we get to that, though, here’s the most important thing you need to know about effective employee appreciation:

It needs to be genuine.

The reason why this is so crucial is because employees in general feel that only meaningful appreciation actually counts. To be meaningful, appreciation needs to be based on something they’ve achieved – even if that was “Sunniest Attitude of the Week” – and your praise or gratitude needs to be heartfelt. You may need to make a little extra effort to find out a bit more a out your employees, their lives, goals and accomplishments, so that you can reward their efforts in a way that makes them feel recognized and valued.

Once you have a little insight into real ways your employees add to your business, here are some simple, effective employee appreciation ideas to help you show them you appreciate them.

Gifts

Everyone likes to be surprised with a little something special they can take home and enjoy. Here is a Pinterest board stocked with inspiration for inexpensive employee appreciation gifts, and here are some tried and trusted favorites.

 

Praise

Whether it comes from you or their colleagues, heartfelt praise is one of the most powerful ways to make someone feel noticed and valued. The best work environments are ones that have innovative systems in place that take the effort and awkwardness away from commending people’s contributions and strengths. Here’s a list of brilliant recognition ideas that work for other companies.

 

Entertainment

Every so often, take a couple of hours or even a day off to have some fun together. It’s the best way to say you feel they’ve worked hard, and they deserve a break. This article has loads of inspiration on how to take everyone’s mind off work for a little while and bring some fun into the office, and this one is stocked with corporate event ideas for Employee Appreciation Day.

Treats

Few culinary delights are as universally enjoyed a good cup of coffee: and this is particularly true in an office environment during a tough week or dreary day, when everyone could do with a caffeine kick and some warm, delicious comfort. If you’re planning an Employee Appreciation Day and you’re looking for corporate event ideas, good coffee should be somewhere at the top of your list too. If you’re organizing corporate catering in New York City, book one of our Maui Wowi mobile coffee bars at coffeesandsmoothies.com and spoil your employees with some dreamy coffee catering. We offer corporate catering in NYC where we set up at your location and brew some magic with our unique Hawaiian coffee and wide range of menu options. We do smoothies and Acai bowls too, so visit our site, take a look at the catering we offer, and book a treat that will help to say “thank you – you’re valued” to your employees. 

 

There’s one small but incredibly effective thing you need to do if you’re planning the catering for a morning event: book some professional coffee catering.

There’s no doubt about it, if coffee was a person, it would be an A-list celebrity. With hordes of fans clamoring for photos, flashing paparazzi bulbs it just can’t escape, and red carpets everywhere. So, if you’re hosting a morning event, make sure the world’s most beloved drink gets the attention it deserves by making it the star of the show. Here’s exactly why you should book professional coffee catering for your next corporate brunch – and where to do that. 

It’s hassle free.

You won’t have to worry about stocking mountains of cream, sugars and sweeteners, or coffee grounds, and making sure that Mississippi-sized river of steaming water is topped up and available to your guests. You won’t have to worry about cleaning or buying cups and teaspoons. You won’t have to worry about whether your guests are satisfied, either, because ease and convenience are just the beginning of the benefits of hiring professional coffee catering.

The variety can’t compare.

The only way to be able to have a dozen or more coffee menu options for guests to enjoy is to get a professional coffee bar set up at your event location. Because coffee is so special and ritualistically enjoyed by nearly everybody, having variety to enjoy helps make an event memorable.

Quality bumps from low or mid-range to the upper echelons of deliciousness.

Even if you put a lot of thought into the coffee that you serve your guests, doing it yourself can’t match having a caterer who does it as a profession, on hand with carefully picked brews, specialty blends and toppings, and tons of recipes crafted and refined by drinks chefs. Coffee catering is an art: let’s give it the recognition it deserves.

The coffee becomes a feature.

Your guests have consumed uncountable cups of ordinary, indistinguishable coffee. Because it brings joy, comfort and energy, coffee is just begging to be used as an easy source of entertainment and pleasure that will make your morning event something special.

Here’s where to find exceptional professional coffee catering in NYC.

If you need to organize some breakfast catering in NYC, or you’re doing the planning for some small event catering in NYC, go to coffeesandsmoothies.com today to book a mobile coffee bar! We’ve witnessed time and again when we do breakfast catering in New York City how our amazing Hawaiian coffee weaves a special kind of magic that soothes the rush of the event, gets guests chatting about their lives to each other, and fills people with fresh energy. We set up at your event, eliminate the hassle of in-house coffee service, and become a feature that adds to what your guests will remember and enjoy about the day.

When you’re hosting a corporate event like an employee appreciation day, the activities you’ve planned can make the difference between a get-together that will be forgotten in a couple of weeks, or an experience that forms genuine connections and is reminisced over for years to come. It can be tough to come up with ideas that seem fresh and interesting, though, especially if you’ve planned lots of corporate meetings in the past and have already used and reused your favorite ideas. We’re here to help inspire you with three ways to plan activities that will surprise and delight your guests.

 

• Facilitate connections between people.

 

Relational connection always has the potential to be meaningful. Plan activities that get people to have some one-on-one interaction with someone else in the conference – even if it’s not face to face.

• Have a “thank you bar” where guests can pick from a selection of humorous or witty thank you cards and write a short note of appreciation to a colleague. Collect the cards, and mail them after the event.
• For the event catering, plan a company picnic (if the event is indoors, no problem – an indoor picnic is just as fun). Pack picnic baskets, each one holding a large picnic blanket and goodies for four or five people. Guests will need to find others to share their picnic with them.

 

• Tap into the inner child.

 

Corporate life is laden with adult pressures and responsibilities, so help your guests unwind by doing something whimsical. Something which they probably loved to do as a child, and possibly haven’t done for many years. 

• Give out adult coloring books and colored pencils. Guests can use them at the event, and take them home when it’s over.
• Set up badge decorating stations. Guests can dress up their badges and tap into their creativity with colorful beads, colored sand and some fast-drying craft glue.
• Suspend giant swings from the roof. Guests can enlist the help of their colleagues and revel in some childlike fun. Make sure safety requirements are met for this reminiscent activity!

 

• Break records.

 

If you’re hosting an event that’s going to be packed, make it truly memorable by trying for a mass participation world record. You can submit your record to the Guinness World Records, recordsetter.com, or any other recognized record keeper. To make sure you qualify, check out the rules before planning the activity. Here are some fun mass participation ideas.

• Hold up colored boards to create a message or an image.
• Form a massage train.
• Beat out a rhythm on paper cups.

If you’re planning a New York event, we do coffee catering in New York City. We arrive at your NYC event location and set up a mobile coffee bar.  Whether you’re planning breakfast catering for a small event or a large group, we can provide espresso drinks and breakfast smoothies made to order. Your guests can take their pick from our wide selection of menu options, relax, and enjoy the fragrant magic of our unique Hawaiian coffees.

What could be better than a spiked espresso coffee for your corporate event? Maui Wowi has been catering corporate and social events in the New York metro area for almost two decades. Our espresso coffee bar is ideal for corporate meetings and trade events, as well as social events like weddings and bar/bat mitzvahs.

Here are some of our favorite espresso cocktail ideas for you to choose from.

 

• A taste of the Caribbean.

 

• Maui Wowi Chilled espresso
• Coconut cream
• Cardamom seeds
• Dark rum
• Brown sugar
• Ice
• Shaved coconut garnish 

Sweet, spicy, yet laid-back, this drink tastes like a holiday on an exotic beach.

 

• Country garden.

 

• Pear infused vodka
• Maui Wowi Chilled espresso
• Fine sugar
• Sprig of rosemary
• Crushed ice

This earthy mix is simple, yet unique.

 

• Summer in Marrakesh.

 

• Rum
• Chili infused liqueur
• Lemon juice
• Brown sugar
• Maui Wowi Espresso
• Ground cinnamon and nutmeg
• Shaved lemon zest and dark chocolate garnish

Begin this bold drink by setting the rum on fire.

 

• Boozy raspberries for dessert.

 

• Vodka
• Maui Wowi Chilled espresso
• Cacao liqueur
• Raspberry liqueur
• Vanilla seeds
• Cream

Delicate, velvety and sweet, this is a drink to satisfy those who believe dessert is the best part of a meal.

 

• French cafe.

 

• Maui Wowi Hot espresso
• Cognac
• Amaretto liqueur
• Whipped cream and shaved almonds

A mix that is warm, soothing, and heavenly.

 

• Ginger orange ice.

 

• Maui Wowi Chilled espresso
• Orange bitters
• Orange liqueur
• Vodka
• Ginger syrup
• Heavy cream
• Ice

Serve this drink with a garnish of preserved ginger and kumquat threaded onto a cocktail stick.

 

• A gift from the Irish.

 

• Maui Wowi Espresso
• Irish whiskey
• Demerara sugar
• Whipped cream

Our list wouldn’t be complete without this classic, served strong, sweet and hot.

We do coffee catering in New York City, Long Island, Connecticut, Westchester and beyond, and our espresso liquor drinks are a trending favorite among our clients. Espresso catering in New York inspires flexibility and creativity in caterers, and we are always growing to keep in tune with the evolving trends and colorful tastes that are at the heart of our home city. Pleasing guests is an art, and we have it down.

If you’re hosting an event in New York and would like to wow your guests with some popular espresso liquor drinks that will knock their socks off (in all the best ways), go to coffeesandsmoothies.com  today to order a mobile espresso bar. We will set up at any New York location and create a corner of magic where your guests can take their pick from our wide variety of menu options, and indulge.

 

You’ve heard the expression, “Go Big or Stay Home.”  Summer is definitely GOBOSH time for Maui Wowi’s mobile smoothie bar, especially for corporate events in the New York City metro area, including New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.  In this part of the country, the summer steams and you need BIG refreshment to get your people out of the doldrums.  Everybody waits for Friday to roll around so they can hit the Hamptons or the Jersey Shore (or perhaps the Cape and P-Town for those in the northern part of the metro area).  But that leaves a lot of hot daylight on Monday through Thursday to slog through.

Everyone loves our fresh-blended smoothies this time of year. We’re breaking out our special edition “tiki cups” – which are FOUR TIMES larger than our regular serving size for corporate and social events. Twenty-eight ounces of pina colada, strawberry banana, mango orange, frozen cappuccino, peach, black raspberry, or frozen lemonade. Mix and match flavors to create unique combinations. And your guests get to keep the cool souvenir cups.

Our souvenir cups have a limited time availability (after the summer, they’re done!), so do something BIG and BOLD for your people — whether an employee appreciation day, health and wellness fair,  grad party, or any other special event you’re planning.

As head of HR, you’re always keeping your eyes peeled for fresh ideas to mix into your next corporate event. You know that to impress clients and make sure colleagues are having an awesome, productive time, corporate meetings and business functions need to be memorable, meet everyone’s needs and sometimes, include a touch of something different. So we suggest hopping on the bandwagon of one creamy, colorful and purely delicious health food trend: acai bowls. In this article, we’re going to lay out why acai bowl are exactly what you need when you’re arranging the catering for a corporate morning event, wellness event, corporate health fair or breakfast-time client or employee appreciation event.

• Acai bowls are arguably the hottest foodie trend right now.

Including acai bowls on your menu is going to impress everyone. People who have already tasted acai will be delighted with having one of their favorite breakfasts on the cards, and those who haven’t will be excited to finally try the eye-popping trend that’s been appearing all over their Instagram feed.  Clearly, you know your stuff. 

• They’re loaded with health benefits.

Acai has been dubbed a superfood, and while that’s a term that’s sometimes thrown around a little loosely, this Brazilian berry really does pack a punch. That is to say, an awesomely beneficial punch. Serve acai bowls, and health addicts will pat you on the back, while the guys and girls who would eat ice cream for breakfast, will be pleased to know that they can practically do so – but without that large sprinkling of guilt. Clients and colleagues will be invigorated, revitalized and fueled up for a day of focus and discussion.

• Did we mention that they taste like ice cream?

Acai bowls are so delicious that they ought to be a dessert… but they’re not, they’re a thick, punchy breakfast smoothie loaded with nutrients, topped with fruit, granola or nut butters, and served in a bowl. They’re dreamy, richly creamy and filling, a treat that will have your guests reminiscing over your menu long after it’s all over.

• They’re quick to make and eat.

Putting together a fresh acai bowl takes us about a minute. Because it’s so nutritious, it’s everything you need in a meal, right there in one dish. This makes it an especially good catering choice if you know your event is going to be busy, packed with back-to-back meetings, speakers and activities, and your guests will need to grab an energizing bite on the go.

We know you’re left with just one question: how can I get some trendy acai bowls served at my next corporate event? We’re here for you: acai bowls are now a highly-in-demand section of our smoothie mobile catering service. We use our all-natural black raspberry smoothie blend plus organic acai and fresh fruits for our acai bowl. Book a Maui Wowi mobile smoothie bar at coffeesandsmoothies.com, and we’ll set up at your event. Guests can choose their favorites from our range of menu options, and we’ll serve them some colorful, creamy vitality in a bowl.

 

There are so many excellent reasons to serve some breakfast catering at your company’s corporate events.  Besides the fact that breakfasts are irresistibly delicious, centering a corporate meeting’s catering around the first meal of the day has proven time and again to be considerably less expensive than hosting a full-on dinner. And if your company is going to be tackling a day of training and conferences, everyone benefits from fueling up before it all starts.

When you’re planning the morning catering for your company’s next event, what to serve depends on the day’s activities. For a client meeting or a team discussion and regroup, a morning tea with neat, eye-pleasing finger foods is a practical choice. The focus is on the meeting, and if your goal is for people to mingle and chat, guests can wander around with their plates. For a full day of focus, though, a sit-down breakfast where people can stock up on nourishment will give everyone a boost.

 

• Finger foods are fun, neat and cost-effective.

When it comes to finger food, you can get creative, because the options are endless. Here are some favorites:

Fruit kebabs – fresh and colorful seasonal fruit on skewers.

Granola cup – granola, yogurt and fruit layered in clear glasses. Acai bowls are becoming a popular item and can be the base of a great morning mini-meal. (Ask us about what we can do for your on this idea.)Breakfast wraps – filled with hearty, nutritious fare, like bacon and scrambled egg, or feta and mushrooms.

Freshly-baked pastries – lay out an array of croissants, muffins and rolls.

To ensure that everyone leaves satisfied, have some nut-free and gluten-free dishes available. Here’s a Pinterest board packed with mouth-watering finger food ideas that will get you inspired.

• Sit-down breakfasts are classic, filling and cheery

We all have a favorite classic sit-down breakfast that we could never turn down. In an intimate setting, you could plan a luxurious plated meal, but we recommend a budget-friendly buffet if you’re hosting a larger group. Here’s a guide to sit-down breakfast options for corporate functions. It includes practical tips on which option to choose.

• Please the crowds with some coffee catering and smoothie catering

Whether you plan to serve finger foods or a full-on meal, your morning won’t be complete without some steaming cups of gourmet coffee. Our fresh Hawaiian coffee is unusual and delicious, it’s the perfect way to energize the minds and bodies of your guests, and will make your event unforgettable. We have a broad variety that includes cappuccinos, lattes, espressos, mochas, and even iced coffees, all brewed from our distinctive Hawaiian blends. We’ll bring a mobile coffee bar, set up at your location, and provide a fragrant corner of peace, pleasure and conversation at your next morning event.

And of course, a fresh smoothie should be an option at every breakfast. Smoothies are a healthy, gluten- and nut-free treat that are guaranteed to delight even the most particular diner. Our creamy smoothies have no artificial flavors or colors, are lovingly blended from the freshest ingredients, and we boast a truly enormous variety. Perfect for corporate morning events where guests will either mingle or sit down to a hearty meal, and especially fitting for corporate health fairs and wellness events, our mobile bar will set up at your location and ensure that guests can order their choice of this healthy delight.

 

Let’s face it – people who plan corporate events are often expected to perform miracles on shoestring budgets. If you’re the trusted organizer saddled with the task of planning your company’s upcoming event where you know every penny is going to count, we’re here to hold your hand. We’ve put together a list of tips that will cut costs on events of all sorts, from corporate meetings and company picnics to client appreciation events and corporate health fairs.

• 1. Know your budget from the start.

Ask for a set budget so that you know what you have to work with. Then you can kick into full-on planning mode, knowing that you’re not over-spending.

 

• 2. Hold your event in a slow month.

Because all your suppliers will be looking for ways to cover their own costs, and they’ll charge you less, or be vulnerable to your secret weapon – bargaining.

 

• 3. Choose a venue on the outskirts of town.

An out-of-the-way venue has so many advantages: besides the peace and quiet, there will usually be more nearby parking space available, and venue costs will be lower. Encourage attendees to carpool so that they can also save money if they have to travel a little further to their destination.

• 4. Schedule your event so that hotel stays are unnecessary.

You’ll save a lot if you don’t have hotel or guest house expenses as a part of your budget.

 

• 5. Then, streamline your activities.

Plan just a handful of activities that pack a punch. This will not only keep the day shorter, so that you cut down on catering and venue costs, it will also save money on props and any entertainment or guest speaker expenses.

 

• 6. In fact, we suggest that you host a brunch or lunch-time event.

Brunch or lunch catering costs less than a full dinner spread, and guests will have ample time for traveling. Plan a buffet, instead of an expensive sit-down meal. Try out several caterers – cheap still means tasty when you have the right chef cooking up your meal. You can cut out mid-morning or afternoon snacks, too, especially if you have some irresistible coffee or smoothie catering on hand! Which leads us to our next tip.

 

• 7. Have a drinks bar!

We suggest booking a Maui Wowi smoothie and coffee bar. Our delectable drinks will keep guests filled and refreshed, eliminating the need for extra snacks. You can also look over our drinks menu and limit the options that guests can order. We offer a choice of eight tropical fruit smoothies as well as frozen lemonade and frozen cappuccinos. We also provide cold-brewed iced coffe.  To cut costs while pleasing guests, book a mobile coffee and smoothie bar today at www.coffeesandsmoothies.com.

 

• 8. Book everything way, way in advance – and bargain!

The closer in time to your event you book your venue, caterers, speakers and entertainment, the more everything will cost. And if you think something’s overpriced, bring that up. Here’s an insightful how-to on bargaining for events .

 

• 9. Go paperless.

Send out email invitations, have a Facebook page for the event where you can keep everyone informed and post pics afterwards, and use digital signage (here’s how).

 

• 10. Recruit volunteers, and give amateurs and university students a chance.

Just ask for examples of previous work when hiring someone inexperienced, so that you can get a feel for whether they’re up to the task.

With these tips, you have some wonderful expense-cutting strategies in your mental toolbox. Now go forth, and save money!

By Lisa Aharon

We’ve heard many a manager say, “I mean…I pay them well. Why isn’t that enough?”

Well, good salaries go a long way toward keeping employee turnover down and engagement up. Yet, people appear to need more. A huge key to happy employees is gratitude.
Why gratitude?
A very recent study by researchers at the Portland (Oregan) State University found that gratitude at the workplace causes positive physical effects. The simple words ‘thank you’ expressed sincerely can improve a person’s physical and mental health.

The study looked at acute care nurses (like those in a hospital’s Intensive Care Unit or Emergency Room). The researchers found that nurses who were thanked at work slept better, ate healthier, and had fewer headaches. They also felt less burnt out.

Taking it one step further, thanking your employees can help keep your business running smoothly. Think about all those sick days and ‘sick days’—employees who feel valued and physically well don’t need to take off so often. In fact, they want to come to work. Another item is turnover—you know the costs involved in finding and training new workers. Employees who feel appreciated tend to stay in jobs longer, even if things are not always easy.

Employee Appreciation Day
This concept of employee appreciation is so important that the U.S. has designated the first Friday in March as Employee Appreciation Day.

We think showing gratitude to your employees should be done more than once a year…especially since it doesn’t always have to be complicated or cost a lot.

Five ‘Thank You’ Ideas with varying costs (besides just saying ‘thank you’)

1. Public recognition
You’ve probably seen those ‘Employee of the Month’ pictures at supermarkets, department stores, and sometimes even banks. Perhaps you’ve even chuckled at them for being tacky. Laugh no longer. The Harvard Business Review reports that “40% of employed Americans say they’d put more energy into their work if they were recognized more often”. Second-hand stores sell elegant frames for only a few dollars each. Using your phone to take a picture and your printer to print it costs very little. We’re sure you’ve got some wall space. You could have one ‘winner’ per department, project team, etc.

Pro tip: When deciding on your ‘stars’ for the month, consider their out-of-work achievements also. Is one of your employees a first-responder in her spare time? Does another do volunteer community work during his?

2. Entertain them
Local singers, bands, comedians, and theater companies don’t cost a lot and might even perform for free for the exposure. As we’re sure you know, there’s a lot of excellent ‘amateur’ or ‘rising star’ talent out there. You can be sure your employees would really enjoy a ‘thank you’ hour of entertainment (during work hours, of course)—but only if the entertainment is good, so best to check it out yourself beforehand or get a recommendation from someone who has.

3. Have an office makeover
Big companies have been making the headlines with their enviable office spaces which most employees would love to work in. Yes, they are very creative…and also big budget, but it doesn’t have to be this way. As this article in Forbes points out, “even a small shift in well-being can have a dramatic impact”. Has your team had some spectacular results? Thank them with an office makeover.

Planning: Have a first group meeting. Discuss and set up some ground rules of what is allowed and what isn’t. Invite your employees to create drawings/plans/mockups of what they would like to see. One week later, have another meeting. Create one final design from all the ideas submitted—you will most likely see that there are many common elements such as a ‘chill area’ or more art on the walls.

Decorating: Start low-key by soliciting item donations from your workers. Most of us have good condition, nice-looking furniture, art, lighting, carpets, etc. that we would be willing to give to the workplace. If there is also a company budget for this makeover, discuss and agree on how the funds should be used. Making your employees a ‘home away from home’ usually pays off well.

4. Drinks are on you
In addition to being a really fun ‘thanks’, studies show that shared food and drink promotes trust and closeness. And if you could include good health in the mix, all the better.

Our mobile, corporate drinks bar offers a choice of Hawaiian Blend Espressos & Coffees, low sugar, non-or-low fat Smoothies, and Ghiradelli premium Double Chocolate Hot Cocoa. We also have a tropical Shave Ice option, and when you pair Hawaiian Shave Ice with our Smoothie Bar, you’ll get a 50% discount on your Shave Ice! Get a free, no-obligation price quote.

5. Flextime/Flexlocation
They’re not working less, just differently. In thanks, treat your employees to a one-time, rearrangement of hours or working location. For many parents, being able to work around a child’s school event or doctor’s appointment would be amazing. For most of us, the ability to work from home or at the pool for one day would mean so much.

And if you are not sure what to say when presenting your workers with one of these special thank you’s, here are some great ideas.

Maui Wowi had a big first – providing our mobile smoothie bar to The Julliard School for their Stress Less Week before final exams. We have been providing smoothie bars for campus events since 2002, but somehow we never had been to this great institution. It was a great day and the student musicians, singers and dancers were definitely less stressed after a fun smoothie event in New York.