Retirement gifts they’ll remember and love

By Ross Bielema

One of your best and brightest staff has decided to spend more time at home or on a tropical island, so they have given notice that retirement is near. This smart, problem-solving employee has made almost everyone smile during a long tenure, so ordinary retirement gifts don’t seem right.

What can you order that will make co-workers smile and might just make the pending retiree cry (tears of joy, of course)?

Here are a few suggestions for parting gifts that they’ll cherish and treasure for years to come.

Classic engraved gifts make permanent memories

Classic personalized gifts are lasting mementos for a job well done. Decades ago, companies frequently gave their retiring employees gold or other engraved pocket watches. Today’s version can be an elegant wrist watch or attractive personalized clock.

Other modern classics include a personalized award, engraved pocket knife or multi-tool, a high-end water bottle or custom embroidered jacket.

Humorous gifts bring fun to the party

Jake was known for keeping his tools orderly and fixing almost anything. Jill was famous for being a peacemaker and baking delicious coconut cream pie. Every retiree has unique gifts they brought to the business, and now it’s time to reward them with fun, memory-evoking retirement gifts they’ll remember.

An etched glass with the person’s name and retirement date, as well as a funny message like “Every sip tastes like it’s not my problem anymore,” is sure to give everyone a chuckle. How about a scented candle with “Smells like the end of an era,” or “Smells like abandonment, infused with tears, but we are still happy for you.” Hand out Goofy Guy Light-Up Pens, MopTopper Spinner Pens, printed flyers, light-up toys and glasses or other off-the-wall novelties to everyone at the party!

Travel gifts make sense for adventurous retirees

Many soon-to-be retirees have plans to travel, whether across the country or around the globe! What better way to help them fulfill this dream than by getting them some nice luggage or printed travel backpacks and bags. Custom packable jackets and raingear or versatile embroidered vests for layering make great travel companions.

Consider gift subscriptions to travel magazines, books focused on their planned destinations or a phone mapping app that helps hikers and hunters navigate public and private lands. Retiring ecotourism fans will appreciate bird or seashell guide books, quality binoculars or a gift card for a sporting goods or shoe store to select their own camping or hiking gear.

Home in on hobbies for personalized gifts

Does your retiring worker have a favorite hobby? Do they grow their own fresh tomatoes in a home garden? Does they love golf? Do they tinker at home in the garage or on their favorite classic car? Do your homework before retirement and find the perfect custom lawn and garden gift, printed golf items or printed tool bag! Hand out printed flower or veggie seeds, custom golf kits or printed tape measures to party attendees as a way to remember those valued workers who are now living the good life!

Looking for more ideas?

Good Housekeeping magazine offers 28 “Best Retirement Gifts,” opens in new window from an antique brass and copper sundial compass to humorous gifts like “retirement toilet paper” and an “officially retired tiara.”

Ross Bielema

Ross Bielema is a seasoned SEO marketing specialist at 4imprint, based in Oshkosh, WI, a title he’s held for the past 16 years. He previously was a copywriter here, crafting everything from headlines and company letters to e-mails and faxes. Boosting web presence and organic ranking creatively for one of North America’s top promotional merchandise distributors comes easily because of his combined 38 years of journalism experience. This includes freelance writing for local media outlets such as the Shawano (WI) Leader newspaper, expanding his experience beyond digital marketing into broader content creation. Ross brings a unique blend of marketing acumen, content creation talent and community engagement to his work at 4imprint.