Make Remote Recognition More Meaningful
The latest Trendicators report offers suggestions that managers can use to address the challenges with recognizing remote employees.
‘The Art and Science of Engaging Rewards’ E-Book Release: A Must-Read for Incentives Programming
HR and management professionals just getting into the incentives and rewards game may not have had the formal training to prepare them to implement and execute these programs successfully. That’s why we’re thrilled to have been a sponsor of the new e-book just released, "The Art and Science of Engaging Rewards," which gives professionals a roadmap for creating their own programs in their organizations.
Employee Appreciation Day Should Be a Year-Round Effort
With Employee Appreciation Day coming up this Friday, March 4th, workplaces around the country are looking for ways to say “thank you” to their workers. Yet with almost half of the workforce feeling underappreciated, employee appreciation needs to be a year-round effort, not just a single day.
Merchandise Monday: Get Fit!
Spring starts in three weeks – although it doesn’t feel like it – and there’s no better time than now to start getting in shape for the warmer months! As always, Hinda has everything you need to shape up and feel good about yourself, from clothing to equipment to DVDs and more. This article represents just a small sample of all of the great workout gear we have available in our assortment!
adidas® Climalite 3-Stripes Half-Zip Men's Training Top
Stay cool and dry while you train with the Climalite pullover, featuring lightweight knit fabric with mesh insets, bonded front zipper, elastic finish at cuffs, side panel articulation and puremotion® stretch. Stay comfortable while you work up a sweat!
Garmin® vivosmart™ Fitness Bracelet
vívosmart™ displays distance, steps, calories and time of day and vibrates when you get an alert, such as an email or if you've been sedentary for an hour and automatically syncs your data to Garmin® Connect™ when you use the free app on your compatible Bluetooth® device.
Huffy® Bicycle Tool Saddle Bag
This saddle bag is easy to install and includes everything you need for repairs on the road – a complete tire repair kit, set of three resin tire levers, 6-15mm bone wrench, crank arm extractor and a ring wrench. Also features an additional zippered storage pocket for convenience.
Huffy® Floor Pump/Compact Hand Pump Combo
The Floor Pump/Compact Hand Pump Combo is portable, lightweight and can be used with Presta and Schrader valves to inflate sports equipment. Its sturdy construction features an integrated valve cap to improve function and easy to follow instructions with integrated 160 PSI dial gauge.
SmartWorks Yoga Blocks – Set of 2
These blocks provide stability and balance, aiding you in deep yoga poses and alignment while increasing strength. They’re also light enough to take anywhere you go. Durable high density foam can be used on any surface.
Wilson® "Cast Away" Volleyball
This replica of "Wilson" from the movie "Cast Away" features a polyurethane cover and 18-panel machine-sewn construction. Painted handprint "Wilson" face decorates the outside of the ball – you might not want to play with him!
Wilson® US Open Racket
The US Open tennis racket features Arc 2 Technology, fused graphite construction, double hold technology creating more power, a 16 x19 string pattern and measures 27” L x 103” head size with a standard 4.4” grip.
Superstorm Sandy, Safety Incentives and Spot Recognition
Hurricane Sandy, the superstorm that pummeled the Northeast late last October, left an incredible wake of destruction in its path. From massive power outages to fires to flattened buildings, Sandy showed no mercy – but she did create a perfect opportunity for local safety and recovery professionals and emergency response teams to shine.
Incentive Magazine covers this topic in its January/February 2013 issue. “A Safe Recovery” by Andrea Doyle talks about how safety incentives played an important role in East Coast efforts to rebuild after Sandy. Hinda relationship manager Linda Wodele offered some insight on the importance of safety incentives, both with regard to Sandy and in other facets.
“The most successful safety incentive programs have successful safety habits at their core,” she says. “People are creatures of habit and fall back on what they know. If their habits are strong, they will hold up in a crisis situation such as Hurricane Sandy and the groundwork for working safely will be in place.
“We have seen an uptick of at least 15 to 20 percent in safety incentives in the last year,” she continues. “[Hinda’s] safety solutions take a behavioral approach to remind people to do the right thing on a daily basis.”
Reinforcing behavior is a great way to spread a culture of safety and instill safe habits within employees’ daily lives. An effective method for reinforcing behavior is with spot recognition – one example of which is Hinda’s “Scratch and Win” cards, which are pre-loaded with points that can be redeemed for merchandise.
“These types of awards are particularly popular as they encourage companies to take a preventative, day-to-day approach to safety,” Wodele says.
Michael Kelleher, Director of Sales and Operations for Kelleher Enterprises (Ann Arbor, MI), and a partner of Hinda, agrees and confirms the importance of having a culture of safety in place.
“The firms that have successful safety programs in place will be at an advantage because their employees will have safety protocol engrained in their daily work,” he says. “Safety incentive programs can effectively complement the training and communication programs that firms use to influence the behaviors of their employees while on the job.”
What does your company do to ensure a culture of safety among its employees? Does your company recognize its employees for following a high standard of safety protocol? Talk to Hinda if you’d like to learn more about how we can help establish a safety incentives program at your company, and read more about this topic here.
Hinda Announces 2012 Golden Carrot Award Winners: Apple and Mach 1 Global Services
Hinda Incentives has announced the winners of the prestigious Golden Carrot Award, which were presented at the Hinda Incentives headquarters today in conjunction with the Motivation Show.
Apple and Mach 1 Global Services, Hinda’s home delivery carrier, were selected as this year’s winners by demonstrating a solid commitment to providing innovation, service and cutting-edge products to the multi-billion-dollar incentive market. Hinda’s Golden Carrot Award recognizes its supplier partners who have consistently demonstrated dedication to the field of incentives.
"When you put two top companies like Apple and Hinda together, it results in a great partnership,” says Rick Bowen, Hinda’s Merchandise Manager. “Candice Lacrosse (Senior Account Manager, Corporate Gifting and Rewards for Apple, Great Lakes Region), has worked very hard with our team to include Apple products in our programs in a timely manner. We are both dedicated to delivering the best product and the best service to our award winners. Candice and Apple have been supportive and are an important partnership."
“It's an honor to receive the Golden Carrot Award,” says Lacrosse. “We’re very excited about it. We have built a solid relationship with both Rick Bowen and Michelle Flores (Merchandise Buyer and Hinda) and only see that relationship growing. Both are a pleasure to work with and they definitely keep us on our toes.”
Winning the Golden Carrot Award was a sweet surprise for Kari Thomsen, District Manager for Mach 1 Global Services.
“We are so happy to receive this award because we had to work hard to earn Hinda’s business,” says Thomsen. “I went to see Benito [Bustamante, Hinda’s Warehouse Manager] every Thursday to promise him the world. It took a lot of work to gain his trust and earn some business, but after six months he finally gave us an opportunity. Now I feel like we are an extension of Hinda.” Mach 1 Global Services CEO, Jamie Fletcher, who is based in Phoenix, also attended the award presentation.
Bustamante did finally give Thomsen an opportunity, but admits they tested Mach 1 with some really difficult deliveries.
“We gave Mach 1 some very challenging shipments and they stepped up to the plate,” says Bustamante. “Kari goes above and beyond. She’s on call 24/7 for us. She gets it. She knows we are delivering awards and how important that is. At Hinda, we deliver a superior customer experience.”
Selection for the Golden Carrot Award is very competitive. The extensive list of criteria for winning suppliers include high-quality products, innovation, timeliness of deliveries, prompt follow-up, the ability to provide updated product information and reliability, among others.
Check out pictures from the ceremony here!
Two Recognition Leaders Merge: The TharpeRobbins Company Teams Up with Hinda Incentives
Based on a foundation of innovation and success, two leaders in the managed recognition and rewards industry have joined forces. Hinda Incentives based in Chicago has been acquired by the TharpeRobbins Company Inc. headquartered in Statesville, N.C. The companies will continue to operate separately under their current leaderships, with Brett Tharpe as president and chief executive officer of TharpeRobbins and Dave Peer as president of Hinda Incentives.
“This strategic merger combines the strengths of two companies built on innovation, customer service and flexibility,” Tharpe says. “Together we will strengthen our consultative services, rewards and new programs to help our customers achieve higher levels of employee engagement and retention in an increasingly competitive labor market.”
“The collective strength of our companies and our commitment to the incentive industry will provide clients with the best possible resources when implementing reward and recognition programs,” Peer says. “With TharpeRobbins’s expertise in the employee arena and Hinda’s expertise in the consumer, sales and channel programs, the products and services offered by each company naturally complement one another. It is an ideal fit.”
Hinda’s focus remains on being the premier award supplier offering innovative technology and award solutions. Through infinitE℠, the 40-year-old Hinda Incentives offers millions of reward choices ranging from brand-name merchandise and digital awards to books and entertainment with flexible solutions and well-developed web platforms for program management.
TharpeRobbins is one of the first companies to bundle program design and administration with product fulfillment, thereby providing human resources professionals with one-stop shopping for employee recognition solutions. With its world-class technology, ranging from basic reporting to full system integration for service and performance awards programs, TharpeRobbins offers options that are easily configurable.
“Today’s dynamic workforce is diverse with rapidly changing interests,” Tharpe says. “This merger will enable us to bring ever creative solutions while identifying emerging trends. We will be able to provide even greater program configuration and corporate personalization in the products we offer, as well as in the presentation of the awards.”
For more than 100 years, TharpeRobbins’ rich history as an innovator has covered the breadth of managed reward and recognition programs. The company fosters superior performance by creating new standards for employee recognition and rewards through imaginative solutions, cutting edge programs, flawless execution, professional service and world-class technology. TharpeRobbins built its reputation on developing customized programs to help clients reach their employee attraction and retention goals. The company is passionate about recognition because they know that an engaged workforce produces satisfied customers, which in turn produces more business. With TharpeRobbins, Recognition Changes Everything.
The privately-held TharpeRobbins was created through the February 2007 merger of The Robbins Company, founded in 1892, and the Tharpe Company Inc., founded in 1981. The company headquarters are located on a 25-acre campus in Statesville, N.C. and include an extensive showroom and state-of-the-art distribution facility. The ISO-certified Attleboro, Mass., operations include creative services, software development and jewelry manufacturing.