CLIENT OVERVIEW:
Idaho First Bank is a community-focused financial institution committed to building strong relationships with both customers and employees. As the bank prepared for continued growth and additional hiring, leadership recognized an opportunity to improve how new employees were welcomed into the organization.
While the bank had provided onboarding gifts in the past, the process lacked consistency and presentation. Items were often distributed individually rather than as part of a cohesive experience, and leadership wanted the onboarding process to feel more intentional and memorable.
As Idaho First Bank prepared to bring on more employees, the team wanted a solution that would better reflect their culture, values, and investment in their people from the very first day.
their Challenge:
Before partnering with SOLV, Idaho First Bank already provided a few branded items to new employees. However, the experience felt fragmented and lacked the polished presentation the team envisioned.
Rather than creating a memorable first impression, onboarding gifts were typically left on desks or handed out individually without any unified packaging or messaging. Leadership felt the experience had become stale and wanted to create something that felt more thoughtful and elevated.
The bank also wanted to ensure the products included in the kits were practical and immediately useful for employees in their day-to-day work environment.
This created several opportunities for improvement, including:
- Creating a stronger first impression for new employees
- Improving presentation and packaging of onboarding gifts
- Curating products employees would actively use at their desks
- Refreshing existing onboarding items with more modern options
- Building a more cohesive onboarding experience
- Simplifying internal assembly and distribution
As hiring increased, Idaho First Bank wanted an onboarding program that felt intentional, organized, and aligned with the experience they wanted employees to have from day one.
Project goals:
Create a More Memorable Onboarding Experience
How can Idaho First Bank make new employees feel welcomed and valued from their very first day?
Improve Presentation & Packaging
How can onboarding gifts be packaged in a way that feels polished, cohesive, and reflective of the bank’s brand?
Curate Practical & High-Quality Products
How can the welcome kits include items employees will immediately use and appreciate?
Streamline Internal Distribution
How can the onboarding kits arrive fully assembled and ready for immediate use by leadership and HR teams?
THE SOLUTION:
SOLV partnered with Idaho First Bank to design a completely customized employee welcome box program that combined practical branded merchandise with thoughtful presentation and turnkey fulfillment.
Rather than simply supplying promotional products, SOLV worked collaboratively with the bank’s leadership team to refine product selection, improve packaging design, and create a more impactful onboarding experience overall.
The final solution included curated desk-friendly products, custom-designed packaging, and fully assembled kitted welcome boxes delivered ready for use.
CURATED WELCOME KIT PRODUCTS
Idaho First Bank already had a few products they knew employees enjoyed, including journals and drinkware. Rather than replacing those staples, SOLV helped build around them with additional product recommendations designed to create a more complete and cohesive experience.
The final kits included:
- Cork-bottom mug
- Branded journal
- Premium pen
- Desktop phone stand
- Electronic cleaning kit
- Branded stickers
- Welcome card
The products were intentionally selected to provide employees with useful desk accessories they could begin using immediately while reinforcing the bank’s brand throughout the workday.
By combining existing employee favorites with fresh product ideas, SOLV helped Idaho First Bank create a welcome experience that felt both familiar and elevated.
CUSTOM PACKAGING & BRAND EXPERIENCE
One of the biggest opportunities identified during the project was improving the overall presentation of the onboarding kits.
Instead of simply handing employees a collection of branded products, SOLV helped Idaho First Bank create a fully branded welcome box experience designed to make a stronger first impression.
The bank initially provided artwork concepts for the packaging, but SOLV collaborated closely with the team to further refine the design, incorporate company messaging, and elevate the overall look and feel of the box.
By integrating brand messaging and onboarding-focused visuals directly into the packaging, the welcome boxes became more than promotional products; they became an extension of the bank’s culture and employee experience.
FULL KITTING & TURNKEY DELIVERY
Idaho First Bank already had a few products they knew employees enjoyed, including journals and drinkware. Rather than replacing those staples, SOLV helped build around them with additional product recommendations designed to create a more complete and cohesive experience.
This turnkey approach:
- Reduced administrative work for internal teams
- Simplified onboarding preparation
- Improved storage and organization
- Ensured consistency across every new hire experience
The result was a smoother process for both leadership and employees alike.
The Results:
A stronger first impression for new employees
The custom welcome boxes created a more polished and intentional onboarding experience that immediately communicated care and professionalism.
Elevated presentation and brand perception
Custom packaging and cohesive product selection transformed the onboarding gifts from simple merchandise into a meaningful employee experience.
Increased value through strategic product recommendations
By combining the bank’s existing ideas with additional curated product suggestions, SOLV helped expand and improve the overall onboarding kit.
Reduced internal workload
With fully assembled kits delivered ready-to-use, Idaho First Bank eliminated the need for staff to manually build welcome packages for each employee.
Positive feedback from leadership
The executive team was highly impressed with the final result, particularly the quality of the packaging, product selection, and turnkey assembly process.
