The connection between engaged employees and the performance of your company is not mere conjecture. With this information in hand, you should know that now is the time to start rewarding, recognizing and incentivizing your workforce.

Incentive travel was hit hard by the recession, as well as by concerns about public perception of programs. But as the economy begins to recover, program participants will take to the skies again. You can pack a real punch in your travel program when you add merchandise.

Gourmet food is a timeless gift, an effective incentive and a delicious reward. We consider some of the top trends in gourmet food for incentives and business gifts.

Want to get your marketing program done right? Here are seven reasons you should enlist the help of a promotional consultant.

If you can do it right, an employee incentive program can make all the difference between coming out of the economic downturn ahead of your competition or standing in their dust as they take the field.

The Incentive Manufacturers and Representatives Alliance, or IMRA, has been around a long time. We offer a closer look at this organization, and offer advice on working with IMRA reps.

This perennially popular category of rewards is still a top choice for your own program. Learn more about trends in electronics and high-tech gadgets to ensure your program has all the right stuff.

You can’t stop the slow march of change, but you can help your organization deal with it better. Here’s an overview of how you can employ rewards and incentives to smooth the process.

Managing the way your incentive program is perceived requires careful planning. You need to make sure your program serves a purpose, and when you achieve success, it’s important to advertise that fact.

When you offer your recipients a chance to give back when they get a reward, you build even more goodwill.

If you really want to make a difference in the level of engagement for your workforce, you need to consider the missing link. Without attention to intrinsic motivation, your efforts may be in vain.

While technology may have revolutionized the way we buy and sell, there is no denying the power of the old-fashioned handshake.

Whether your target is a dad wanting to capture his son’s best moves on the ballfield or a 20-something who loves to travel, a digital camera is sure to appeal. Here are some of the latest trends to consider.

Like everything else, gift cards took a hit in the recession, but because they offer so many choices to recipients, they continue to thrive in incentive and reward programs.

The term "engagement" gets a lot of play these days, but that doesn’t mean everyone has mastered the concept. We take a look at what engagement is, and offer some basic first steps to get you going.

Even before the recession hit, company leaders were demanding returns on investments in their workforce. Now more than ever, it’s critical to defend your spending, and prove its value.

Even before the recession hit, company leaders were demanding returns on investments in their workforce. Now more than ever, it’s critical to defend your spending, and prove its value.

You might have scaled back on business gifts during the recession, but if you really want to make an impact on customers, employees and partners, you’ll reexamine your gifting strategy now. Budgets may have adjusted, and your gift list might be shorter, but there’s no denying the impact of a gift well-given.

The perception of your company’s brand may live with your customers, but it begins inside your company—with your employees. A focus inward on employee engagement will lead to outward benefits, and heightened brand perception.

Watches have been a part of incentive programs and rewards pretty much since their inception. There’s a reason—or many reasons—they continue to thrive.

We’ve asked two of the smartest incentive industry gurus around to weigh in on the topic of the moment: What’s going on with merchandise incentives, and will businesses continue to use them and enjoy their benefits?

Research reveals a changing landscape for the American consumer—and the companies that target those consumers with their marketing initiatives. Learn how to navigate this shift.

These days, if it ain’t online, no one knows about it. That’s why it’s important to be sure you’ve got your communications strategy right, with plenty of connection through the Web.

A recovering economy promises—eventually—to spur job growth, and that means more attention for incentives to reward employee performance. Here are some of the top trends in merchandise incentives to help you get started.

Savvy companies keep the troops motivated with total rewards programs, which incorporate every means of compensation into one strong plan. But how do incentives fit into this perfect package?

While there’s no surefire method for putting together a team of incentive providers and program managers, you can follow the advice of experts to gather the most skilled and experienced professionals to ensure your programs’ effectiveness.

Your employees, sales reps, partners and customers work hard when they’re on the clock, so why not reward them with fun ways to employ their personal time? Rec & sporting goods will always be a smart choice.

Safety programs have been around for a long time, and the use of incentives to reinforce safe behaviors has proven effective over the long haul. Find out more about how to make these programs work for you.

You might think luxurious incentive options drained away along with the value of 401(k)s and other benefits. But you’re wrong. These days, luxury is more rewarding than ever—and can be an affordable option in your rewards mix, too.

If your company is typical, your employees have been doing more with less, and even more with even less, for a long time. Rewarding them now for their extra effort is critical to your ongoing success.

If the creativity and expertise of your people is your primary competitive strength, you know that keeping them motivated is crucial to moving ahead. Do your managers stand in the way?

From multifunctional pieces to wheels, weight and wonderful designs, luggage these days is all about pleasing potential passengers—and making their lives easier.

You know that your equipment is important. You know that your product is important. But do you know how powerful your people can be in your business performance? Their engagement is a critical factor in your success.

Health care costs continue to skyrocket, and many companies have taken drastic measures. One way to help motivate your employees to take better care of their health is through wellness programs with well-thought-out incentives.

This year, the IMA has focused heavily on education and updating its messaging and communication platforms. Learn more about what this critical industry association has been doing for you.

As we turn to social media and other technical tools for keeping in touch, employers need to find ways to get with the trend. You can capitalize on this movement to better communicate with employees.

When it comes to your reward mix, you might think the more the merrier. But determining the proper size and scope of your catalog of items requires more careful planning.