4 Ways to Show Gratitude to Remote Teams This Holiday Season

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by Kathleen Smith
September 25, 2025
3 min read

In today’s distributed work landscape, where team members may be scattered across cities, countries, or even continents, expressing appreciation requires more intentionality than ever. While the workplace has gone remote, the need for holiday employee appreciation hasn’t changed—in fact, it’s only grown.

This holiday season, take the opportunity to go beyond the standard “thank you” email. Whether you're leading a fully remote team or supporting a hybrid workforce, thoughtful remote employee gifts can bridge the distance and make every team member feel seen, valued, and celebrated.

Here are four heartfelt and practical ways to show gratitude to your remote team this holiday season:

1. Send Personalized, Shippable Gifts—Near or Far

There’s something uniquely special about receiving a meaningful gift at home—especially when it’s crafted just for you. Physical gifts offer a tangible reminder of appreciation that virtual messages simply can’t replicate.

At Smiling Tree Gifts, we specialize in personalized wooden gifts that are handcrafted, compact, and made for easy shipping. Whether your team is based in one city or spread across the globe, we make it simple to celebrate everyone equally. With individual drop-shipping and international delivery, you can rest assured every employee will receive their gift with care—on time and beautifully presented.

These thoughtful touches go a long way toward making remote employees feel seen and appreciated, regardless of where they work.

Handcrafted wooden gifts for remote teams—personalized, practical, and easy to ship.

2. Showcase Meaningful Moments with a Custom Photo Display

If your team has shared milestones this year—virtual retreats, promotions, or even those quirky Zoom screenshots—consider preserving them with a customized photo display. A physical reminder of the year’s highlights makes for a unique gift that also adds a personal touch to their home workspace.

Our Photo Holder Block is a timeless keepsake employees can use to display photos of their favorite work memories or loved ones. It can also be customized with your company logo, mission statement, or core values—creating a subtle but powerful connection back to your company’s culture. This branded element makes it a perfect piece for reinforcing a sense of belonging and pride in your team’s shared values.

Whether displayed on a desk or shelf, it serves as a daily reminder of your appreciation and their contributions.

Custom photo blocks that help remote teams feel connected and appreciated.

3. Host a Virtual Holiday Gathering with Gift Unwrapping

Even though your team may not gather in person, you can still create meaningful shared experiences. Host a virtual holiday event complete with laughter, games, and the best part—live gift unwrapping.

Ship Smiling Tree Gifts ahead of time and encourage your team to open their boxes during the event. It’s a joyful way to recreate the excitement and bonding of an in-person celebration. Add in team awards, recognition rounds, or even a trivia game to boost engagement.

Looking for something festive and fun to include in those packages? Explore our Customized Ornaments — a personalized way to bring holiday cheer to every unboxing moment.

Festive wooden ornaments make joyful, personalized holiday gifts for your team.

4. Celebrate Milestones Alongside the Holidays

The end of the year is a natural time to reflect on achievements and express appreciation—not just for the holidays, but for everything your team has accomplished. Consider pairing your holiday gifting with recognition of anniversaries, big wins, or personal milestones.

Our Employee Anniversary Desktop Blocks with Tray and Core Values Desktop Blocks with Tray Display™ are meaningful ways to honor each employee’s journey while reinforcing your company’s guiding principles. These beautifully crafted sets make impactful holiday gifts—and they also serve as a powerful tool for year-round recognition and sustained engagement.

Looking for even more long-term appreciation strategies? Don’t miss our Onboarding Gifts Blog for ideas that go beyond December.

Celebrate remote team milestones with custom core values and number blocks.

Show Gratitude Across the Miles

Just because your team isn’t under one roof doesn’t mean you can’t foster connection, appreciation, and joy. This holiday season, let your team know how much they matter—with personalized gifts that speak from the heart and ship across the globe.

Smiling Tree Gifts makes it easy to honor every team member with sustainable, handcrafted gifts that celebrate their contributions—wherever they work.