Employee recognition is key to higher engagement, well-being, and productivity. Though surveys show that employees who routinely go without recognition are twice as likely to leave in the next year, it isn’t just the mere act of doling out praise that matters.

For many employees, the type of rewards that your praise is tied to matters just as much. The best reward redemption catalogs give employees meaningful choice while giving admins enough control to align rewards with company goals, budgets, and program needs. Here’s how to build one that motivates and inspires your team.

What is a reward redemption catalog?

A reward redemption catalog is an online shop or booklet where earned credits can be exchanged for items instead of cash. It represents the employee-facing reward selection experience tied to your points or awards system.

Generally, employees are awarded points when they are recognized for their positive behavior or performance, and they redeem a certain number of those points for items included in the catalog, which may be anything from company swag to workplace perks to restaurant gift cards.

While some may give little thought to what goes into the rewards catalog, it’s important to realize that catalog quality shapes perceived reward value. 

If the catalog feels too low-cost or outdated, earned points can lose their psychological worth. This, in turn, can cheapen praise and rewards, which will demotivate employees and ruin the positive feelings that come with recognition.

What can employees buy with points?

Many companies include a wide variety of personal and professional rewards that can range from tangible products to unique workplace privileges. Common categories in a points redemption catalog include:

• Gift cards: Restaurant or retail gift cards to their favorite eatery or store
• Travel perks: Airfare, car rental, cruises, or hotel or resort stays
• Experiences: Concert or theme park tickets or conference vouchers
• Company-curated rewards: Personalized rewards like time off, remote work perks, reserved parking spots, or lunch with the CEO
• Charitable donations: The option to turn points into cash donations to a chosen nonprofit organization
• Cash-like options: A-Pay cards or Revolut that spend like real money

Companies may also integrate major store platforms, such as Amazon or Best Buy. Other companies opt to build their own e-commerce stores that include items like company swag, kitchen gadgets, or gift cards.

Why catalog breadth matters for employee redemption

Are you starting to see the pitfall many companies fall into? Even with so many options, how do you make sure your reward catalog includes items, events, or experiences that everyone will enjoy? How do you offer things that employees from all locations and walks of life actually want?

If your current metrics signal low point redemption rates, it may be time to reconsider your approach. This often happens when catalogs are:

• Overpriced or marked up: It takes too many points for employees to get the items they want or the cost in points is higher than the actual item cost
• Irrelevant: Rewards are simply not what employees want 
• Too Limited: A lack of item or gift card variety, resulting in unappealing choices
• Difficult to Access: The shopping or checkout experience is too high-friction, leading to unnecessary frustration and avoidance

Allowing for ease of access and more choice in your points redemption catalog enhances the perceived value of each point. 

Redemption activity will likely increase, as employees now feel that recognition is meaningful and there are fewer barriers to getting the rewards they want. In turn, this drives greater employee loyalty and satisfaction, helping you meet your original program goals.

The difference between broad catalogs and curated catalogs

In building your ideal points redemption catalog, you may feel forced to make a choice between offering unlimited variety and maintaining full corporate oversight. 

However, modern technology eliminates this false dichotomy, allowing you to offer sufficient choice and personalization options while still curating what your employees see and have access to buy.

Awardco offers the largest reward network on the planet, giving every employee in every location options they’ll love. And with robust admin controls and flexibility, HR can easily control the reward options available to maintain culture and budget goals.

Your team gains the ability to build broad, customized catalogs that are carefully curated for specific programs, regions, work milestones, or company stores.

Why Amazon matters in a reward redemption catalog

The goal in building your points redemption catalog is to bridge the gap between what employees actually want and what your team can actually manage. An Amazon catalog nails that perfectly, offering access to millions of rewards with zero markups that ensure every employee can find — and afford — something that fits their personal preferences.

Amazon integration also reduces your team’s administrative burden, as no one has to place orders, receive shipments, or worry about storage constraints. The Amazon ecosystem offers hands-free fulfillment taken care of by a global retail giant as well as free shipping, all in the employee’s native language. 

Taking advantage of Amazon’s capabilities means your company can build curated catalogs that are specific to your program, ensuring a smooth experience on the backend and less friction in the employee experience.

Why custom catalogs matter just as much

While Amazon integration is an excellent choice, it isn’t the end-all of points redemption catalog curation. 

Custom catalogs can also be a highly strategic asset that drives your recognition program’s value. Not only do they help you cultivate your unique company culture, but they also allow you to cater to employee preferences while maintaining full administrative control.

With a custom catalog, you can offer unique rewards like:

• Company swag
• Wellness rewards
• Holiday catalogs
• Milestone or anniversary gifts
• Region or team-specific options

Custom catalogs don’t force you to restrict your employees to a rigid, uninspired list of items selected as an afterthought. Instead, they give your organization the power to tailor specific, high-impact rewards while still preserving personal choice for your diverse workforce. 

Employees aren’t baited into a narrow one-size-fits-all experience, which ensures they feel valued and increases their overall satisfaction.

Offer rewards employees will love.

Awardco helps organizations balance employee choice with administrative control. 

From Amazon items to worldwide experiences to gift cards and more, you can access the world’s largest network on a simple, easy-to-use platform. Schedule a demo to learn more

FAQ

What is a reward redemption catalog?

A reward redemption catalog is a digital portal or booklet where employees can exchange their earned recognition points for tangible items or cash-like prizes.

What can employees buy with reward points?

Generally, employees can buy whatever their points will afford them from your points redemption catalog. Typically, the higher the real-world price, the more points the item will cost in your store. 

Depending on your program’s structure, you may offer a broad selection via Amazon or a more curated experience with company swag, travel rewards, gift cards, and more.

Are gift cards the only option in employee rewards software?

No. Gift cards are just one of dozens of categories organizations can offer, including unique experiences, travel discounts, or even kitchen appliances.

Why does Amazon matter in employee rewards?

Amazon matters in employee rewards because it allows organizations to offer a broad selection of items so employees can get what they want without added administrative burden for your team. 

Amazon offers free shipping and handles all fulfillment on your behalf, and employees get a familiar and frictionless experience in redeeming their points.

What is a custom reward catalog?

A custom reward catalog is a corporate-controlled storefront where employees can redeem earned points for exclusive perks, experiences, or merchandise. 

Can employers control what employees redeem points for?

Employers can maintain full control over what employees redeem points for using customized curated catalogs that tailor rewards to the time of year, region, or milestone.

Explore awards and redemption options

If adoption is low or your administrative burden is too high, it’s time to upgrade your approach to rewards and recognition. See how Awardco combines Amazon rewards with custom catalogs. Request a demo to explore reward catalog flexibility.