Holiday gifting season is around the corner, and whether you’re shopping for employee appreciation gifts, client giveaways, or thoughtful touches for your end-of-year events, leaning into this year’s trends is key to ensuring your gifts feel intentional and well-received. The good news is that this year’s trends translate beautifully into the world of branded promos. Inspired by what’s happening in retail, lifestyle, and consumer behavior, 2025’s top gifting themes are all about intentional design, functional luxury, and everyday sustainability.
Below, we’ve rounded up the trends shaping this season’s wish lists, as well as some shopping ideas that’ll help bring them to life through thoughtful, branded gifts that resonate long after the wrapping comes off. Let’s get started!
Material Matters
Today’s buyers are looking beyond aesthetics; they’re paying attention to how things are made. Nearly three-quarters of consumers say that materials influence their purchasing decisions, and, even more, 67% are willing to pay more for sustainable options. Think of materials as part of your storytelling. Recycled fabrics, FSC-certified material, and tactile finishes like cork or brushed metal instantly make gifts feel more intentional while elevating their perceived quality. Even your decoration method can make a big difference. High-end branding methods like engraving or debossing add a handcrafted, premium feel that screen print can’t replicate, and are often available for a comparable cost.
When You're Shopping: Consider pairing sustainable, elevated materials with everyday functionality. Things like Recycled PET totes and apparel, bamboo drinkware, cork notebooks, or engraved stainless-steel travel mugs hit that “eco-meets-premium” sweet spot.
Life on the Go
Between hybrid work and the “bleisure” boom, modern attendees are always on the move. In fact, did you know that travel spending is projected to grow by almost 10% by the end of the year? This means that compact, versatile, and travel-friendly gifts are on everyone’s radar and are only becoming more relevant as we enter the holiday season. Look for gifts that pack easily, serve multiple purposes, or make life simpler on the road. High functionality gifts include waterproof jackets that fold into their own pockets, silicone storage pouches that can double as reusable containers for food, toiletries, or cosmetics, and power banks with phone-integrated built-in trackers to ensure nothing gets left behind.
When You're Shopping: Curate portable, function-forward kits. Consider themed gifts like “carry-on essentials” or “work-from-anywhere” bundles, featuring foldable drinkware, cable organizers, and mini tech accessories that enhance the quality of life for recipients on the move.
Evergreen Everything
Did you know that nearly 70% of consumers say seasonal colorways impact their gift choices, especially when the design feels intentional and elevated? It’s minimalism meets seasonality in this calming color story, where the current trend is shoppers leaning toward earth-inspired palettes. Classic muted and natural tones like moss, stone, and clay are a timeless look, suitable for just about any season. Green tones appear to be this year’s hottest shade; just take a cue from retail launches like Yeti’s newest Black Forest collection or fashion brand Vuori’s latest Lush and Leafy viridian colorway. These soft, eco-minded green hues are making waves in a number of popular name brands and are poised to stay stylish long past December.
When You're Shopping: If you’re having trouble choosing a color, why not pick both? Use neutral, earthy bases for the product, then opt to try your logo in green for a tone-on-tone imprint that can live on desks and in homes year-round.
Boosting Wellness & Comfort
Wellness activities dominated the event scene this year with planners incorporating more and more content that focused on encouraging active, mindful lifestyles, showing wellness isn’t just a trend anymore; it’s a lifestyle. In fact, a staggering 70% of shoppers say they plan to gift “self-care” products this season, making relaxation, rest, and mindfulness a trendy, functional gift idea. From cozy apparel and weighted blankets to aromatherapy diffusers and sleep-enhancing tech, gifts that encourage calm and balance are in high demand this shopping season. Of course, the old adage of “Doing good feels good” also plays a role in these wellness-inspired gifts, as recipients increasingly prefer items made from sustainable materials or from brands with some type of social impact initiatives. Be sure to check out our Brands with Initiatives blog for some popular promo picks that help contribute to a better world and whose equity you can leverage to take your gift to the next level!
When You're Shopping: Depending on your budget, this trend is scalable for a great stocking stuffer all the way up to a top-tier VIP gift. Create “unwind kits” that combine sustainable materials with sensory comfort, like a bamboo-fiber blanket paired with a branded candle or wellness journal. Coupling gifts that help cultivate comfort while providing some multisensory experiences is an immersive way to create a more memorable and thoughtful giveaway.
Elevated Everyday Items
Everyone loves receiving a gift, but these moments are made especially meaningful when the gift is something the recipient will actually use in their day-to-day routines. And while 65% of consumers say they prioritize usefulness when giving gifts, nearly just as many say, in addition to being practical, the gift also needs to be stylish. The result? Every day items with design-forward twists that merge both form and function. Think multi-functional lighting that doubles as a speaker or charger (or both!), modern desk accessories with sleek finishes, or beautifully minimal drinkware with extra features like self-regulated heating, speakers, or unique transport or storage capabilities. These pieces work just as much as they wow.
When You're Shopping: Utility is having its design moment, and the easiest way to capitalize on this trend is to upgrade your classics. A simple pen, notebook, or tumbler feels completely different when the design adds features, functionality, or just a polished, weighty finish for more perceived value.
Little Luxuries
Big things come in little packages, and sometimes it’s the smallest gifts that make the biggest impact, especially when shopping for younger demographics. Three out of every four Gen Z and Millennial shoppers say they’d rather receive a few affordable luxuries than one large item when it comes to gifts this year. The good news is you can leverage these mini moments of joy in your own gift-giving to not only delight your recipients but potentially save you some budget dollars as well. From trendy mini totes to artisan treats or even pocket-sized tech gadgets, these are the types of gifts people love to show off (and share online), making them a hit for social-driven campaigns. The best part? The functionality that makes these gifts so appealing is available at just about any price point, for a gift idea option that fits seamlessly into any budget.
When You're Shopping: Even though the appeal of this trend for buyers is the fact that they slot nicely into whatever end-of-year budget you’re working with, they still need to feel high-end to ensure they resonate with guests. The easiest way to do this is to opt for decoration methods that lend themselves to perceived high value. Laser engraving, embossing, or embroidery are all awesome (and affordable) ways for you to go wide when it comes to quantity without sacrificing quality.
Polished & Professional
It’s not just everyday essentials seeing an overhaul this year; corporate gifting is getting a glow-up, too! Nearly half of corporate gift buyers say they’re increasing budgets in 2025, with an emphasis on retail-quality, sophisticated items that reflect well on their brand. This trend bridges work and lifestyle with gifts that are stylish, functional, and built to last (think leather desk sets that make the work day feel effortless, stylish travel accessories to tag along on their next business trip, and invaluable modern tech like sleek and mobile wireless chargers). Leverage the power of name-brand products as a way to align your brand with the value and quality these popular picks are known for. Presentation matters too, so opting for upscale packaging and personalization options like engraving is an easy way to elevate even the simplest item.
When You're Shopping: A branded piece that looks like it came straight from a retail boutique makes your brand feel premium by association. We mentioned name brands earlier, but you can also achieve that same “brick and mortar” feel through small details that make a big impression, like thoughtful packaging and refined decoration methods. When in doubt, lean on your vendor to help you search!
“Wrapping” It Up
No matter the trend, this year’s holiday gifting landscape revolves around intention and gifts that feel thoughtful, authentic, and are designed to last go a long way in resonating with recipients. Whether it’s eco-friendly materials, functionality on-the-go gear, or everyday essentials with elevated flair, the best promos don’t just promote your brand, but they reflect your values as well, and a thoughtful gift makes your recipient feel truly appreciated. If you’re wondering where to start, contact us, and whether you’re looking to mix sustainability with style, comfort with creativity, or purpose with polish, our knowledgeable team can pair you with a gift that looks good, feels good, and does good for a truly special (and on-trend) end-of-year gift this season!
