Ever feel like it’s impossible to keep up with the current trends? Whether it’s in fashion, a Netflix series, or in corporate gifting, I always feel like I’m caught just a few steps (or in some cases, series) behind!
There’s simply not enough time to scroll instagram to know if we’re wearing ankle socks or crew socks now. I just finished catching up on Bridgerton. And while I wish I was more put together to shop around at boutique gift stores to curate the perfect gift for all of my coworkers and besties – that’s just not the person I am right now.
However, for the folks like me working hard to stay on-trend in their friend group or while crushing the corporate gifting game for their boss – there’s hope AND a bullet-pointed list with super fun examples.
We give you the popular gifting trends of 2025. Use this guide at your leisure, whether to lead the way for your next purchase or to simply study up on what’s “cool” (do we still say that?!). We got you.
People are moving away from the classic, go-to gift card and choosing gifts that truly show the essence of their connection with the recipient.
- They’re opting to tell a story instead of save time.
- Diving deeper for a meaningful gift instead of skirting the surface.
- Creating opportunities for unforgettable experiences.
- Pushing pause and getting outside, being active, and unplugging.
- And more and more, folks are finding creative ways to give back with their gifts.
So take a step onto the wild side with me, whether you’re wanting fresh client gifts, ridiculously fun employee gifts, unforgettable conference gifts, or simply looking to stand out amongst your besties as the greatest gifter of the group – we’re spilling the tea on what’s in.
Trend 1: Outdoorsy Gifts/ Adventure Gifts / Active Lifestyle
With the increase in remote employment, folks are flocking to regions with stellar hiking, biking, skiing, climbing, and camping opportunities. So when their work is finished for the day, you can bet they’re off summiting mountains or soaring down them – on bike or board. Even on a lower key day, they’re probably trail running, playing a game of pickleball, or walking to snag ALL the fresh air they can.
Play into these high adrenaline hobbies and active lifestyles with outdoor gifts that match that energy! Not only does it foster healthy movement within your clients or employees, but it also helps encourage a solid work life balance. That Vitamin D doesn’t hurt productivity either 😉
Some ideas to consider in your corporate gifting adventure gift include:
- Trail snacks – Every outdoor enthusiast knows that you never hit the trails without your fuel! And it doesn’t have to be all protein bars and nut butters. Candies and gummies make the best pick-me-up, and pickles are the realest MVP of the hydration game.
- Water bottles – Hydration is always trendy! Choose something durable and easily carried. Take it to the next level with a branded camelbak style hiking pack!
- Stickers – See above. If you choose a water bottle that’s more neutral, it leaves plenty of opportunity to stand out with a bold sticker!
- Custom sunglasses – Add your logo and brand colorway to really make your gift catch eyes
- Pour over coffee – This is a fantastic way to have a great cup of coffee with a view at any campsite or National Park.
- Cotopaxi vest or fleece – In the great outdoors, there’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad gear! So give the gift of useful gear that’s easily layered depending on the temps outside. Cotopaxi’s bold colors are super popular right now too!
- Smart tech – Gadgets like Oura rings or WHOOP help your recipients track their activity, sleep, and recovery!
Need some inspiration? Check out these
Outdoorsy Gifts
Trend 2: Gifts to Unplug
Raise your hand if you know what a house phone is! While technology advancements are an absolute game changer across the globe, it’s becoming harder and harder to truly unplug. Gone are the days of leaving the office and returning messages when you’re back! And we’re not just talking about the technology itself, it’s the physical act of not being tied to anyone or anything for some time – for a real break.
But with the help of screen time apps, the comeback of the flip phone, and activities that take a step back from tech, we can boost mental health and overall happiness all while firing up the parts of our brain that maybe we’ve neglected for too long. Seriously, when was the last time you did an actual crossword puzzle? I’ll wait…
Here are some popular, easily giftable approaches to keep in mind if you’re searching for ways to offer a brain break in your next employee gift:
Word games – Mad Libs never go out of style! These are fantastic for creatives needing a way to loosen up their brain muscles.
- Puzzles – We can easily customize puzzles to display any image! Your brand, your office dog’s face, or make it a surprise! And that serotonin boost after placing that final puzzle piece is *worth it*
- Books – The sky in your favorite fictional world is the limit – literally! Books are a fantastic way to zero in on a topic, whether nonfiction or not, and really complete the story (pun intended) behind any gift box.
- Crafts – If crocheting is for “old people” then call me granny because a cup of tea and a Saturday afternoon crocheting sounds like a dream!
- Legos – Not only a beautiful way to take a break, but once built, they can be used as office decor! Did you know it’s super popular to use custom legos (you choose the build!) in corporate gifting, too?
So if you think you could benefit from an offline brain break and some solitude, don’t you agree that your coworkers and employees could as well?
Need some inspiration? Check out our
Gifts to Unplug
Trend 3: Gifts with Sustainable Products
Aretha Franklin said it best! R-E-S-P-E-C-T for our environment is becoming more and more important, and giving gifts that reflect and honor sustainability is a trend that grows more popular by the year.
For you, this could mean thinking about a few things in your next corporate gifting send:
- The products in your gifts.
- How are they sourced? Look for companies that commit to sustainable practices in every step of production and avoid products that could harm the environment.
- What kind of packaging are they in? Keep an eye out for easily recycled materials.
- The packaging of your gifts.
- Try your best to ditch the plastic and use eco-friendly packaging materials like recycled paper and biodegradable branded packaging options.
- The promotional swag in your gifts.
- If your gift has a tasteful element of branded swag, go with a reusable choice! We’re talking sleek branded water bottles or custom tote bags.
Going green in every level of your business is a great way to stand out while being a force for good around the globe.
Need some inspiration sustainability? Check out these
Sustainable Gift Ideas
Trend 4: Supporting Small Businesses
We all have to start somewhere with our dreams. Why not utilize your position to play a role in boosting the spirits (and sales!) of local economies. Shopping small for yourself isn’t just a trending personal choice you can make – you can use that same mentality in corporate gifting. And when other businesses see your brand leading the way in this charge, you can bet others will fall in line – including your employees and clients!
Small businesses offer just as much, if not more, amazing products to elevate your next client appreciation gift or employee onboarding gift! Everyone will be asking where you found these one-of-a-kind items, and all the buzzworthy benefits are shared amongst you AND the small business owners.
Stand out with:
- Unique Products: Make your corporate gift boxes stand out from the crowd with small-batch, artisanal products from small businesses — your recipients will be delighted to receive something truly special and unique.
- Looking for some inspo? Check out The Sea gift box with Saipua goat milk basil soap and Sydney Hale garden mint candle!
Amplify voices with:
- Small Business Stories: Small businesses often come with amazing backstories, showcasing the passion and unique journey behind their products. Sharing these stories with recipients creates a deeper bond and shows how committed companies are to authentic and meaningful connections.
Strengthen connections with:
- Inclusivity: Show your commitment to diversity and inclusivity by choosing products from business owners of all kinds, like Black-owned businesses, LGBTQ+ owned businesses, AAPI-owned businesses and more. After all, your recipients are from all walks of life — so the gifts you give them should reflect that, too!
When companies rally behind small business collection products, they’re not just scoring unique gifts for clients and employees — they’re also giving local economies a buzzworthy boost!
Need some inspiration? Check out these
Gifts Featuring Small Businesses
Trend 5: Foodie Gifts
Who deserves a little sweet (or savory) treat?
Edibles (not that kind, silly!) make fantastic bestie gifts AND client gifts because it’s something that can be enjoyed immediately! It’s like when you pick up your favorite drive-thru burgers and fries for dinner in a pinch – you gotta dive into the fries ASAP! Am I right? There’s no waiting. Just instant gratification and deliciousness.
Food gifts can also transport your recipient to another destination and tap into their most cherished memories. To connect with someone on that level is truly amazing! And that’s why small batch snacks and tasty treats are a trending choice for any occasion.
Some of our most fab foodie-approved gift ideas and hot takes include:
- The Complete Set: A couple of snacks in a gift box are great. But if you’re looking to really go all out on a favorite cuisine theme, we fully support that. Look no further than The Ramen for inspo.
- Shareable snacks: It’s like Pepperidge Farm for our generation (see also: highly desired treats and unexpected flavors). Sending an office gift stacked with snacks to share with the entire team is an effortless, popular way to show appreciation! The Snack Sampler steals this show time after time.
- The sprinkle effect: If you’re looking for just a sprinkle of indulgences to compliment your custom corporate gifting idea, there are stunning ways to draw everything together with sparkly candies, gorgeously packaged chocolate bars, or a variety of cookies!
- Kitchen Essentials: Disregard what we said about that immediate treat with this one 😉 Some folks enjoy the whole cooking process, so surprise them with high end kitchen essentials to elevate their next dish! This *Chef’s Kiss* gift box speaks for itself.
- Drinks: Not food, but still a treat! Combine all the fixings for fun cocktails or an elegant cup of coffee into your company holiday gifts! Hint hint: The Cocktail Party is the perfect gift for the mixologists in your life.
Take a look at these
Foodie Gifts
Trend 6: Self Care Gifts
The world: Fill your cup first.
Everyone: But where to start?
Make it easy to kick start filling that cup with gifts that recharge and relax! There are so many stunning, desirable ways to encourage mindfulness, wellness, and full body connection within your gifts all year long. Because in our fast-paced world, a gentle reminder to slow down should always be trending upwards.
The self care gift trend can take on many forms, but these tend to to be the top performers across the board:
- Luxurious Spa Products: Deliver the spa to their doorstep with luxe products like scented bath salts, high-quality skincare, and artisanal soaps. Discover our collection of spa gifts for more inspiration! One of our favorite, most indulgent gifts is The Retreat. It comes full of spa goodies including a face mask, lavender oatmeal soap, hydrating facial toner, and more.
- Mindfulness & Meditation Gifts: Strengthen mind-body connections with gifts like meditation cushions, guided meditation cards, elegant coloring books, and more. If you haven’t grabbed a colored pencil in awhile, we highly suggest revisiting this simple stress-relieving activity.
- It’s all about helping recipients find their inner peace and dialing down the stress in their lives. Check out our collection of wellness gift sets and library of past wellness gift sends for more ideas!
- Fitness and Health: Support your employees’ health and well-being with gifts that get that heart rate up and provide opportunities for finding enjoyable movement! This could include fitness trackers, yoga mats, branded headphones, healthy snack subscriptions, or gym memberships.
Simple movement throughout the day can boost endorphins, productivity, and overall happiness – so really it’s no question when it comes to employee wellness gifts!
For some sweet Self Care ideas check out
Self Care Gifts
Trend 7: Experience Gifts
It’s science, guys. Seriously, go check the psychology of gift-giving!
Research shows that gifts designed around a specific experience can bring you and the recipient closer – even if you don’t directly enjoy the experience together. It thinks outside the box, quite literally!
Thinking beyond the fluff of “stuff” enriches a gift and keeps the fun going for days after the initial send. And the great thing about experiential gifts, especially in corporate gifting, is their ability to enhance an occasion and really tell a cohesive story.
Many of our clients use custom employee gifts to create excitement about an upcoming company event or as a welcome gift to a retreat! For example:
- Personalized Experiences: Whether you’re surprising your employees with tickets to a baseball game or team building at a cooking class – instead of sending them an email with details, send a fully custom, on-theme gift box to get them really excited! We love the baseball-themed gift box Legal & General sent to get folks excited for an upcoming Red Sox game! You’ll totally make them feel like a kid picking out their roadtrip snacks at the gas station – the anticipatory excitement is contagious.
- Company Retreats: Obviously retreats are fun getaways all on their own, but taking the event to the next level with custom gifts will keep folks sharing their excitement long after the last session. Use the location as your guide to pick products that are not only practical for local adventuring, but also a beautiful reminder of the trip.
Gifts to impress! Stand out with these
Experience Gift Boxes
Trend 8: Tech Gifts and Gadgets
It’s impossible to go anywhere without at least one piece of technology with you! Check your wrist, your pocket, or your purse – especially at work or on a business trip. They’re everywhere! And for good reason. They do make aspects of life so much easier. So it’s no wonder that at least 41% of people prefer tech gadgets over other products in corporate gifts!
What’s really great about tech gifts is their versatility – easily customized or branded, extremely practical, and always very sleek. From branded speakers and custom tracking tags to branded headphones and wireless chargers, a tech gadget is a fantastic addition to client appreciation gifts or employee holiday gifts!
Really looking to impress? Take a peek at The Executive. In all black everything accessorized with the trendiest tech gadgets – it’s dressed to kill.
Tech Gifts
Trend 9: Personalized Gifts
To round out the top gifting trends of 2025, we could not miss custom personalized gifts playing a star role in the ALLL the shows right now.
And it’s no wonder! Personalization alone makes any gift feel more special – creating a deeper connection and more memorable experience all around. Shoot, even a latté order at your favorite cafe feels more remarkable with that personalized design in the foam, right?! Your employee gifts should feel the same.
Some notable ways to add that personal touch in your next gift could take on SO many fun forms:
- High quality personalized notebooks with names or an inspiring note
- Health tech gadgets like Oura rings add some serious personalized drip (did we say that right?) to your adventure gifts
- Custom legos are a fun way to encourage some time to unplug
- Custom packaged Graza olive oil sets are a dream for the popular foodie gifts
- Handcrafted leather key chains or luggage tags with your logo, a quote, or even your famous office dog’s face
- Branded and custom color-scape sunglasses like Goodrs are perfect for streetwear or sweat seshes and make a solid addition to your experience gifts
- Thoughtful cards (handwritten or printed out by yours truly) may seem so little but they can hold big meaning
For the final touches of a truly fab, beyond trendy gift send, it’s essential to remember the packaging itself!
Custom packaging, from the crinkle paper in brand colors to the branded gift box sleeve to the custom stationary, can really make a lasting impression.
Personalized Gifts
A growing trend among corporate gifting clients is customized mailer boxes (ie. the actual shipping box). I mean, the box is literally seen by hundreds of eyes as it makes its way to its final destination. It’s a no brainer that companies are choosing to customize these boxes.
☑️ Hello brand awareness
☑️ Hello amazing customer experience
☑️ Hello cost reduction
Take a look at some of these showstopping shipping boxes! Your brand would look gooood here.
We did it, guys. We are now up to speed on the cool ways to gift this year. And there’s still so much time left in the day. You can probably catch up on a season of Bridgerton now. 😉
Anyways, as we head into the holiday season, keep these popular gifting trends of 2025 in mind. Use them in big ways or simple ways. Whatever way you choose to gift, we think you’re pretty cool regardless.
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