What businesses are sending this year - and what people actually want to receive.
If you're planning a corporate gifting strategy this year, here’s what you should know: expectations are higher, attention spans are shorter, and generic gifts are out. Whether you're sending a thank-you to a client or appreciating your team, your gift is part of your brand. It should feel that way.
Here are five key corporate gifting trends shaping the year and how you can use them to make your gifts more impactful, more thoughtful, and less forgettable.
1. Sustainability Is No Longer Optional
Eco-conscious gifting isn’t a “nice to have” anymore, it’s expected. Businesses are more aware of their environmental footprint, and so are their clients and employees. That means reducing packaging waste, avoiding plastic-heavy gifts, and choosing items from ethical or carbon-neutral suppliers.
What to send instead:
- Gifts that are reusable, refillable, or compostable
- Partner products from B Corps or UK-based sustainable makers
- Packaging made from recycled or FSC-certified materials
At SHOPBOXD, we offer low-waste packaging options and source from UK brands that care about sustainability as much as we do.
2. Personalisation That Feels Intentional
Mass-produced gifts don’t land the same way they used to. This year, corporate recipients want to feel like the gift was chosen for them; not pulled from a warehouse shelf with a poorly placed logo.
That doesn’t mean every box needs to be completely unique. But it does mean adding real thought through handwritten notes, client-specific inserts, or branded items that don’t scream “promotional swag.”
What works:
- Custom cards with a personal message or quote
- Curated box contents based on the recipient’s role or industry
- Tiered gifting for different levels of client or team engagement
3. Wellness Is Still a Priority, But It’s Evolving
Team burnout, remote fatigue, and employee wellbeing are still front of mind, but the gifting approach has matured. Instead of generic self-care bundles, brands are leaning into intentional, calming moments and gifts that support mental and emotional wellbeing.
Examples we’re seeing more of:
- Mindful desk items: journals, screen-free breaks, focus tools
- Rest-forward gifts: teas, aromatherapy, bath soaks
- Hybrid work-friendly items: comfort wear, luxe loungewear, ergonomic desk accessories
The goal is not to fix stress with a candle, it’s to say: “We see how hard you’re working. Take five minutes for yourself.”
4. DEI-Focused Gifting & Inclusive Sourcing
More companies are aligning their gifting choices with their values and that includes diversity, equity, and inclusion. That might mean sourcing from minority-owned businesses, spotlighting cultural holidays beyond Christmas, or simply avoiding gifts that feel culturally narrow or gendered.
How this shows up in 2025:
- Lunar New Year, Diwali, and Eid gifting (not just Christmas)
- Partnering with women-owned, LGBTQ+, and Black-owned brands
- Neutral language and universal products that don’t lean on clichés
You don’t have to make a big statement - just make sure your gifting reflects the diversity of the people you’re sending to.
5. Flexibility & Done-for-You Fulfilment
Companies want the gift to feel personal, but they don’t want the admin that usually comes with it. That’s why more teams are looking for gifting partners who offer branded kitting, multiple-address shipping, and full project fulfilment.
Whether it’s 20 onboarding kits or 5,000 thank-you boxes, the most valuable gifting partners are the ones who take the job off your plate.
What clients ask us for:
- “Can you handle the packing, shipping and messaging?”
- “Can we include our own branded materials?”
- “Can you send this to 70 addresses in 5 days?”
Yes, yes, and yes.
Final Thought
The best gifts in 2025 won’t be the flashiest or the most expensive; they’ll be the ones that reflect your brand, respect your recipients, and arrive without the headache.
If you’re rethinking your company’s approach to gifting this year, we’d love to help you do it right.
or