Ahead of Christmas, Nicholas Lane, Director at Merchandise Branding, is sharing timely insight on how businesses can approach staff gifting in a meaningful yet budget-friendly way this festive season. As companies reflect on a year of loyalty, performance and resilience, the festive period offers a natural opportunity for leaders to show appreciation—yet ongoing economic uncertainty means corporate gifting in 2025 looks very different from the luxury hampers and high-value perks of the past.

Still, thoughtful gifting shouldn’t be dismissed. Even a small, well-considered gesture can have a genuine impact on morale, motivation and retention. Below, Nicolas outlines key considerations for shaping a meaningful employee gifting strategy this Christmas.

• Branded gifts that go beyond a logo

Rather than simply being rolled out for trade shows and networking events, branded merchandise also has the power to form part of a company’s culture and identity. From thermal coffee cups made of recycled materials, to soft touch notebooks or even personalised hoodies, gifts can reflect brand values while being genuinely useful to recipients either at the office or at home.

Personalisation is key here, and a simple monogram or message of thanks can elevate a product from generic ‘swag’ to something human and thoughtful.

• Don’t overspend to overcompensate

There is no need to exceed any reasonable budgets in order to help employees feel valued after a particularly stressful or challenging year, and even budgets of around £20 per head or under can go far when used creatively.

The key is to make it personal to the individuals involved, and align it with your company culture. A handwritten card, a small gift tailored to someone’s personal interests or outside hobbies, or even a themed gift based on the contributions an employee has made to company growth or results over the past year can highlight appreciation without excessive spending.

• Tap into sustainable gifting options 

Eco-conscious gifting has transformed from a trend to an expectation over recent years, particularly amongst Gen-Z and Millennial employees who are more engaged when the values of the companies they work for align with their own.

Consider gifting sustainable merchandise and items made from recycled or biodegradable materials, products that promote reuse like bamboo lunch boxes or collapsable water bottles, or gifts that support local or ethical suppliers.

Here at Merchandise Branding, we’ve witnessed an uptick in demand for reusable, eco-certified items, which have sought to replace some of the more traditional festive gimmicks that so often end up in landfill.

• Don’t ignore your remote or hybrid teams

With so many teams still working remotely or in hybrid set-ups, inclusive gifting is crucial in order to remain unbiased with teams. Those who don’t visit the office often or at all shouldn’t be made to feel like what they receive has been a last-minute afterthought, it should be as genuine and intentional as what’s being offered in-office.

In order to logistically plan for these deliveries, many opt to use drop-shipping or bulk home deliveries during the month of December to ensure items arrive on time. Companies will arrange gifts in branded festive gift boxes, then hold team or company-wide unboxing sessions over Zoom for an inclusive festive experience.