Holiday gifts for employees: 5 trends shaping how (+ what) to give in 2025

For years, corporate holiday gifting has been stuck on autopilot – in one survey, nearly 70% of respondents said they’ve received gifts they didn't want and never used. And with worries about the economy at an all-time high in 2025, a box of unwanted tchotchkes can feel less like generosity and more like wasted budget that could’ve been a much-preferred holiday bonus instead. 

But skipping gifts altogether isn’t the answer either. A 2023 study found that 75% of employees want to receive a gift from their company, and more importantly, 78% report increased job satisfaction after receiving a meaningful one.

One thing’s clear: the way companies order bulk holiday gifts for employees is long overdue for a reset. But how do you strike a balance between thoughtful without overextravagance and personal without being frivolous – all while remaining cognizant of the cultural shifts shaping how people celebrate? Here are 5 ideas to get you started. 

Trend 1: The small treat economy

How many times have you bought yourself a small indulgence this month, whether it’s a $5 candle from Target or a chocolate bar from your local grocery store? This cultural shift, dubbed the “treat economy,” is everywhere right now: a Bank of America report found that 57% of Gen Z buy themselves one of these small luxuries at least once a week.

The psychology is simple. With the cost of living skyrocketing, no one is rushing out to splurge on a new designer bag or an extravagant getaway; in fact, over one-third of Americans have delayed, downgraded, or canceled major purchase plans. A small treat, on the other hand, is accessible, easy to justify, and delivers an instant hit of dopamine that makes the everyday feel a little brighter.

In these tighter times, leaning into smaller but more curated bulk holiday gifts for employees can signal thoughtfulness in a way that big, splashy alternatives can’t. Keep these tips in mind:

• Upgrade the everyday: Think: single-origin coffee beans with a sleek pour-over set, a beautifully designed notebook with a fountain pen, or a premium snack box that feels like a tasting experience. These kinds of gifts slot seamlessly into employees’ daily lives while still feeling special.
• Engage the senses: The treat economy is powered by dopamine hits – aroma, texture, novelty, surprise. Gifts that appeal to these senses can create a moment people actually remember. 
• Play with scale: Instead of “bigger is better,” focus on tighter curation. A single luxe throw blanket, a beautifully designed backpack, or a set of crafted glassware can feel more meaningful – and useful – than, say, a fancy cocktail mixology set or giant fondue kit that no one actually wanted. 

Check out our list of corporate swag ideas that feel more premium than they cost.

Trend 2: Personalization that feels genuine

We’ve gotten used to a world where Spotify serves up eerily accurate playlists and TikTok somehow knows your exact late-night craving. Against that backdrop, one-size-fits-all bulk holiday gifts for employees can feel off-key. 

That said, the fix isn’t monogramming initials or splurging on custom embroidery for every employee either. Instead, recognize that not everyone might want the same thing and make space for choice. 

This could mean sending out a quick survey ahead of the holidays, then curating four or five distinct categories of gifts that cover different lifestyles, like a specialty tea kit, sleek travel gear, a wellness bundle, or a design-forward desk accessory. For companies that want to take it a step further, a digital swag store works beautifully too, where employees can browse curated options and “shop” with internal company credits..

With Wayo, implementing this type of personalization is easy. Our low minimums (starting at 20-100 units for most products) make it possible to offer variety without ballooning costs, so you can swap “one-size-fits-all” for “thoughtfully chosen” without the logistics nightmare.

Trend 3: Wellness at the center

Burnout is currently at a 10-year high. Against that backdrop, it’s no surprise that social media platforms are overrun with “mental health hacks” and wellness has gone from a niche lifestyle category to a cultural mainstream. 

When it comes to deciding what bulk holiday gifts for employees to order, one way to acknowledge how hard things feel right now is to choose purposeful gifts that help recipients slow down, recharge, or simply take a breath. Some popular choices include:

• Waterproof electric scalp massager: No need to wait for your next salon visit to unwind. This nifty gadget turns an ordinary shower into a five-star spa ritual.
• Flame aroma oil diffuser and humidifier: This gift adds calm and atmosphere to any space while supporting better air quality through the winter months.
• Fleece blanket: It’s simple, cozy, and instantly useful at home or in the office.

Trend 4: The aesthetic unboxing moment

TikTok and Instagram have turned unboxing into its own category of content, complete with slow pans across packaging and the crinkle of tissue paper being unfolded.

Your employees probably aren’t filming themselves opening their holiday gifts, but the unboxing experience still says a lot about how their company sees them. If holiday gifts show up in a generic cardboard box, indistinguishable from the dish soap or batteries they ordered themselves from Amazon that same week, the gesture falls flat. 

On the other hand, if your holiday gift arrives beautifully presented with design-forward packaging, clever layering, or even a handwritten card from the company acknowledging the year’s hard work, you’re creating a moment worth remembering (and maybe even photographed and shared on Instagram). 

Trend 5: Hybrid gifting beyond the box

Experiential gifts are, unsurprisingly, on the rise – people want memories, not just more stuff. But the best gifts don’t force a choice between the two. Hybrid gifting, which pairs a tangible item with an experience, has quickly become the sweet spot. The object grounds the gift, while the experience stretches its life far beyond the moment of unwrapping.

Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Coffee mug + virtual latte art class: This one is perfect for companies with remote or hybrid teams. Everyone gets a mug or tumbler, and employees can log in together for a guided latte art session with a barista. 
• Pickleball set + local court pass: If you’re a wellness-focused company or organization with an active culture, consider this pairing where employees receive a paddle set plus a voucher to a nearby pickleball facility. 
• Wine opener set + wine tasting voucher: This pairing works best for smaller teams where you know preferences well (since some employees may be alcohol-free or prefer to abstain), or as one option within a broader set of curated choices.
• Mini karaoke machine + Spotify gift card: This one’s great for creative, high-energy teams. 
• Travel accessories + airline gift card: Consider curating a set of travel accessories (including a luggage tag, tech organizer pouch, and passport holder) with an airline voucher so your employees can plan their next trip. It’s aspirational but also practical.

Choose Wayo for your holiday gifting this year

Despite economic worries weighing down on wallets, the appetite for joy hasn’t disappeared; instead, it just means how we gift is shifting. For companies, that creates an opportunity. Rather than an obligatory budget line, the holiday gifts you choose can be a signal of care.

At Wayo, we help companies lean into this shift by curating gifts that fit the times: smaller in scale, smarter in design, and richer in impact. Explore our full catalog or bring a dream custom product to life with Nory, our AI sourcing agent.

Want some employee holiday gift ideas? Explore gift ideas for your next company holiday party.