6 research-backed tips for holiday gifts people actually keep
Insights from The Shared Secrets Lab, PPAI research, and our experience working with 87 of Canada’s top 100 companies point to six principles behind gifts that get used instead of forgotten.
- Pick everyday-use items. PPAI found 68% of people say usefulness makes branded merchandise feel valuable, so choose gifts with a daily purpose.
- Choose fewer, better pieces. 66% of consumers prefer fewer, higher-quality branded products over more low-cost items.
- Let design lead, not the logo. 44% of people prefer subtle branding over large, bold logos, and nearly 90% say design affects whether they keep a product.
- Match the gift to the person. 77% say a gift should reflect their individual preferences, so consider each recipient's role, climate, apparel size, and dietary needs.
- Spend smarter, not just more. PPAI found 46.7% of people say a gift's cost doesn't affect their satisfaction, so put your budget into quality and fit rather than price alone.
- Favour year-round use. Festive touches add holiday spirit, but gifts people can use in every season, like drinkware or outerwear, are more likely to stay in rotation long after December.
Want the data behind these tips? Our 2026 report breaks down six factors that shape how employees value holiday gifts.
See what employees really want from holiday gifts.
Corporate holiday gifting mistakes to avoid this year
Small decisions around product choice, branding, timing, and recipient details can determine whether a holiday gift feels thoughtful or forgettable. Here are the mistakes to avoid and how to fix them.
Holiday gifting mistakes to avoid this year
|
The mistake |
How to fix it |
|
Choosing what’s trendy instead of what’s useful |
Start with gifts people can use regularly. Usefulness, quality, and personal relevance should come before novelty. |
|
Filling boxes with too many low-value items |
Choose fewer, better pieces that work well together instead of adding filler just to make the box feel full. |
|
Making the logo the main feature |
Keep branding subtle with engraving, tonal decoration, or smaller placement so the product still feels like a gift. |
|
Treating every recipient the same |
Consider role, climate, apparel size, dietary needs, and location before finalizing the gift. |
|
Waiting too long to order |
Leave time for product selection, proofs, production, packing, and shipping, especially for international or direct-to-home orders. |
|
Overlooking recipient details |
Confirm names, addresses, sizes, dietary preferences, and personalization details before production begins. |
Go deeper on what makes holiday gifts miss the mark, from poor product fit and over-branding to weak personalization.
Read the full guide: Why Employee Holiday Gifts Fail (and How to Fix Them)
FAQs
1. What are the best corporate holiday gifts for employees and clients?
The best corporate holiday gifts are useful, well-made items suited to the recipient's everyday life, according to The Shared Secrets Lab (TSSL). For employees, wearables are the most preferred branded gift in PPAI research, and premium drinkware, tech, and wellness items also work well. For clients and executives, give fewer, higher-end gifts with subtle branding, like curated gift sets.
2. How do you choose corporate holiday gifts people will actually use and keep?
Choose gifts that are useful, well made, and suited to the recipient's role, routine, or interests. PPAI research found 83% of recipients kept promotional products because they were useful, while 66% preferred fewer, higher-quality items. Design matters too, and subtle branding can help a gift feel more thoughtful and less like company swag.
3. Should client gifts include our logo?
Yes, but keep it subtle. A large logo can make even a premium gift feel like marketing, while discreet branding keeps it personal. Engraving, debossing, and tone-on-tone decoration work especially well for client gifts because they look refined without overpowering the product. Over-branding is also a common reason gifts get set aside or thrown away.
4. How much should we spend per employee or client?
Around $60 to $100 USD per recipient is a practical starting point for corporate holiday gifts. Companies often spend less per person for larger employee groups and more on key clients and executives. Budget for the full cost per recipient, including customization, packaging, shipping, and a small buffer for late additions or reshipping.
5. When should we order corporate holiday gifts?
Start planning in August or September and aim to place orders by October for the widest product selection and enough time for proofs, production, and shipping. International orders should be scheduled earlier to allow for transit and customs.
7. What is the minimum order quantity?
At GiftAFeeling, custom holiday swag boxes start at just 15 units. Minimums for individual products vary and are listed on each product page.
8. Will we see a proof before production?
Yes. Before production begins, you'll receive a virtual proof showing your logo, colours, and placement for approval. Logo-imprinted samples are also available if you want to review the finished look first. If the final order doesn't match what you approved, GiftAFeeling's "You'll Love It or We'll Redo It" guarantee means we'll remake it at no cost.
9. Can you ship gifts directly to each employee's home?
Yes. GiftAFeeling ships gifts directly to each employee’s home, office, or event venue worldwide. Send us your recipient list, and we’ll pack, label, and ship each gift individually.
10. Do you ship internationally?
Yes. GiftAFeeling ships corporate holiday gifts worldwide, including to Canada, the US, the UK, Germany, Sweden, India, the Netherlands, the UAE, Japan, and more. We can also ship directly to individual recipients in different countries.