The art of corporate gifting: from keychains to wellness kits

The evolution of corporate gifts

Historically, corporate gifts were small branded items like keychains or pens—easy to distribute but rarely memorable. Over time, businesses realised that such giveaways often failed to convey genuine appreciation.

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Successful gifts began to include thoughtful, personalised items—such as quality notebooks or experience vouchers—that demonstrated real consideration. These kinds of gifts can strengthen relationships, add emotional value, or leave recipients with lasting memories of an event or other important occasion.

Experience shows that most low-cost gadgets end up being abandoned after just a few days of use — pens that stop working after a week, USB drives with insufficient storage, power banks that fail after only a few charging cycles. These items are not only quickly forgotten, but can also create a negative association with the brand.

The difference lies — perhaps most importantly — in the ability to truly understand the recipient. A high-quality power bank for those who frequently work on the go, premium wireless headphones for employees who take many video calls, or an elegant leather planner for executives who still value handwriting. A gift chosen with this level of care can strengthen long-lasting professional relationships, while a generic, low-quality one sends a message of indifference and lack of attention to detail.

Trends in sustainable gifting

Today’s corporate gifting increasingly centres on sustainability. From recycled-material kits to eco-friendly wellness items, the goal is to reduce environmental impact while still delivering strong value.

Most appreciated gifts: gen Z vs. millennials and gen X

Gen Z

Younger people often prefer sustainable tech accessories, such as bamboo wireless chargers, or customizable gadgets linked to apps. Gen Z also appreciates gifts like subscriptions to digital platforms such as Spotify, e-learning services, or ethical gift cards that support social and environmental projects.

Millennial e Gen X

These “in-between” generations tend to appreciate practical yet sophisticated gifts: noise-cancelling wireless headphones for remote work, or gourmet kits for the home office, such as premium teas or locally roasted coffee. Also highly valued are eco-friendly wellness kits, vouchers for culinary experiences or short trips, and useful tech tools like smart home accessories.

A gift that turns into a relationship

In this way, the old promotional gadget is transformed into a bridge between the company’s identity and the person receiving it. When an employee uses that high-quality thermal mug every day, or when a client carries those practical yet elegant wireless headphones for years, the brand isn’t simply “advertising” — it’s showing that it took the time to listen before choosing.

Because ultimately, the best corporate gift isn’t the one that shouts the company name the loudest, but the one that quietly says every day: “We thought about you — specifically you.”

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