2025 Merch Trends Overview

2024 was a year of massive change from politics to the workplace to pop culture. As we enter 2025, our customers and business partners have different needs and desires than at the start of 2024. At Merchology, we’ve done the leg work of trends research for 2025 so you don’t have to! With stats from our trusted brand suppliers and companies of all sizes, we’ve summed up the information and created the merch trend guide below to help you reflect your brand and connect with your audience this year.

Why is Trends Research Important?

With social media, practically all societal discourse has been moved online. This means that not a single event transpires without thousands, even millions of people listening to the opinions of others and chiming in with their own thoughts. If your brand isn’t aware of the current conversation around a certain issue, it’s very easy to come off as tone deaf. To engage with your audience, you need to have your finger on the pulse of what they love, what they’re tired of, what they need, and what they don’t want to see.

But why does this matter when we’re shopping for corporate gifts or employee uniforms? Gift giving is a means of connecting with your customers, clients, business partners, and employees. It’s impossible to build strong, genuine connections if your gift proves you don’t know what’s important to them. You may not be able to know your gift recipients individually, but trends information shows what the majority of people are looking for at this time.

Cultural awareness is crucial when it comes to connecting with others. The trends below are a reflection of the current cultural zeitgeist, along with explanations for how these trends affect your 2025 corporate gifting and promotional products!

Trend #1: 2025 Trade Shows

The tried-and-true trade show giveaways like totes, hats, and tees always prove effective. But there are a few newcomers to the promotional item scene that your new connections will love! These products provide multiple uses for your recipients, giving you even more impressions on your logo.

Pens with Styluses: Great for notebook lovers and tablet users alike.
Notebooks: Fresh notebooks inspire new ideas, both professionally and personally.
Ceramic Mugs: People are loving the classic, simple ceramic mug as a means to enjoy the moment.
LED products: Products with added light-up features like speakers and chargers, provide unexpected cheer, especially during darker months.
Keychains: The fun of personalized keepsakes is coming back into style in a major way.

Trend #2: Big & Bold

In the wake of the minimalist, monochrome movement, consumers want more than your basic corporate colorways. Reach for eye-catching colors, attractive patterns, and cheerful designs. A year of serious discussions has consumers craving moments of relief with fun diversions.

Trend #3: Built to Last

Consumers are feeling fatigued by an oversaturation of “green” language. We’ve all developed a good sense of when companies are greenwashing, or slapping sustainability language onto products that may not even have eco-friendly impacts. A part of responsible consumption that’s often ignored is shopping products that are built to last, eliminating the need for replacement and cutting down on overconsumption while keeping items out of the landfill.

Trend #4: Less Screen Time

More than ever, people are looking to reduce their screentime with “analog” activities. Whether it’s a fitness accessory, card game, journal, or sketch book, consider corporate gifts that support hobbies and offline activities. This includes wellness gifts that support mindfulness like essential oil diffusers, wellness journals, and fidgets to pull people out of their anxious thoughts and into the current moment.

Trend #5: Bridge the Gap

People are exhausted by tense, negative political conversations. Focus on giveaway items that can help build connections and put discord to rest. Find items that consumers from a wide range of backgrounds can enjoy rather than using giveaways to inflame opposition. This includes products with positivity messaging and thoughtful giveaways to be used in random acts of kindness.

Get in Touch

Our team of merch experts is here to support your unique company. With a decade of industry expertise and a toolbox of helpful Merch Solutions, we’re here to answer any of your questions and help you take on 2025 with merch that hits the mark.