Back in July, our mid-year promo report pointed to a growing love for small (but highly personalized) giveaways, retail-branded apparel, reusable tote bags, and sporty caps. Now, as we wrap up another year in the world of promotional products, it’s time for a final pulse check.

What Trends Defined Promotional Products in 2025?

1. Little Luxuries: The consumer obsession with “little luxuries” played a major role in shaping 2025’s promotional landscape. We covered this in-depth in a recent blog post, but the short version is simple: in a tougher economic moment, shoppers are pulling back on big-ticket spending and leaning into “tiny treats” instead—snacks, makeup minis, bag charms, and other small joys. This “little treat economy” has carried over into the promo world. Businesses are choosing thoughtful, highly relevant promotional gifts that meet their audience’s specific needs and tie neatly into the products or services they offer. Whether given as a small thank-you or sold in-store, these items deliver a burst of delight—even for customers feeling the pinch financially.

2. Nostalgia Marketing: Nostalgia also made a big comeback, and in promo we’ve really seen it in apparel and decoration styles. Throwback designs and retro fits had their moment this year, tapping into consumers’ love of comfort and familiarity.

3. Personalization and Targeting: As Forbes put it, “there’s no such thing as one-size-fits-all merch anymore. Like any smart marketing investment, it should be intentional, relevant, and designed to cut through the noise.” That perspective showed up in many different ways in 2025:

• Industry reports showed a focus on durability and practicality over low-cost, low-lifespan options—prioritizing sustainability, relevance and usefulness in every promo product.

• Businesses embraced audience-specific, needs-based product choices rather than broad, catch-all merch.

• Creativity increased too: we saw branding frequently go beyond logos into slogans, taglines, and full-color decoration.

What Did Our Customers Gravitate Toward?

Our early predictions about small, highly personalized giveaways held strong. Some of our top products this year were simple, thoughtful “thinking of you” gifts that work beautifully as mailers, shopping bag stuffers, or event handouts. Think carpenter pencils for trades businesses, pens for conferences or offices, lip balms for spas and drugstores, or scratch pads for real estate agents and local takeout shops. These items were low-cost but highly specific, directly connected to what each business offers and genuinely useful for the people receiving them. Complimentary, practical, and memorable—exactly what promo should be.

Athletic styles also took off. Back in July we noticed athletic headwear pulling ahead of casual, laid-back styles, and that trend didn’t stop. In fact, athletic apparel itself surged in popularity. Moisture-wicking tees, packable raincoats, sweatshorts, and sweatshirts were all in demand. Functionality took center stage, whether for athletes, busy employees, or customers who want promo they can actually move in.

And then there were tote bags—lots of tote bags. Reusable shopping totes remained a favorite, but 2025 saw the category expand in style-forward ways. Beach totes, picnic bags, and purse-like designs gained serious traction.

What Can We Expect in 2026?

Hyper-personalization is a trend we’ve been seeing across the promo industry - and it isn’t going anywhere. Consumers want brands, products, and ads to feel tailored to them, and we expect this trend to grow. That could mean individualized product personalization (names, job titles), more audience input in promo design (surveys, “what do you want to see next?”), or new forms of customization entirely.

Sustainability will continue to matter—more than 90% of consumers consider it an important factor in promo. But here’s the twist: recent studies show that compared to just a couple of years ago, fewer Millennial and Gen Z shoppers are willing to pay the extra price tag that often comes with sustainable product alternatives. Interest is high, budgets are tight, and it will be interesting to see how both consumers and businesses navigate this tension.

Finally, expect more integration between digital and physical promotions. As life becomes more digital and AI-driven, people are showing interest in tech-enabled merch. According to a recent PPAI survey, 45% of respondents prefer promo products that connect to digital content or apps. For an industry rooted in physical goods, this shift opens the door to exciting innovation—and we can’t wait to explore what’s next in promotional tech, digital experiences, and beyond.

As we wrap up another year of promo, it’s clear that there’s a lot to look forward to in 2026. As always, we’ll be posting the latest industry updates, consumer trends and marketing tips on our blog and socials - so make sure to follow along!