Corporate Gifting Trends for 2025

I run a small stationery workshop in Pune, and every October the same question shows up in my inbox: what should we give our team for Diwali that isn’t another branded mug nobody uses? Here’s what I’ve actually seen work, from the corporate orders we’ve filled ourselves.

Plantable stationery over branded merch

A logoed pen gets used once and lost. A seed pencil made from recycled newspaper gets used until it’s too short to hold, then planted. We roll these by hand in our Pune workshop, and companies order them in batches of 50 or 100 with a name or logo stamped on.

Upcycled fabric instead of new cotton

Our tote bags and diary covers are cut from fabric offcuts left over from our own production floor. No two look exactly alike, which is a feature, not a defect. Recipients notice when something wasn’t mass-produced.

Reusable kits people keep

A bamboo toothbrush set, a steel cutlery kit, a travel kit with a pencil, a pen and a bamboo toothbrush together: these replace things people already buy and throw away, so the gift has a life past the day it’s opened.

What doesn’t work as well

Anything that photographs well but sits in a drawer. I’ve watched companies order elaborate hamper boxes stuffed with items nobody asked for. A smaller gift someone actually uses beats a bigger one they don’t.

How we handle corporate orders

We don’t run a storefront checkout for bulk orders. Message us on WhatsApp with your headcount and budget, and we’ll tell you what’s realistic and by when. Customisation (a name, a logo, a message) is available on several products, seed pencils and diaries most often. Lead time runs a few days longer than our regular stock, since these are made after you order, not pulled off a shelf.

If you’re planning Diwali gifting, start the conversation now rather than in the last week of October. Batches take time to roll and pack. Curious what switching actually saves in plastic and CO2e for your headcount? Try the impact calculator.