How to Choose Meaningful Corporate Gifts That Actually Work?

78% of businesses admit to giving inappropriate corporate gifts that waste budgets and create bad impressions - but the truth is that "safe" old-style gifts are completely outdated.

In 2025, recipients want gifts with stories, personalization, and environmental friendliness instead of generic items that nobody uses.

The secret isn't about buying "200 of something with budget X" but rather "how to make 200 people feel valued" - and this is where a completely new approach will change the entire game.

Meaningful gifts bring real connection and value to recipients

The Familiar Story of HR Teams

"What did we give last year that employees still have sitting untouched in their cabinets?"

Ms. Tram - an HR employee at a fintech company in Hanoi - shares: "Last year the company ordered 200 ceramic mugs printed with logos at 150,000 VND each. We thought they'd be practical, but they're still sitting untouched in many people's cabinets. Turns out everyone already had thermal mugs, and ceramic ones are heavy and inconvenient to carry to work."

Or like Mr. Minh - administration at a tech startup: "We ordered desk calendars last time, thinking everyone would need them. But now everyone uses digital calendars on their phones, paper calendars are just used as... coasters."

When corporate gifts become burdens instead of joy

Why Do "Safe" Gifts Fail?

2010-style Thinking

Many HR departments still think the old way: pens, leather notebooks, desk clocks. But work habits have completely changed. The 90s generation works completely paperless - what do they need pens for?

"One Size Fits All" in the Age of Personalization

The same gift given to a 25-year-old programmer and a 40-year-old manager will have completely different effects. Programmers might like tech gadgets, while managers need something that shows status.

Not Understanding Your Company Culture

Tech startups giving feng shui paintings, traditional companies giving laptop stickers. Completely mismatched.

Understanding your audience is key to choosing appropriate and meaningful gifts

Real Numbers About Vietnam's Gift Market

According to Vietnam's General Statistics Office, the country's GDP grew 7.09% in 2024, with total retail sales and consumer service revenue reaching 4,703.4 trillion VND in the first 9 months, up 8.8%. What does this mean for the gift industry?

Gift Recipients Are More "Demanding"

Higher income → higher standards → no longer satisfied with generic gifts.

Demand for "Meaningful Gifts" Rising Strongly

Instead of quantity, people want quality and stories behind the gifts.

Pride in Local Products is Trending

In the context of economic development, supporting Vietnamese products is no longer "charity" but a trend.

The gift market is shifting toward quality and meaning

Why Plan from Q3?

Avoid Year-End Shortages and Price Increases

Year-end is when all businesses rush to buy corporate gifts to thank their customers, causing gift shortages and high prices. Therefore, companies should plan and order gifts early. Early ordering helps ensure gift quantities reach customers and optimizes costs.

Ensure Quality and Diverse Choices

Reputable suppliers often have tight production schedules from October onwards. Early ordering gives you time to carefully check quality and request adjustments if needed.

Catch the Latest Trends

In the context of changing corporate gifts for 2025, personalization, sustainability, and practicality have emerged as main trends.

Early planning helps businesses optimize gift costs and quality

2025 Corporate Gift Trends

Personalization - Top Trend

Instead of generic gifts, the 2025 trend focuses on personalization, meeting recipients' preferences and needs. You can choose gifts that can be engraved with names, printed logos, or your company's special messages.

Personalization will always be an essential part of corporate gifts in coming years because it's the perfect solution to help businesses create something special and memorable.

Sustainable and Eco-Friendly

In 2025, environmentally friendly products with natural origins and sustainability will become trends. Green gifts not only meet customer expectations but also help businesses convey meaningful messages about sustainable development.

According to ING Group, about 40% of gifts including hoodies, mugs, and plastic accessories like lanyards and sunglasses are considered unwanted and often end up in disposal sites like trash cans and landfills.

Green gift trends are leading the 2025 market

Health Care and Work-Life Balance

After months of stressful work, businesses increasingly focus on employees' mental health. Combos like relaxing tea sets for offices, stress-relief essential oils, lavender scented candles, or spa/massage vouchers are becoming popular choices.

Experiences Instead of Objects

Generation Z prefers "experiences" over "objects." Cooking class vouchers, craft workshops, or team-building activities are gradually replacing traditional gifts.

Experiences and wellness are replacing traditional material gifts

Real Case Studies: Companies Doing Corporate Gifts "Right"

Case Study 1: Fortune 500 Corporation - The "Green, Vietnamese, and Impressive" Challenge

Context: A multinational tech corporation with production facilities in Vietnam needed gifts for international partners. The requirements seemed simple but were actually very challenging:

• Must be "green" (environmentally sustainable) - fitting the corporation's ESG commitments
• Must be "Vietnamese" (showing local culture) - for partners to understand where they're collaborating
• Must be "impressive" (creating unforgettable impact) - couldn't be typical "safe" gifts

Solution: After careful research, they chose a bamboo product combo: drinking cups with personalized engraved messages, bamboo accessories, and handwoven bamboo gift boxes.

Why bamboo? Bamboo grows fast, is environmentally friendly, and carries strong Vietnamese identity. In Vietnamese consciousness, bamboo symbolizes resilience and nobility.

Implementation details:

• Personalized messages engraved for each partner
• Completion time: only 10 days from idea to product
• 100% natural materials, no chemicals used

Results: International partners highly appreciated and kept as souvenirs. The corporation achieved goals of conveying sustainability and cultural messages.

Lesson learned: Don't fear being "different" - things that seem "rustic" can create the strongest impressions.

Sustainable bamboo corporate gifts create deep impressions with international partners

>>> Read more: Schneider Electric and the Journey to Find Sustainable Corporate Gifts

Case Study 2: Central Retail Group - "Exclusive" Scented Candles for Major Event

Challenge: A leading retail corporation organized a supplier conference with 170 partners attending. They wanted gifts that were:

• Colors matching brand identity (red-white)
• Highly customizable, showing exclusivity for the event
• Easy to present, suitable for senior staff
• Creating lasting impressions after the event

Creative Solution: Instead of choosing typical gifts, they decided on glass scented candles with special highlights.

"Exclusive" details:

• Candle wax dyed in brand red instead of just printing logos outside
• Engraved with event name "Supplier Conference 2025" for uniqueness
• Packaging specially designed in company colors
• Completed 170 customized products in 2 weeks

Surprising Results: Not only were suppliers satisfied, many posted photos on social media. The event was remembered longer thanks to the unique gifts.

Important Lesson: Personalization + brand colors = formula for creating strong emotions.

Brand-customized scented candles bring unforgettable experiences

>>> Read more: Central Retail Group Chooses Scented Candles for Supplier Conference

Mistakes to Avoid When Choosing Gifts

Choosing Inappropriate Gifts for Recipients

78% of businesses admit to buying inappropriate gifts due to lack of planning. The consequences are wasted budgets and poor impressions with partners and employees.

Ignoring Sustainability

With the growing trend of environmental protection, choosing corporate gifts that aren't eco-friendly can create negative brand impressions.

Not Investing in Packaging

Beautiful, quality packaging helps elevate gift value, showing professionalism and respect for recipients. Surveys show 40% of gift impressions come from presentation and packaging.

Common mistakes can ruin corporate gift strategies

Where to Order Personalized Corporate Gifts in Vietnam?

Gift Industry "Giants"

• Advantages: Large scale, fast delivery
• Disadvantages: Quite generic products, little customization

Local Manufacturers

• Advantages: Good prices, flexibility
• Disadvantages: Inconsistent quality, poor design

Creative + Gift Companies

• Advantages: Unique ideas, good brand building
• Disadvantages: High prices, long completion times

Specialized E-commerce Platforms for Gifts

And this is where CHUS emerges as a special player.

Map of corporate gift suppliers in Vietnam

Why CHUS is Perfect for 2025 Corporate Gifts?

Vietnam's First Platform Specializing in Vietnamese Handmade Gifts

CHUS is Vietnam's first e-commerce platform specializing in distributing "made in Vietnam" handmade products. While competitors sell "corporate gifts," CHUS sells "Vietnamese cultural heritage in gift form."

Strictly Curated Ecosystem

CHUS doesn't accept just any product. Each item must pass strict selection processes:

• Check handmade quality and durability
• Verify origins from Vietnamese artisans
• Evaluate cultural value and aesthetics
• Assess customization capabilities for businesses

CHUS brings Vietnamese handcraft culture to modern corporate gifts

Storytelling Instead of Just Selling

Each CHUS product comes with stories about artisans, production processes, and cultural meanings. This is perfect for businesses wanting to give gifts "with soul" that can tell stories.

Professional Personalization Services

CHUS provides diverse customization services:

• Laser engraving names/logos on bamboo, wood, leather products
• Embroidering company names on silk scarves, handmade fabric bags
• Customizing product colors according to brand guidelines
• Designing private packaging with personal messages

Comprehensive Business Service Package

• Free consultation with team knowledgeable about Vietnamese culture
• Attractive discounts for large quantity orders
• Nationwide delivery with express service available
• Professional packaging according to requirements

Professional personalization services from CHUS satisfy all business requirements

Conclusion: The Game-Changing Approach for 2025 Gifts

Instead of thinking "I need to buy 200 of something with budget X," think "How do I want 200 people to feel valued?"

CHUS offers a different approach: instead of mass-produced gifts, they provide curated Vietnamese artisan products with stories and soul. Perfect for businesses wanting to stand out and create real connections.

Next step: Visit CHUS right away or schedule a consultation call to discover specific options for your company culture and budget.

Personalized "Kind Words" Gift Box, Write Unique Messages Of Love, Exclusive Gift Set With Limited Notebook & Engraved Pen, Birthday Gift, Corporate Gift

1,362,500 ₫

20%

1,090,000 ₫

Personalized "Imprint" Gift Box, Preserving Genuine Emotions, Gift Set With Bamboo Tumbler, Notebook & Pen, Premium Corporate Gift, Birthday Gift

1,344,400 ₫

20%

1,075,500 ₫

Personalized "Memory" Gift Box, Preserving Lasting Sincerity, Gift Set With Custom Bamboo Cup & Passport Holder, Birthday Gift Box With Exclusive Card

661,500 ₫

20%

529,200 ₫

Personalized Scented Candle Gift, A Candle As Unique As Your Love, Perfect Women's Day Gifts Ideas, Personalized Gift For Her, Birthday Gift For Her

230,000 ₫

22%

180,000 ₫

Don't let year-end corporate gifts become "boring work" anymore. Turn them into opportunities to strengthen culture and create lasting impressions.

FAQs

• Why are “safe” gifts no longer effective in 2025?
  Because people’s needs and expectations have changed. Mass-produced, generic gifts feel meaningless. Today, recipients want something personal, with a story behind it—especially if it’s eco-friendly and reflects real thought from the giver.
• How can companies choose the right gifts for people of different ages and roles?
  Don’t use a one-size-fits-all approach. Group your recipients by age, interest, or role. Younger staff might like tech items, while senior managers may prefer elegant, useful gifts. Understanding your company’s culture also helps you choose better.
• What are the top corporate gifting trends in 2025?
  Three key trends: personalization, sustainability, and experiences over objects. People want gifts they can use, feel connected to, and remember. Items with a personal message or cultural meaning are replacing generic souvenirs.
• Why should companies plan their corporate gifts early, around Q3?
  Planning early avoids the year-end rush, high prices, and low stock. It also gives you more time to customize and ensures better quality. Early planning helps you stay on top of trends and make a strong impression.
• What makes CHUS different from other corporate gift platforms?
  CHUS doesn’t just sell gifts—it shares Vietnamese culture through handcrafted products. Each item tells a story and can be customized with your brand’s message. It’s perfect for businesses that want meaningful, standout gifts.