Corporate Christmas gifting in Australia is changing shape in 2025. After a few tight years and a lot of talk about “cozzie livs”, companies are still sending gifts to staff, clients and partners, yet the brief has shifted. The focus now is on thoughtful, long-lasting items that feel personal, align with brand values and do not end up in landfill a week after Boxing Day. Sustainable choices, premium drinkware and refined glass gifts are sitting right at the centre of that shift.
Personalisation as standard, not a nice-to-have
Across Australian corporate gift suppliers, personalisation has moved from an upgrade to an expectation. Retailers and hamper services actively promote names, initials and tailored messages on gifts, from wine sets and cheese boards to drinkware and stationery.
For HR teams and marketing managers, a gift with an employee’s name, role or a short message from the CEO feels far less like a bulk buy. It also aligns with a broader trend in corporate gifting toward relationship-building and values-driven branding, rather than ticking a box on a December checklist.
There's also been a steady increase in demand for personalised glass for various occasions.
Sustainability and waste-aware gifting
Australians are increasingly wary of wasteful Christmas spending. Research cited by The Australia Institute shows more than a quarter of people expect to receive gifts they will never use, and over half would rather cut back on unnecessary items altogether. For corporate buyers, that is a clear warning: low-quality novelty products are likely to be ignored or quietly binned.
In response, companies are steering towards practical, durable gifts made from glass, metal, wood, and textiles, often with recyclable or compostable packaging. Local businesses offering eco-hampers, reusable products, and minimal-plastic designs are seeing steady demand, including in the corporate segment.
Hampers are still popular, but the contents are changing. Many shops now curate boxes with Australian wines, artisan food, spa products and premium glassware, supported by custom-printed ribbon and recyclable gift boxes for corporate orders. That sustainable yet polished feel sits neatly with corporate ESG messaging.
Why glass and drinkware are having a moment
- Drinkware has been a strong category for several years, and it gained more traction through the “hydration” trend highlighted in corporate gift reports, which point to the rise of reusable bottles and oversized tumblers.
- In 2025, Australian buyers are pushing further into premium glass gifts rather than just branded mugs or plastic bottles.
- Fine wine and spirits remain classic end-of-year gifts, so matching glasses are a logical extension.
- Suppliers now offer engraved glassware for everything from whisky and gin to Champagne, often in presentation boxes that can be added to a larger hamper or sent as a stand-alone thank-you.
Personalisation is about more than simply placing a logo on the side. Companies are commissioning subtle name or monogram details for senior leaders, long-serving staff and key clients. A simple personalised drinking glass with initials, the year and a short message feels personal without sliding into gimmick territory.
Also Read: Crystal Versus Glass: What Is the Difference and Why It Matters
From logo-heavy to refined custom design
The era of oversized logos dominating every surface is easing off. Many Australian brands now prefer quieter, design-led branding that people are happy to use at home or in the office. That trend is evident in glass gifts.
Rather than a large logo, buyers are asking for tone-on-tone etching, fine type and minor marks on the base or stem. Boutique gift brands such as Mont Laurent echo that approach across ranges of personalised glassware suited to corporate gifting. The result is something that still carries the brand yet feels like a genuine piece of homeware.
For larger teams, businesses often choose custom glassware sets that share a unified design language: perhaps one layout for executives, another for key clients and a third for internal reward programs. This segmented gifting makes it easier to control the budget while still delivering a feel of tailoring.
Blending experiences with tangible keepsakes
Another noticeable trend in 2025 is the blend of physical gifts with experiences. Experience-based gifting has grown in popularity across Australia, from spa days to cultural workshops and local food or wellness packages.
Corporate Christmas gifting now often pairs an experience voucher with a small, personalised keepsake. A spa voucher may include a single customised glass for herbal tea at home, or a wine-tasting experience might be paired with a set of etched stemless glasses. This approach balances the desire for memories and connection with the reassurance of a physical gift that will last.
5 Tips on Christmas Gifting for Australian Businesses in 2025
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Start with values and audience: Decide whether your priority is sustainability, local support, staff wellbeing or client retention, then choose gifts that clearly reflect that focus.
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Choose fewer, better items: One high-quality glass personalised gift set or curated hamper is likely to be used and remembered long after multiple low-value items disappear into drawers.
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Keep branding subtle: Discreet etching or a small mark on quality glassware or packaging usually feels more premium than a large logo on a disposable object.
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Think about the unboxing: Recyclable packaging, simple tissue, and a printed card with a sincere message from leadership make a stronger impression than layers of plastic and filler.
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Align with hybrid work: Many staff now split time between home and office. Gifts that work in either setting, such as good drinkware, desk items and wellness products, are generally well received.
Looking ahead
Australian corporate Christmas gifting in 2025 is more intentional, more personal and more environmentally aware than it was even a few years ago. Thoughtfully chosen glass gifts, whether a single etched tumbler or a complete set of custom glassware, sit neatly at that intersection of practicality, style and meaning.
For businesses, the message is clear. Pick items that people will actually use, make the personal touches genuine, and treat sustainability as a baseline expectation rather than a bonus feature. Done well, a carefully chosen piece of engraved glassware or a refined glass set from Mont Laurent can carry your brand quietly into homes and offices long after the Christmas tree has come down.
