Why businesses should take advantage of this $38 billion industry

The days of saying it with flowers are now long gone and there are so many other ways to tell people that they are appreciated or to say thank you to them. Generic gifts have a limited impact as well as the danger of being duplicated, which is why the sending of something personalised has proved to be such a success. In recent times, it is a great way to make someone feel special and for them to know it was for them and only them!

The personalised gift market has been growing rapidly and is expected to be a global industry worth $38 billion by the end of this year, with more than £1 billion of that coming from the UK alone.

Once upon a time, we would only send gifts for birthday’s and at Christmas, but now there are so many more reasons to make that special gesture. With everything from a baby shower to a wedding anniversary, a simple thank you or acknowledgment of custom, the more occasions there are, the more innovative the gift buying needs to be.

To explain further, Adele Thomas of Distinctive Confectionery, shares her insights.

What are personalised gifts?

Personalisation can mean any number of things, including adding a name or a business to something. This has proved especially popular when it comes to seasonal gifts and decorations for occasions such as Christmas, Halloween, Easter and Hanukah.

There are a wide variety of ways to personalise an item, including, painting, embroidering, engraving, and carving, as well as adding photographs to cards, pictures and mugs to name just a few of the options. It is a fantastic option for both children and adults alike, which has grown as technology has taken new leaps forward and made this process easier than ever, and the advent of 3D printing will only serve to widen the number of possibilities that are available

Wall décor has proved to be one of the most popular options for personalisation thanks to the ability to add photographs to a great many features, and this can now even happen in store. However, the non-photographic gifts are now also growing as adding a name or personal message to a book, t-shirt or mug is easier than ever.

The personalisation market had been growing rapidly over the last few years, but the COVID-19 pandemic added to this dramatically, as those who couldn’t see each other now wanted a personal way to express themselves that could be easily ordered and organised online. These types of gifts became a substitute for not being able to see someone in person and have proved successful as the unique elements of personalisation give an added feeling of thoughtfulness.

The run up to Christmas is the biggest gift buying time of the year, but there are plenty of other opportunities to send personalised gifts. Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, wedding anniversaries and births all put our gift buying skills to the test, so personalising something can be the perfect way to solve your gifting dilemmas. The options are endless, with everything from personalised tins of chocolates to festive plates and napkins now being available. The children are not left out of this fantastic gifting craze either, with many toys, baby clothing items and even blankets now being personalised.

Corporate gifting

It is easy to assume that you might only send a gift to a parent, partner or best friend, but sending a gift to a customer is something that is increasingly popular. In a world where competition is rife, it can be important to show your customers how much they mean to you, and so sending a gift with an order or at the end of a project can be a memorable way to let your client know how much you value the fact that they chose you. It can also be a useful way to remind customers that you are there and encourage them to come back to you if you have not heard from them for a while.

It can also help to attract new clients and adding your company logo to an item acts as a form of advertising. For a business, it is most likely that you will not know a great deal about the personal tastes of whomever you might be sending the gift to, and so choosing something like confectionary is often a safe bet.

Whether you are gifting to an individual or another business, opening an unexpected delivery of something delicious will appeal to everyone’s inner sweet tooth and can transport them back to childhood or happy memories in an instant.

These sweets can be old favourites to fit in with a retro trend or something new and exciting to set taste buds dancing. They are available in jars or letterbox sized packages and all branded with your company logo. This proves to be a fun and welcome way to get your business name out there and give your customers that warm fuzzy feeling of being appreciated. In a workplace environment, these types of gifts are often shared out, meaning more people will get know your business.

Personalisation is a fantastic way to get your business seen and can tie into a great many celebrations and occasions. The value of this industry has increased to such an extent because it has been included in the marketing strategy of so many businesses. It has become a form of advertising which is actually welcomed by clients and creates a positive atmosphere around the brands which choose to employ it.

When it comes to choosing a gift for the person who has everything, opting for something which has been personalised can be ideal and unique. The perception that something personalised is more thoughtful is part of what makes personalised gifts a hit with both the givers and the receivers. These personalised options have something to suit most budgets and the only limits these days are your imagination, making it the perfect way to send a little piece of you to someone!