The 2025 holiday season may still feel months away, but for business leaders serious about customer and employee holiday gifting, now is the time to act.
New tariffs, delays in the supply chain, and a shorter shopping time from Thanksgiving to Christmas are increasing risks. Failing to plan early for your holiday gifts could lead to higher costs, fewer choices, and tight deadlines that may be impossible to meet.
The State of Sourcing in 2025
Corporate gifting has always required forward-thinking planning for sourcing and logistics. However, this year presents added complexity for various reasons, including:
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The National Retail Federation forecasts that imports will be down 20% year-over-year in the second half of 2025.
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The Port of Los Angeles is expecting 35% less traffic compared to 2024, which will drastically reduce product flow from Asia.
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Major trucking routes in the United States are seeing cancellation rates above 30%.
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145% tariffs on many Chinese goods were recently reduced to 30%, but ripple effects on availability and pricing persist.
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As of June 2025, companies can expect a tariff of at least 10% on products from most countries, which may increase their budget and limit their choices.
These issues are creating ripple effects in product pricing, stock availability, and delivery timing across product categories. Even the largest distributor in the promotional products industry anticipates supply chain challenges and price hikes in the second half of 2025, according to the Promotional Products Association International (PPAI).
Why Early Planning Matters
Because the import and supply chain markets are so volatile, waiting until September or October to plan your gifting program is a risky move. However, starting now gives you a competitive edge and a sense of confidence and security.
Product Sourcing
The items you may have sourced without issue in the past will likely be more expensive or even unavailable this year. There have been reports of products stranded on ships because they can’t be accepted into the country due to elevated tariffs or stalled ports. Early planning allows you to identify alternatives that aren’t impacted by tariffs or trade issues.
Sampling and Customization
If you want to see and feel a product before committing, constraints in the supply chain will mean you'll need extra time for samples to arrive. Additionally, it may take longer to find suitable customization vendors that can source the desired items while also meeting your brand standards and gifting timeline.
Production and Shipping Delays
Many popular product categories are experiencing bottlenecks. Even once you've found your gifts, the vendor may require extended production timelines, and delivery will take longer.
Whether you're building a custom gifting microsite, curating premium gift boxes, or personalizing branded items, you'll need more lead time to pull it off smoothly this year.
Action Steps for Holiday 2025 Gifting Success
Start Planning Now
Begin internal discussions with your leadership, HR, marketing, or client service teams now. Decide what you want to accomplish with gifting this year. Pinpoint who you’re targeting with your gifting strategies and why.
As a team, answer these questions:
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Are we sending gifts to customers, potential leads, employees, board members, community leaders, or a combination of these groups?
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Are we sending gifts to inspire sales, retention, appreciation, product promotion, or brand awareness?
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Should the gift be branded and/or personalized to the recipient?
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Does the gift reflect our brand values or a particular brand initiative (for example, sustainability goals)?
The results of your planning should include clear and measurable goals, objectives, strategies, and tactics for your holiday gifting.
Set a Budget
Be realistic about the expenses. Include all cost factors: product, customization, shipping, kitting, and delivery. Budget separately for different recipient groups (for example, VIP clients, team members, or partners).
Build a Timeline
Work backward from your intended delivery deadline. Include time for ideation, design, sourcing, sampling, production, customization, and fulfillment.
Explore Alternative Gift Options
If you’ve always used overseas vendors for your holiday gifting, this might be the year you try something new. You can avoid tariff-inflated or unavailable imports by choosing:
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USA-produced items
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Artisan goods (for example, handmade jewelry or gourmet baskets)
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Experience-based gifts (for example, local workshops or events)
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Products from minority-owned businesses aligning with your DEI goals
Diversify Your Supply Chain and Product Options
Work with multiple suppliers in different regions of the globe or find USA-based vendors. Additionally, consider having backup gift options ready. You might also stock up on digital gift cards. These strategies will help you deal with last-minute product shortages.
How Phase 3 Can Help
Phase 3 helps businesses of all sizes build branded gifting programs that connect and impress. Whether you're sourcing high-quality branded swag, launching a custom microsite for employees, or creating a comprehensive holiday gifting campaign for clients, we handle everything from product recommendations to fulfillment.
Using our Media:Link platform, we can also create a branded online store, complete with warehousing, kitting, and turnkey shipping.
Let us help you wrap up 2025 on a high note.
Explore some of our best winter gift ideas here or contact the Phase 3 promotional brand team to get started on your curated holiday 2025 gifting plan now. We're here to help you make your 2025 holiday gifting a success.