Gift Retailing Market Size & Share Analysis - Growth Trends And Forecast (2025 - 2030)

Global Gift Retailing Market Trends and Insights

Growth of Experiential Tourism Driving Souvenir Demand

International travel recovery boosts terminal retail receipts as passengers purchase location-specific keepsakes at premium price points. Dubai Duty Free logged USD 2.16 billion in sales in 2023 and reported perfumes alone generated USD 374 million, illustrating how airports have evolved into high-ticket gift corridors^{[2]Etsy Staff, “Marketplace Insights: 2024 Holiday Trends,” Etsy, etsy.com} . Hainan’s duty-free complex welcomed 5.683 million travellers who spent CNY 30.94 billion (USD 4.35 billion) on 33.082 million items in 2024, reinforcing the pull of exclusive merchandise for visiting shoppers. Authenticity remains a revenue lever; untreated gemstones now sell at two to three times pre-pandemic prices as buyers seek proof of provenance. Cruise lines mirror the trend by curating port-exclusive collections to convert shore excursions into retail events. Souvenir demand, therefore, anchors a tangible growth floor for the gift retailing market amid wider discretionary volatility.

Rising Disposable Income in Emerging Economies

Consumer wallets across the Gulf states expand on the back of young, tech-literate populations. Saudi Arabia’s household outlays are projected to grow 6.4% annually through 2028, while 60% of citizens are under 30, supporting digital discovery journeys that culminate in premium gift purchases^{[3]Arab News Bureau, “Saudi Arabia’s consumer spending to stay resilient, experts say,” Arab News, arabnews.com} . An AlixPartners study found net spending intentions in the UAE rising 13% for 2025, the world’s highest recorded confidence measure, with apparel and accessories ranking among the top beneficiary categories. Consumers continue to engage in price comparisons and monitor discounts online. However, the emphasis on value for money is increasingly accompanied by a rising preference for personalized experiences and ethically sourced products. Retailers that strategically implement click-and-collect services alongside innovative and immersive in-store displays are effectively capitalizing on this trend, converting youthful consumer enthusiasm into sustained repeat gifting revenue streams.

Seasonal Promotional Campaigns by Retailers

Peak-season merchandising has become an algorithmic discipline. Etsy reported holiday searches for chrome decorations rising 3,756% year-over-year in 2024, while vintage-style ornaments climbed 181% as shoppers sought visually striking home décor for social feeds^{[3]Arab News Bureau, “Saudi Arabia’s consumer spending to stay resilient, experts say,” Arab News, arabnews.com} . Artificial-intelligence engines push relevant listings when shoppers type “holiday gift,” raising conversion and average order value. Store networks now flex staffing, fulfillment hubs, and pop-up kiosks to navigate compressed Black Friday-to-Christmas windows. Loyalty apps that drop surprise coupons on key calendar dates further incentivize incremental purchases. These data-driven activations reinforce the gift retailing market’s ability to monetize seasonality despite macro uncertainty.

3-D Printing Enabling Hyper-Personalized Gifts

Additive manufacturing eliminates the stock-out risk that once plagued monogrammed products. U.S. consumers spent USD 9.07 billion on personalized gifts in 2023, and spend is heading toward USD 13.12 billion by 2029 as buyers accept 7–20% premiums for bespoke pieces. Retailers are installing compact printers that transform digital files into one-off figurines, décor, and jewelry within hours. The technology shrinks lead times, lowers working capital, and turns last-minute shoppers into high-margin customers. Successful operators pair the hardware with easy-to-use design interfaces and disciplined order-picking processes that withstand Mother’s Day and holiday surges.

Volatile Raw-Material Costs for Decorative Items

Gemstone scarcity and rising freight rates squeeze margins across jewelry and seasonal décor lines. CaratX tracked sapphire and ruby prices at two to three times pre-2020 averages, while emerald buyers migrated from Colombian to costlier Zambian alternatives as supply tightened. The introduction of new U.S. tariffs has resulted in significant duty increases on Indian crafts and Chinese ornaments, compelling businesses to reassess product assortments and renegotiate supplier agreements. According to OpenBrand’s consumer price index, the Recreation category experienced a price increase in January 2025, driven by a reduction in discounting practices among retailers. Companies are now faced with a strategic decision: either absorb the additional costs to protect sales volumes or pass these costs onto consumers, which could lead to a shift in customer preferences toward lower-priced competitors.

Rising Competition from Digital Greetings & Cash Apps

App-based transfers and animated e-cards substitute for physical presents during casual occasions. American Greetings broadened its digital catalog in February 2025, integrating one-click gifting into messaging threads. The Apple App Store now features greeting-card applications that bundle virtual messages with optional print fulfillment, satisfying the immediacy expected by smartphone users. Minimalist lifestyle influencers propel the “buy less” ethos, with Google Trends showing a 4,250% spike in related searches over twelve months. Physical retailers must therefore engineer tactile, meaningful experiences, such as hand-stamped foiling or artisan stories, to preserve relevance against frictionless digital alternatives.

Segment Analysis

By Product: Seasonal Decorations Lead Innovation

Souvenirs and Novelty Items will grow at a CAGR of 26.39% and Seasonal Decorations recorded an 8.78% CAGR outlook despite Souvenirs and Novelty Items holding the largest 2024 share. High-shine ornaments, driven by social-media aesthetics, capture impulse spending as consumers refresh home décor for photo backdrops. Retailers overlay rapid 3-D printing to launch micro-collections within days, meeting viral demand spikes without bloating inventory. Souvenirs retain relevance in tourist zones where location authenticity commands premiums, yet the category faces airport concession competition that compresses margins.

The gift retailing market size for Seasonal Decorations is projected to expand faster than the broader base, and retailers that pair eco-friendly materials with limited-edition drops defend price integrity. Greeting Cards maintain a niche through premium paper, embellishments, and embedded QR codes, though their volume stagnates. Giftware, especially home fragrance and tabletop items, benefits from corporate ESG sourcing rules, encouraging certified suppliers to capture institutional orders. The migration of fandom collectibles into décor, such as branded snow globes or themed light strings, fuses pop-culture licensing with traditional craft, supporting cross-category upselling.

Note: Segment shares of all individual segments available upon report purchase

By Distribution Channel: Offline Resilience Amid Digital Growth

Brick-and-mortar retains a 78.33% hold on revenue thanks to immediacy and tactile evaluation. Stores curate “gift labs” where shoppers assemble bundles and test personalization modules, converting browsing into higher-margin builds. The gift retailing market continues to thrive in malls that install same-day engraving kiosks and immersive holiday walkthroughs. Walmart’s plan to open more than 150 large-format U.S. stores underscores confidence in physical engagement models. Retailers also deploy endless-aisle tablets to extend assortment without back-room strain, enabling associates to order out-of-stock items for home delivery.

Online channels grow at 6.37% by perfecting convenience layers, from one-hour pick-ups to micro-warehouse same-day shipping. Hallmark’s streaming-plus-coupon program shows how content can redirect viewers into nearby stores for redemption, illustrating the power of media-commerce loops. The gift retailing industry increasingly measures success by omnichannel lifetime value rather than single-channel conversion, pushing IT investment into unified order-management systems. Cross-border platforms face tariff shocks, yet alternative suppliers in Vietnam and Mexico are already filling product gaps, keeping online shelves stocked.

By Occasion: Baby & Kids Gifts Capture Generational Shift

Festive & Holiday Gifts still own 24.38% of sales, but Baby & Kids Gifts are on track for a 9.87% CAGR as the “kidult” segment seeks collectible-toy nostalgia. Pop Mart’s Labubu dolls routinely resell above MSRP, illustrating how scarcity, celebrity unboxings, and social mini-movies fuel demand. Retailers integrate AR try-ons for plushies and figures, turning stores into shareable playgrounds that pull both children and adults. Wedding & Anniversary Gifts leverage 3-D printed venue miniatures and oil-style couple portraits, each ordered through mobile configurators that guide shoppers through size and framing choices.

Birthday gifting spreads spend throughout the calendar, smoothing cash flow for retailers that build CRM-driven reminder programs. Corporate Gifts advance as procurement teams prioritize ESG metrics, selecting artisan suppliers like Batik Boutique that pay living wages and use recyclable packaging. Within each occasion, the gift retailing market rewards merchants who adapt price ladders to multi-income shoppers, bundling an entry-price item with a premium upgrade enhances basket size without alienating value seekers.

Geography Analysis

Europe opened 2025 with the largest regional stake at 28.33% market share. Mature infrastructure, dense store networks, and long-standing gifting rituals sustain spend, yet economic headwinds and the rise of discount generalists cap growth. Sustainability concerns influence pre-purchase research, but final buying often tilts toward price rather than principle. Retailers counteract by labelling carbon footprints on shelf tags and running repair workshops that extend product life, framing value through durability. The increasing penetration of omnichannel strategies in categories such as electronics, souvenirs, and home fragrances is driving the adoption of experiential in-store pickups. These pickups not only enhance customer convenience but also function as strategic brand showcases, strengthening consumer engagement and brand visibility.

The Middle East & Africa region leads with an 8.39% CAGR outlook through 2030, powered by infrastructure megaprojects and youthful demographics. Dubai International Airport’s expansion and Saudi Arabia’s King Fahd upgrades are adding thousands of square meters of duty-free space where perfumes and confectionery dominate impulse gifting. UAE consumers posted the highest globally tracked net spending intentions at 13% for 2025, while high-income cohorts gravitate toward sustainable luxury goods. Local conglomerates co-invest with global brands to open experiential flagships that blend culture, cuisine, and curated gift corners. Mobile-first payment systems widen access for rural shoppers, supporting gift retail penetration beyond urban centres.

North America remains an innovation laboratory. Hallmark’s NFL tie-ins bring sports-themed pop-ups to stadium concourses, converting fanfare into collectible sales. Yet the loss of the USD 800 de minimis import exemption injects cost and paperwork for cross-border online checkout, prompting some overseas merchants to suspend U.S. shipping. Asia-Pacific’s recovery hinges on border reopening and restored outbound Chinese tourism; however, domestic travel and e-wallet penetration are cushioning retailers from international visitor volatility. South American markets such as Brazil and Chile see rising middle-class participation, though currency fluctuations require agile pricing strategies.