This year, Alarna and Lauren headed back to Merchandise World – the UK’s largest promotional merchandise trade exhibition.

From eco-friendly innovations to unexpectedly stylish socks, the show gave us plenty of inspiration for 2025’s promotional merchandise must-haves.

Here are the six standout trends that we believe will dominate the year ahead.

Alarna’s experience

“The Merchandise World event is always such a great experience. It is a great opportunity to meet some of our suppliers and put some faces to email signatures! It was also exciting to connect with new suppliers and discover fresh, innovative products that could be a great fit for our clients.

 

Events like this are always inspiring and it’s great to see how merchandise trends evolve year to year, especially with the growing focus on sustainability! Safe to say I left feeling motivated and full of ideas!”

Lanyards

Lanyards might seem like a small detail in the world of merchandise, but this year they’re the centre of some exciting conversations.

A standout for me was the use of digital transfer printing, which offers a faster and cost-effective way to brand stock lanyards with bold, vibrant designs.

Even better, a new initiative this year for recycling lanyards after an event! We saw cardboard recycling bins at the exits that were specifically for collecting used lanyards. These are then collected by the lanyard supplier to be processed for recycling by first having the clasps and hooks removed for re-use and the material is then recycled into brand-new lanyards! This closed-loop approach is an easy way for event organisers to make greener, more responsible choices.

Seed paper & plant-able merchandise

This year was all about plant-able merchandise, and we’re so on board! From birthday cards, name cards and compliment slips to yearly calendars, Christmas crackers, notebooks and even pens, these eco-friendly products are turning single-use items into sustainable stand out products.

By strategically designating seed paper to single-use items, such as business cards or name tags, clients can easily take them home. Making them a perfect way to showcase a business’s green initiatives while leaving a lasting impression. They’re especially ideal for events!

Confectionery

Lauren’s experience

It was great to be back at the Merchandise World show for the second year running. And this year felt different – it felt bigger and better!

 

We were pleased to see SO many of our existing suppliers there this year, as well as having the opportunity to meet new exhibitors and learn more about the different products available in 2025.

 

For me, sustainability was the star of the show once again. While eco-friendly options with an ‘ethical story’ are now the norm, it was the products that you’d never guess were created from recycled materials or plant-based alternatives that excited me the most.

Eco-friendly

It was no surprise that eco-friendly products continued to be a big talking point. It’s now an expectation and customers want truly sustainable options as standard, without fear of greenwashing.

Whether you’re looking for a product designed to look eco-conscious (think earthy textures and natural tones), or options that surprise with clever and innovative use of sustainable materials, there was a variety of options on hand to offer!

We saw some impressive examples, from apple-skin leather and stone pens to water-based inks and products made from recycled waste materials.

Pens made from ocean waste

One of the most exciting eco-friendly products we came across was pens made from PET plastic recovered from the ocean – specifically from abandoned soft drink bottles.

These sleek pens look great and have a premium feel, especially if you opt for the rubberised finish. And as a bonus, when the ink runs dry, rather than recycling your pen, simply replace the cartridge to extend its life.

Without the small R-PET bottle mark, you’d never guess that they’re made of recycled ocean waste.

Socks

The rise of promotional socks took us by surprise last year, and this year it would seem the trend continues.

Jacquard-knitted socks stood out, offering the perfect solution for both simple and complex logos or designs. Whether you want something subtle or bold, these socks were soft, stylish and (best of all) practical – making them a long-lasting, wearable reminder of your brand.

There you have it – six of our favourite trends from Merchandise World 2025.

At Colour Cubed Creative Communications, we specialise in helping you choose and source the perfect promotional merchandise for your brand. Whether you’re looking for something eco-friendly, sweet, or completely unexpected, we’d love to help.

If you would like a quote for any of the themes above or need help with ideas, please get in touch with our team.