The holiday season is upon us. Instead of discussing the potentially hottest items that shops will be selling, though, let’s delve into more relatable information for your business.
First and foremost, it’s important to be familiar with today’s most popular gifts (some are newer, while others are the same “old” item that hits the gift-giving spot with a fresh design); design/theme trends; and tips on incorporating these items into your product offerings.
Beyond that, popular products always will exist and adding the hottest items is not for every store, shop or retail operation. However, not expanding or adding some seasonal gifts and holiday design-themed items means you’re missing an opportunity. Picking gifts and décor that can pertain to a market type or appeal to various shoppers can be easier to sell and promote.
Regular gift and décor items that are decorated seasonally, such as serving trays, placemats, small wall panels/signage and more, require easy adjustments. Specific items, including metal, ceramic ornaments and the newer, natural wood ornaments likewise easily can be offered. Coffee mugs and jewelry, such as bezel necklaces and cuff bracelets, are good for sales. Think holiday cheer, colors, monograms or even non-holiday, more trendy designs.
Custom Decorated Apparel and Merch Options Abound
If you have a showroom, consider setting up a small display area for kitchen-themed items. Or, expand your apparel area and show off the addition of aprons and hand/tea towels. These can be holiday themed or not. Tablet and cellphone cases, as well as stylized charging stations, remain solid-selling items.
Don’t forget the health-and-wellness arena, as well as specialty snacks. Whether it’s a magnet with a positive or healthy saying, or Christmas-colored, chocolate-covered pretzels, these smaller, themed items are easy gifts for your customers to add to other purchases.
Applications such as dye sublimation offer a large use of color gamuts and ranges — even some bright neon hues — that work well with this trend. Think pop art-style artwork with bold colors, polka-dot backgrounds and speech bubbles.
Photographs also are being colorized with a single color on top and a gradient or illustrative element to create more of a dynamic visual image and tell a story. Text that has a handwritten look also adds a bit of personality to a photo. Look for fonts in marker styles, spray paint or chalk lettering. Flame Stitch-style patterns will continue to become more popular.
Other artwork or design trends where the art can be applied to products you already offer include the Eye of Fatima, also known as Hamsa. This global design is said to protect against evil and can be used with heavy detail or simplified with a modern twist.
Holiday Custom Decorated Apparel Display Advice
Be sure to show the hot new items or products with trendy designs front and center on your website or in your store. For the latter, it’s important to merchandise these items in key spots; for the former, have such items on your homepage and suggested throughout the site or in at least one different area, such as new products or seasonal specials.
As you prepare for the holiday season, ordering products, moving items around in the store, pulling together designs/patterns for products and even adding props can make a difference. Also, be sure to refresh your staff when it comes to training, and ensure the holiday spirit permeates your store or shop. Remember, it’s not just about the sale; it’s also about creating an experience your customers will want to repeat.
Jennifer Foy is the creative director for Unisub and SwitchCase brands at Universal Woods Inc., a manufacturer of blanks for dye sublimation. For more information visit unisub.com.
Updated Nov. 14, 2025
