January is one of the most important months for brand activation. People return from the holidays ready to reset, reorganise, and build new habits. It’s the perfect moment for brands to show up with useful, memorable promotional gifts that fit the season’s mindset.
If you’re planning New Year campaigns, trade shows, team engagement, or customer retention activities, the right promotional product can help you start the year with impact. Here are well-chosen January promo gift ideas that your customers, partners, or employees will use throughout the year.
Jan holiday Awareness and Special Days
Why January Is a Strategic Month for Promotional Gifts
January is when brands typically:
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Launch new product lines
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Announce refreshed campaigns or rebranding
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Engage distributors after the holidays
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Support new year resolutions and wellness goals
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Stock up for Q1 events, trade fairs, and meetings
Consumers also shift their focus to organisation, health, and productivity—making practical branded gifts more relevant.
Top Promotional Gift Ideas for January
Below is an improved, more commercially driven list of products—explaining why they work for January and how ODM can customise them.
1. Branded Calendars & Desk Planners
These remain classic for a reason. January is the only month when every business partner and customer needs a fresh planner.
Why it works
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High daily visibility on desks
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Encourages long-term use
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Easy to customise with brand colours, QR codes, campaign messages
ODM options
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FSC-certified paper
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Magnetic desk calendars
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Perpetual wooden calendars
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Compact planners for corporate gifting
2. Custom Water Bottles & Tumblers
As health and hydration goals spike in January, branded drinkware becomes a highly relevant gift.
Why it works
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Perfect for “New Year, New Me” campaigns
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Compatible with wellness activations or office giveaways
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Premium finishes (powder-coated, stainless steel, bamboo lids) elevate perceived value
ODM options
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Vacuum-insulated tumblers
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Collapsible silicone bottles for portability
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Custom moulds for unique brand shapes
3. Fitness & Wellness Merchandise
January is peak fitness motivation month. Offering wellness merchandise positions your brand as supportive and lifestyle-oriented.
Popular items include:
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Resistance bands
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Yoga mats
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Massage balls
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Custom step counters or NFC-enabled wellness tags
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Aromatherapy candles for relaxation campaigns
Marketing angle:
Highlight that your brand supports customer wellbeing—not just during January but all year long.
4. Tech Accessories for a Fresh Start at Work
People return to their desks needing refreshers for daily work essentials.
Great options:
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Wireless chargers
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USB hubs
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Cable organisers
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Laptop sleeves
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NFC-enabled digital keychains (customisable with brand visuals)
Why it works
These items solve real daily frustrations and integrate your brand into the customer’s workspace.
6. Winter Apparel & Accessories
In many markets, January remains cold—making wearable promo items both practical and appreciated.
Items that perform well:
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Beanies
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Scarves
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Gloves
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Thick knitted socks
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Fleece blankets
ODM can brand these through woven labels, embroidery, printing, or custom packaging.
7. Office Refresh Kits
After the holiday break, many teams return to work ready to refresh their desks.
Kit ideas:
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Mini desk organisers
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Cable clips
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Desk plants or plant-growing kits
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Screen-cleaning cloths
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Branded mousepads
These simple, low-cost items are great for onboarding, HR kits, and client meetings.
8. Branded Umbrellas
January can be rainy depending on the region. High-quality umbrellas offer premium utility and strong branding visibility.
Popular custom versions:
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Auto-open umbrellas
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Inverted umbrellas
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Compact travel umbrellas
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Large golf umbrellas for outdoor branding
ODM designs umbrellas for major beverage and F&B brands, ensuring durability and compliance.
9. Chinese New Year Themed Gifts (Early Preparation)
For markets in Asia, CNY typically falls between late January and mid-February. January is the prime time to distribute themed gifts.
Ideas:
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Zodiac socks (ODM’s annual zodiac collection)
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Red packets and ang bao sets
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Gold-foil gift boxes
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Festive retail displays
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Custom fortune cookies
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Lucky charms or metal coins
Brands can also pair CNY gifts with product launches, influencer boxes, or in-store campaigns.
10. Eco-Friendly Merchandise to Start the Year Sustainably
More brands choose January to introduce new sustainability goals. Eco-friendly promotional items align well with these commitments.
Suggested products:
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Bamboo desk organisers
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Wheat straw lunch boxes
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rPET tote bags
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Seed paper cards
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Recycled aluminium merchandise
Include sustainability messaging on packaging to strengthen your CSR story.
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