Category Archives: Retail Gifts

Analysis of the Gift Industry in Malaysia

Everything can be made as gifts. It can ranges from something cheap or even something free that you create and make yourself, flowers, hampers or it can even be something very exclusive and premium such as jewelleries. However, the term “gifts” is normally referred to an item in general, or as a category or something special and unique not easily categorized in specific genre of products. Hence when people search for “gifts” normally the person does not specifically know what they are looking for yet. Popular searches would include “Corporate Gifts”, “Gifts for Men” or “Birthday Gifts”.

There are generally two distinct gift industry category in Malaysia, namely the corporate market and the retail market. The main difference is that the corporate gift market purchases items in bulk and will typically need personalization of the company brand on it while the retail gift market involves purchase of products invididually. The summary is shown on the table below.

 Corporate Gift Market  Retail Gift Market
  • Targets the corporate and government sector 
  • Quantity purchased in bulk
  • Used for promotional activities
  • Typically requires logo printing and branding on the products
  • Companies involved: Corporate premium gift suppliers, silkscreen and pad printers, specialized products distributors (T-shirts, Umbrellas, Caps, Pen Drives, Bags, Trophy & Awards, etc.)
  • A big industry in Malaysia and involves many types of companies and operations are typically not in expensive retail areas
  • Targets individuals 
  • Quantity purchased individually
  • For personal use or to give out to an individual
  • Typically does not require logo printing, if yes only printing of a name
  • Companies involved: Online retail gift shops, wedding favor wholesalers, florists, hamper suppliers, souvenir shops, greeting cards & wrapper shops and other specialized retail gift products.
  • Smaller industry in terms of sales volume but shops are s typically situated in high traffic areas such as shopping malls.

Whichever market your company is in, the gifts industry is definitely a growing market especially in a fast developing country in Malaysia. A rough estimate will put this industry is not less than RM1billion in this country alone. Plenty of opportunities for everyone.