Our Fifth-Anniversary Trends Report
Fifth Anniversary Trends Report
Fifth Anniversary Trends Report
Take a walk down memory lane with us as we look back at 5 years of White Elephant Online and the trends that have shaped a modern holiday tradition
Over the past five seasons, teams have played more than 27,000 White Elephant games on our platform, exchanging over 380,000 gifts and bringing together 375,000 participants from around the world. All together, that adds up to an incredible 588,000 minutes of gameplay (and counting!). And while most games last around half an hour, our longest-running exchange clocked in at nearly three full hours; proof that when the gifts are good and the steals are spicy, no one wants the fun to end.
The Numbers
By The Numbers
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By The Numbers 📈
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27,000 Games
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380,000 Gifts
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375,000 Participants
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588,000 Minutes
Gifts by Year
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Gifts by Year 🎁
The Gifts by Year
2020: Comfort, Convenience & Finding Small Joys at Home
The top gifts of 2020 perfectly captured a year when people were suddenly spending more time indoors and leaning into anything that made home life easier or more comforting. Practical favorites like the Yeti Rambler and Echo Dot made everyday routines feel a little more streamlined, while the delightfully quirky Tortilla Blanket offered a dose of much-needed humor. And the Breakfast Sandwich Maker tapped into the era’s at-home cooking boom, giving people a fun way to recreate small rituals they missed. Together, these gifts highlight a year defined by comfort, convenience, and simple pleasures during an uncertain season.
2021: Upgrading the Home & Finding Joy Indoors
The top gifts of 2021 reflected a year when people were still spending more time at home and looking for ways to make their spaces feel brighter, smarter, and more fun. The Echo Dot and Moon Lamp catered to the home-refresh trend, offering both convenience and cozy ambiance. Meanwhile, playful picks like Throw Throw Burrito and the Snoop Dogg Cookbook brought lighthearted entertainment and creativity into the mix. Together, these gifts showed how 2021 was all about enhancing the home and finding joy in the little things - perfect for a season of staying connected, even from afar.
2022: Cozy Comfort Meets Feel-Good Whimsy
The top gifts of 2022 reflect a year when people were craving warmth, comfort, and a little magic in their everyday routines. Practical favorites like the Mug Warmer and YETI Rambler spoke to the rise of cozy desk setups and the return of office coffee moments, whether at home or hybrid. Meanwhile, the Moon Lamp and the delightfully silly Tortilla Blanket added a playful, whimsical touch to the mix, proving that lighthearted gifts still dominated the steal-worthy categories. In 2022, teams leaned into small luxuries and mood-boosters that made long workdays (and long winters) just a bit brighter.
2023: Wellness, Warmth & Little Luxuries That Make Life Easier
In 2023, gift trends revealed a growing focus on personal comfort and everyday upgrades. The Massage Gun took the top spot as teams gravitated toward wellness-focused treats that eased stress and long workdays. Practical comforts like the Mug Warmer and the always-popular YETI Rambler continued the year’s cozy, self-care theme, perfect for hybrid workers juggling home and office routines. Meanwhile, the compact JBL Speaker added a fun, portable dose of entertainment, rounding out a list defined by small luxuries that make daily life feel smoother, warmer, and a little more enjoyable.
2024: Playful Essentials & Practical Crowd-Pleasers
The top gifts of 2024 reflect a year where teams gravitated toward items that were both fun to steal and genuinely useful long after the game ended. The Bluetooth Speaker took the #1 spot with its blend of entertainment and portability - an easy win for any personality. The Cheese Board broke into the top 4 as a go-to crowd-pleaser, perfect for hosts, home cooks, and anyone who loves a good gathering. Practical picks like AirTags highlighted a growing interest in everyday utility, while the Massage Gun remained a wellness staple for employees looking to unwind. Together, these top gifts capture 2024’s sweet spot: playful, practical, and guaranteed to spark competition.
Most Popular Gifts of All Time
Most Popular Gifts of All Time
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Most Popular Gifts of All Time ⭐️
Looking across five years of White Elephant exchanges, a few gifts have risen to legendary status: the ones that spark the most steals, the most laughter, and the most “I actually want this” moments. Smart speakers consistently top the list, offering universal appeal and an easy upgrade for any home. Gift cards remain a fan favorite for their guaranteed usefulness (and zero chance of disappointment). The YETI Rambler has proven itself a perennial champion of practicality, showing up year after year as a durable, go-anywhere essential. And the always-iconic “From Crook to Cook” Snoop Dogg Cookbook brings a dose of humor and culture that players can’t resist. Together, these all-time favorites reflect what people love most in a White Elephant gift: fun, function, and a little personality.
A look back at five years of virtual White Elephant games reveals a clear truth: some gifts are simply irresistible. Apple AirTags top the all-time leaderboard, stolen literally thousands of times across our games thanks to their perfect blend of practicality and cool-factor; a rare gift that truly everyone wants. The “From Crook to Cook” Snoop Dogg Cookbook continues to inspire steals with its mix of humor, personality, and genuinely great recipes. Gift cards remain a timeless crowd favorite, consistently snagged and re-snagged because they guarantee the winner gets exactly what they want. And the delightfully absurd Tortilla Blanket rounds out the list, proving that novelty items with big personality often spark the most spirited gameplay. These all-time champs showcase what makes White Elephant games unforgettable: a mix of usefulness, fun, and the perfect dash of chaos. And some fun facts: our 🙃 unluckiest player of all time was stolen from 25 times in a single game, with our most “active” group stealing a whopping 147 times in one game!
Most Stolen Gifts of All Time
Most Stolen Gifts of All Time
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Most Stolen Gifts of All Time 🥷
White Elephant Online: Year-by-Year
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White Elephant Online: Year-by-Year 🐘
Since launching in 2020, White Elephant Online has grown from a simple way to bring people together during an unusual holiday season into the leading platform for virtual and hybrid gift exchanges. In our first year, more than 140,000 users joined to keep their traditions alive from afar. By 2022, that number had surpassed 250,000, fueled by teams looking for inclusive, easy-to-host celebrations across time zones and locations. Today, with more than 350,000 users, White Elephant Online has become a go-to holiday staple for companies of all sizes - helping distributed teams stay connected, share laughter, and celebrate together no matter where they are. Five years in, our mission remains the same: make holiday fun simple, memorable, and accessible for everyone.
White Elephant Online: Year-by-Year
Around the World
Around the World
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Around the World 🌎
Over the past five years, White Elephant Online has brought people together across the map - literally. Our platform has been used in all 50 states and in 107 countries around the world, connecting coworkers, friends, and families no matter where they call home. From small teams in rural towns to global organizations spanning continents, the White Elephant tradition has become a shared experience that travels across borders, time zones, and holiday traditions.
