Once relegated to bookshelves, coffee tables, or—worst of all—stashed in drawers, gift products now have a whole new look and are taking on more prominent placement.

That much was clear at the recent Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market, which spotlighted new design trends aimed at attracting a broader audience for giftware. And while the event featured many expansions of existing product offerings, it was short on new introductions. Giftware companies took a cautious approach this year as they battled shipping delays, cost inflation, and countless other issues.

For example, Lifetime Brands’ Fred & Friends moved into licensing for the first time with Stranger Things gift products, including a videocassette-shaped sponge, dishwasher signs, and desk caddy.

Giftware supplier Meri Meri signed a deal with the French tea room and macaroon specialist Laduree to launch macaroon-shaped crepe paper balls in five colors, each containing “gifts” including tissue paper hats, two stickers, and a butterfly charm bracelet.

And giftware company Enesco dedicated a large part of its showroom to artist Jim Schore, whose stone resin collectible figures include a “Disney Traditions: A Million Diamonds Shine” collection as well as those for Peanuts and Wizard of Oz.

“There has been an evolution of gift products,” said Tom Mirabile, founder of the consulting firm Springboard Futures. “They’re not dust collectors anymore and consumers are not buying for the garage sales of tomorrow. Gifts products these days have to have a reason for being and taking up space. They have to bring joy, recollection, a new experience, entertainment, or accomplishment.”

Among some giftware suppliers, that accomplishment is sustainability—which means many things to many companies, but is fast becoming a retail requirement. For example, Currey & Co. showed non-licensed chandeliers and pendant lights featuring shades fashioned from discarded oyster shells.

There also was a large selection of products tied to cause-based marketing and licensing. Go Sili offers recycling for its stackable silicon 20-ounce cups and straws, including one model dubbed “ocean” because of its blue color. And one percent of each sale of Go Sili products is donated to the environmental organization Lonely Whales to support ocean clean-up and conservation.

“I think some of these are begging for a license as a way for a brand to tell consumers “we did the right thing and used the right materials,’” Mirabile said. “It’s a question of where do they go from here.”

The show also highlighted a focus on licensed artists and interior designers/influencers. Enchaante showed baskets featuring designer Nikki Chu’s work, while rug supplier Loloi licensed designs from blogger/influencer couple Chris and Julia Marcum (Chris Loves Julia) as well as influencer/designer Amber Lewis. And CB Gifts licesned Love All Design Co.’s designs for bible covers that will sell through the latter’s web before moving to retail next year, said Ilana Wilensky, president of Jewel Branding & Licensing, which represents Loveall for licensing.

Yet despite some definite design trends at the market, where the giftware business is headed this fall wasn’t clear and, ultimately, that hinges on whether shipping and pricing issues continue. Many companies brought in extra inventory as a hedge against shipping delays and caution is the watchword along every stop on the supply chain (including consumers).

“At retail, the impulse buy is not as impulsive as it used to be,” said Bryan Williams, EVP at Crestview Collection. “That’s where it becomes a planned purchase. That changes the way the retailer operates, and the way we operate.”