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AUSSIES CAUGHT IN THE ACT OF RE-GIFTING AT CHRISTMAS

Announcement posted by Porter Novelli 11 Dec 2015

New survey reveals most Australians have re-gifted unwanted presents
A new survey1 by RedBalloon, Australia’s leading online experience gift retailer, has revealed Australians don’t always get it right when it comes to Christmas presents. The survey exposed an incredible 89% of Australians have had to pretend they loved a gift they received. Even worse, 55% are guilty of re-gifting, while 65% have been victims of re-gifting. Respondents admitted the present they would most likely re-gift is a box of chocolates.
 
But never fear, there is a sure way to guarantee your gifts remain special: personalisation.
 
Recent research from Experian Hitwise2 highlights a growing online search trend towards “unique gifts” and “personalised gifts”. Reflecting this, RedBalloon’s survey revealed 73.31% of Australians have bought a personalised gift.
 
In June this year, RedBalloon identified this trend toward unique and personalised gifts and took the opportunity to expand and promote their range by employing gifting and online retail expert Trudi Jenkins (previously of hardtofind) to consult on their product curation strategy.
 
“Christmas is a special time to show loved ones you care, and personalised gifts are a great way to express this,” Ms Jenkins said.
 
“Whether it’s chocolates that spell out their name, leather pouches with stylish monogrammed initials, a personal experience you know they’ll love or even a custom-designed surfboard, a personalised gift is just that, personal.
 
“Plus, unless the recipient knows someone with the same name or initials, it’s pretty hard to re-gift a personalised pressie!”
 
With the festive season upon us, these somewhat embarrassing stats are redeemed by the fact 58% of those surveyed identified “finding the perfect gift for someone” as the thing they love most about Christmas. So it seems Aussies just need to brush up on what they consider a perfect present.
 
The survey also revealed further interesting facts about Aussies’ Christmas shopping habits:
  • Increasing popularity of online shopping: The number of Australians who do the majority of their Christmas shopping online has increased from 5% to 38% over the last five years.
  • Bosses beware: While the majority of online shopping occurs after work, the survey revealed 15% of people who shop online do so during work hours.
  • Love/hate relationship with the last minute: Despite nearly 40% listing the crowds at shopping centres as the thing they hate most during Christmas shopping, roughly the same number also said they do all of their shopping in the last week of Christmas (42%). Thankfully however, only around 3% admitted to leaving shopping until Christmas Eve.
  • Hardest person to buy for: The person we know best is also the hardest person to please. Just under one third of respondents named their partner as the hardest person to buy for, followed closely by Dad. Mums however can rest assured, as they were titled the easiest.
  • Mums wrap best: Partners, Dads and Brothers were unveiled for being the worst present wrappers, while mums were the clear winners for wrapping presents the best. 
  • Hey big spender: 70% of people spend more than $400 on their Christmas shopping.
  • Having a ball gift-wrapping? Sharp objects are the standout hardest to wrap item (35%), followed by sports balls (28%) and really big items (25%).
  • Some of the worst gifts respondents have received: book of cats wearing wigs, a tin of fish food (I don’t even own fish), sock separator, a fake dismembered hand, a potato masher.
  • We like to shop local: Unless we can find it significantly cheaper overseas, 97% of us prefer  to buy Aussie goods, and use Aussie services at Christmas.
  • We’re a nation of traditionalists: 61% of us still send Christmas cards in the post, and 87% still receive cards at Christmas.
  • Experiences are the key: 54% of people want an experience gift for Christmas, 19% prefer a gift voucher, 14% a material gift and 13% just want you to show them the money.
 
Christmas is busy time for everyone as we struggle to find the right gifts for our loved ones. This year RedBalloon is making it easier with an expanded range of personalised gifts and experiences, giving Australians more than 3000 unique gifts to choose from. RedBalloon gifts and vouchers will be available throughout the whole festive season, meaning last minute shoppers can purchase unique and meaningful presents - that won’t be re-gifted - right up to Christmas morning.
 
Visit www.redballoon.com.au for the great suggestions on personalised gifts and experiences.
 
END
 
ABOUT REDBALLOON
RedBalloon.com.au is Australia’s most awarded online experience retailer. RedBalloon has sold almost 3 million experiences since it was established in 2001 with the vision of delivering experience activities as gifts. Today it offers more than 3000 unique experiences from more than 1000 providers across Australia and New Zealand. RedBalloon also distributes gift cards through selected major retailers nationally, including Coles, Woolworths, Big W, Australia Post, Target, Kmart and Officeworks. Visit redballoon.com.au.
 
ABOUT TRUDI JENKINS
A magazine editor with 20 years’ experience in lifestyle media, Trudi was the editor-in-chief of Delicious magazine, a position she held for 11 years before resigning to form the digital business, hardtofind. Much like RedBalloon’s Naomi Simson, Trudi is an entrepreneur at heart. Since leaving hardtofind in April 2015, Trudi has worked with RedBalloon and been integral to the development of their extensive new gift offering, and particularly the personalised gift collection that is proving especially popular this Christmas
 
 
Further Information:
Andrew Kingsford-Smith, akingsford-smith@porternovelli.com.au / 02 8987 2138 / 0411 424 186
 
Notes: 
1: Based on survey of 1052 people conducted by RedBalloon, November 2015
2: Based on research conducted by Experian Hitwise over course of 12 months, 2014-2015