More than half of Australians receive unwanted Christmas gifts

More than half of Australians have received unwanted Christmas gifts in recent years, according to new research that highlights ongoing challenges around festive gift-giving habits. The survey, conducted among over 1,000 adults, found that 53% of respondents had received gifts they did not want during the holiday season.

Gifting challenges

The findings indicate that the difficulties of choosing the right present persist for many. Seventy-six percent of Australians reported that they find it difficult to choose suitable gifts for friends, family, and colleagues at Christmas. Gifting is a time-consuming pursuit, with Australians spending an average of 6.3 hours searching for presents each festive season. Nearly a third (29%) invest over seven hours in their quest for appropriate gifts.

This effort does not always guarantee satisfaction, as 35% of respondents admitted to regifting unwanted items during the holidays.

Online and digital trends

The shift to online gifting continues, with three in five Australians (60%) relying primarily on digital outlets to purchase gifts. Businesses and employers are also adapting, with 35% saying that shared work experiences or celebrations are the most meaningful gifts from their employer during the festive period.

Gifting stress remains prevalent, with 54% of Australians reporting that their greatest worry is choosing something the recipient will appreciate. The emotional stakes are high: 56% said they would be disappointed to learn a gift they gave had been regifted by the recipient.

Personalised experiences

To address some of these challenges, digital gifting platform Prezzee has launched two new personalised experiences for Christmas. The company aims to make digital gift cards more memorable by allowing customisation and leveraging digital technology.

"Christmas is a magical time of year for many Aussies and getting the right gifts can help transform a magical moment into a lasting memory," said David Christie, Chief Growth Officer at Prezzee. "Using new technology, we've been able to make digital gift cards a truly personal experience and ensure that receiving a versatile Prezzee gift card is a memorable occasion."

The new digital offerings include 'Santa's Nice List,' which enables gift-givers to send personalised messages-complete with names, photos, and notes of recognition-purportedly from Santa himself. The feature is accompanied by the option to buy a special-edition gift card. Another experience, 'Magical Christmas Carollers,' allows users to turn teams or families into digital choirs by uploading photos and, for businesses, company logos. These experiences are designed to provide more meaningful ways for Australians to connect with others during the holidays.

Workplace gifting

The research provides insights into business gifting preferences as well. In addition to team celebrations, thoughtful food and drink receive high marks: 31% said gifts of food and drink tailored to personal preferences are particularly meaningful, while 26% cited employee awards as the most significant form of workplace recognition at Christmas.

"We're looking forward to seeing Aussies make lasting memories with families, friends and colleagues through Prezzee, giving gifts that people actually hold onto and experiences they can cherish," said Christie.