LifeEXPERIENCES.ca Holiday Shopping Survey: Canadians are looking for thoughtful, memorable gifts that make loved ones happy
TORONTO, Nov. 12, 2012 /CNW/ - Whether you make a last minute dash to the mall the day before the holidays or methodically purchase your holiday gifts months ahead of time, chances are you have a common goal - to purchase a gift that shows your loved one you care. The LifeEXPERIENCES.ca 2012 Holiday Shopping Survey, a recent national survey hosted on the Angus Reid forum, reveals an overwhelming majority of Canadians say it is of the utmost importance or very important that loved ones are happy with their gift when it is opened.
"Although there is much discussion about stress during the holiday season, particularly time and financial constraints, the true meaning of the holidays - showing loved ones that you care by giving them a thoughtful, personal gift - is still very important to most Canadians," said Murray Milthorpe, Chief Experiences Officer, LifeEXPERIENCES.ca. "When it comes to holiday gift-giving, shopping is not a chore - Canadians are willing to spend the money and time to find the 'perfect' gift for their loved ones."
The LifeEXPERIENCES.ca 2012 Holiday Shopping survey revealed that purchasing holiday gifts that are easy to find (11 per cent) or inexpensive (10 per cent) is not a priority for Canadians. Instead, the survey found when Canadians are shopping for holiday gifts for loved ones:
- 85 per cent say it is very important their loved ones will be happy with the gift when it is opened
- 61 per cent hope they have given something their loved one really wanted
- 41 per cent hope the gift will show the receiver is loved by the giver
- 67 per cent hope their gift is "thoughtful"
- 42 per cent hope their gift is "memorable"
- 37 per cent hope they have given the "perfect" gift
- 34 per cent hope their gift is "creative"
"Gift giving during the holidays creates and reinforces emotional bonds between givers and receivers," says Milthorpe. "Canadians want to be 'gift heroes'. They want to give a gift that makes both the giver and the receiver feel special. 'Hero' gifts are the ones that generate an irrepressible smile when they are opened or even an 'Ahhh!' of amazement."
Although the LifeEXPERIENCES.ca survey revealed both men (42 per cent) and women (40 per cent) want their holiday gift to show the receiver they love them, there are some interesting gender differences when it comes to holiday shopping:
- 63 per cent of women, compared to 49 per cent of men take the time to think about what their loved ones want, make a list and then shop from a list to make sure they have selected the perfect gift
- 61 per cent of men and 73 per cent of women want to ensure their gift to a loved one is "thoughtful"
- 79 per cent of women, compared to 61 per cent of men say they have been so excited or pleased with the gift they purchased for a loved one they have not wanted to wait for the holidays
"Holiday shoppers know there is nothing more rewarding than finding the perfect gift," says Milthorpe. "The anticipation of seeing a loved one's face when they open the gift is so exciting that some Canadians find it hard to hold off giving the gift ahead of the holidays. Judging by our survey results some lucky Canadians may be opening gifts before the holidays this year."
Although the LifeEXPEREINCES Holiday Shopping Survey revealed many Canadians are committed to taking the time to finding the perfect gift, the survey revealed gift giving can be a risky business too. Almost one half of respondents said the risks of giving an impersonal or thoughtless gift to a loved one would make it look like the giver does not understand or know their loved one enough to choose something that is right, or the gift giver is perceived as not caring enough about their loved one to invest the time in finding the right gift.
"Sometimes the difference between a thoughtful gift and an impersonal one is very subtle," says Milthorpe. "For example, giving a loved one a dinner and spa package is a lot more thoughtful than giving them the equivalent in cash. Although the cost is the same, the pampering package is a highly personal gift that shows the giver understands the receiver, but cash is a quick, impersonal gift that tells the receiver they don't really know what they like."
About the LifeEXPERIENCES.ca 2012 Holiday Survey
An online survey was conducted among 1,001 randomly selected Canadian adults who are on the Angus Reid Forum. The margin of error is +/- 3.10%, or 19 times out of 20. The results have been statistically weighted according to age, gender and region to ensure a sample representative of the entire population of Canada. The survey was conducted on October 25, 2012.
About LifeEXPERIENCES.ca
LifeEXPERIENCES is gift giving perfected. LifeEXPERIENCES offers a range of gifts for every occasion, in every price range. With the help of LifeEXPERIENCES easy-to-use Find Me A Gift, you'll be assured of achieving gift-giving perfection and making someone you know very happy. In the process you'll make yourself a truly gifted gift-giver. Visit www.lifeexperiences.ca
SOURCE: LifeEXPERIENCES.ca
and to schedule an interview with Murray Milthorpe, Chief Experiences Officer of LifeEXPERIENCES.ca, please contact Katherine Clark ([email protected] or 416-453-3288) or Andrea Ellison ([email protected]).
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