by Michael Smith (Veshengro)
The study shows that over a third (35%) of people are boosting the presents they will give this year with free samples that they have received through the letterbox.
Children and friends are the people most likely to receive a free sample as a gift this year. Almost half of children (44%) and 36% of friends can expect to find a freebie somewhere amongst their presents this Christmas, the study highlights.
The research also found that 18-24 year olds are the age group most likely (58%) to give a free sample as a gift; people in Wales are most likely to give someone a freebie (42%) while the Scots are least likely (30%); 17% of husbands and wives planning to give free samples to their other halves this year.
The most popular samples to gift wrap include:
- Perfume samples (33%)
- Health and beauty sachets (24%)
- Money-off vouchers (16%)
- Make up sachets (9%)
- Food samples (6%)
Phil Ricketts, head of strategy, sales and marketing at Royal Mail Door to Door, says: “We already know that consumers enjoy receiving samples through their letterboxes. The trend of topping up Christmas stockings with samples shows that people really see a benefit in receiving something for nothing that can be enjoyed and given to others.”
Now that could be one reason for “re-gifting” free samples and other freebies as presents but there could also be another reason, a much more pressing one, namely the fact that money is a little – oh what an understatement – tighter this year as some years back, before the Great Recession began.
Now I am not saying that passing on freebies is a bad idea. The opposite instead. Why not and the same is true, as far as I am concerned, about re-gifting per se, whether at Christmas or at other times.
Other freebies that are frequently passed on from one to the other are “unwanted” or multiple free calendars and diaries, pens and other advertising presents from companies.
As a child I ended up with a fair number of good pocketknives that way, for instance, and hardly minded at all that they had a company logo and lettering on them. Why should I have minded? They were good pocketknives; that good in fact people stole them from me.
Other gifting of this kind, for Christmas and also for birthdays, is by passing on other kinds of promotional gifts that the giver has acquired, such as collectible glasses or such.
Well, happy Christmas and happy re-gifting...
© 2011
