Birmingham, United Kingdom, (21st December, 2011) – ipostparcels.com, UK Mail’s consumer parcel delivery service, commissioned IBM Research to question 2,000 people during November 2011 regarding their preferred gifts for this Christmas.
The research found that whilst people are planning to cut back, the gift that will give the most Christmas cheer is a homemade gift, with 88% of those surveyed saying it was the most thoughtful present. With 86% of Brits planning to spend the same or less on Christmas presents than last year, it’s good news that the gift people most like to receive is an inexpensive, homemade gift.
Senior lecturer in Psychology at Manchester Metropolitan University, Dr David Holmes said: “For many people Christmas evokes all sorts of sentimentalities and memories; think of how easily we cry at a Christmas film or carol service. It’s also an opportunity to remember loved ones and reflect. Thus, it’s not surprising that a personalised gift with the human touch works so well at this time of year and is more valued than something less individual.”
UK Mail’s chief executive, Guy Buswell, said: “We know we’ll be busy collecting and delivering Christmas parcels over the next few weeks and we were keen to investigate what sort of presents would be inside.”
And if you’re still stuck for present ideas, then the research revealed gifts your family members might like to receive most:
- 58% of teenagers would like a homemade personalised photo album or collage
- 60% of Mums and Dads want an item signifying a shared experience such as a special wine from a recent holiday or a CD from a favourite gig.
- 50% of Grandparents would prefer homemade edible gifts (or a shared experience)
It’s not just homemade presents that offer people a cheaper alternative to expensive high street gifts, with 13% of people buying gifts from eBay, 10% choosing to gift a recycled item and 8% sending presents to families or groups rather than individuals.
For those people who are keen to support a charity at Christmas, ipostparcels.com has teamed up with Cancer Research UK and launched the Post for Life campaign. When picking up a parcel collection, ipostparcels.com drivers will also pick up any much-needed donations of clothes, accessories and books and deliver them to Cancer Research UK shops across the country free of charge.
About ipostparcels:
ipostparcels, a subsidiary of UK Mail, is an online consumer parcel collection and delivery service which has been operating since August 2011. An alternative to Royal Mail’s over-the-counter parcel service, ipostparcels spells a convenient and cost-effective way to send a tracked parcel anywhere in the UK for next-day delivery – without having to leave the home or office.
UK Mail Group:
The UK Mail Group is the largest independent parcels, mail and logistics services company within the UK, offering quality, yet affordable, delivery solutions both locally and worldwide. With a national network of 53 sites and 3,000 drivers, it is able to offer customers a unique integrated service with a full range of time-sensitive and secure delivery options for letters, parcels and pallets. UK Mail is committed to pushing the boundaries of the post and express parcel delivery markets and continues to launch product innovations that deliver commercial advantage to customers.
Contact:
Ipostparcels
Kyla Flynn or Rachel Husband at MCG PR
Tel: 0207 812 0585, 0113 307 0113
Birmingham, United Kingdom
Email: kyla.flynn@mcgpr.co.uk
