Irish shoppers to shell out up to €1500 this Christmas

With 7 weeks until the big day, new research shows that 45% of Irish shoppers will be spending the same this Christmas. 73% worry about finding the perfect gift and 98% are keen to support local businesses

Despite cost of living concerns, over 45% of shoppers will be spending the same this Christmas, with 33% spending more, according to new research from local gift card champions Town & City Gift Cards.

25% of Irish shoppers say they’ll be spending €1251 – €1500 this Christmas, with the need to purchase gifts for friends and family given as the reason for Christmas spend staying the same or increasing.

But finding the perfect gift isn’t always easy with a huge 73% of people worrying about finding the perfect gift. The research also revealed a move towards more ‘useful’ gifts that offer choice with 89% planning to buy at least one gift card this Christmas. 92% prefer giving a gift card to cash with 77% saying this is because it encourages the recipient to treat themselves.

In Ireland, €91 plus is the most common amount spent on gift cards for a family member, €31 – €50 for friends and €5 – €15 for service providers such as teachers.

And gift cards are a Christmas present that people want to receive too, with 89% saying they would like to receive a multi-store gift card that can be spent at more than one business and 94% preferring gift cards that can be used in various sectors, such as retail, hospitality and leisure.

Support for local is higher than ever with 98% keen to support local this Christmas and 87% saying supporting local businesses helps to keep them open. 60% say shopping local offers a better experience.

The research was undertaken by local gift card champions Town & City Gift Cards in August 2023 with over 1,000 consumers, employees and organisations. Town & City Gift Cards are local gift cards for towns and cities across Ireland including Drogheda, Ballinrobe, Sligo and Carndonagh, that can be spent with national brands and local independent businesses, locking spend into that place.

Colin Munro is the managing director of Miconex, the firm which provides the technology for the Town & City Gift Card programme and said: “The research revealed changing attitudes towards gifting with a greater emphasis on gifts that can be used in a practical way and offer the recipient choice.

“There’s also a really strong awareness of the need to shop local because people realise the impact it has on their community. Local gift cards wrap up choice and support for local in one gift card, reducing the pressure and worry of finding a perfect gift as the recipient can choose exactly what they want from all types and sizes of local businesses.”  

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