With Christmas just weeks away, leading photo printing company CEWE has revealed the UK’s most beloved gifts—and the ones best left unwrapped.
A recent survey of 2,000 adults reveals that 73% of Brits have been disappointed by a Christmas gift—sometimes from presents so off the mark, it’s clear they should have been left on the shelf.
Leading the list of most unwanted presents are novelty gifts (26%), items people already own (22%), the classic pair of socks (20%) and an ugly Christmas jumper (11%). But some gifts have left Brits truly astonished, with the survey reporting single pieces of fruit, household mops, calculators and even lumps of coal—items more likely to spark confusion than festive cheer.
In contrast, clothes (31%), perfume (24%), and jewellery (24%) continue to be well-loved choices that rarely miss, topping the list of the best presents. Surprises (16%) and sentimentality (15%) also ranked highly among the things we value in a gift. Personalised gifts, such as photo books and calendars, are particularly popular, with 40% saying they are their favourite kind of present and 20% admitting they haven’t received one but would like to.
The results also reveal a festive family rivalry in gift-giving, with mums earning the crown as the UK’s best Christmas gift-givers. Dads, however, have landed firmly on the “naughty” list, being named the worst present buyers and most likely to disappoint with their choice of gift.
For most Brits, Christmas shopping is no easy feat. We spend the most time selecting presents for our partners (42%), followed by parents (25%) and siblings (10%).
The top reasons for gift disappointment include receiving something that doesn’t match our interests (36%), getting something unusable (23%) and realising it’s a re-gift (18%). When faced with a less-than-perfect present, our reactions vary: 36% express genuine gratitude, 33% pretend to like it, and 17% quietly set the gift aside until after Christmas.
“With 75% of people valuing sentimental gifts, it’s clear that meaningful presents resonate the most and truly show how much you care,” said Petra Felgen, Managing Director of CEWE UK. “We know the true value of creating unique and personalised gifts that are made with love, including our popular CEWE Photobook, which allows you to capture cherished memories that your loved ones will treasure for years to come.”
For more information about CEWE’s research, visit here: https://www.cewe.co.uk/best-and-worst-christmas-presents
