Re-use and recycle isn’t about rubbish at Christmas time

Media release

16 December 2011

Re-use and recycle isn’t about rubbish at Christmas time

If you’re a woman with a high income from Wellington, the odds are you’ll be re-gifting unwanted pressies from the past.

Survey results from New Zealand’s largest research-based business consultancy TNS shows almost a third of Kiwis (29%) have no problem passing their unwanted gifts to someone else at Christmas time.

Thirty nine per cent of Wellingtonians admit to present-passing-on, followed closely by Aucklanders (33%).

However it’s the high-income Kiwis ($100,000 +) who are the biggest fans of re-gifting, with 38 per cent acknowledging their friends or family have received their cast-off presents. They’re followed by 35 per cent of households with an annual income of $70,000 - $100,000.

But it’s women who are the ones who think it’s OK to ‘pass it on.’ A total of 38 per cent of women do it, compared to just 21 per cent of men.

While it might seem those choosing to re-gift are not being very grateful, our hearts still seem to be in the right place however, because 31 per cent of respondents to the survey intend to donate to a charity this Christmas. And of those who regularly give to charity at this time of year, 22 per cent say they’re going to donate more than in previous years.

David Thomas, Director TNS New Zealand says the survey provided an opportunity to gauge how New Zealanders were feeling about Christmas this year.

”It’s good to see that even after a rough year, Kiwis still have their charitable spirit. Even if gifts don’t hit the mark this year, at least they won’t be going to waste!” he says.

But it pays to take heed of the ‘Eight Golden Rules of Re-gifting.’

1. On receiving an unwanted gift: Label it clearly with the giver’s name before storing for re-gifting

2. Think carefully about who will be the recipient so you can be sure they’ll appreciate and keep the gift (you don’t want it back next year)

3. Show you’ve put thought and effort into your gift with creative wrapping

4. Don’t ‘re-gift’ used stuff – that’s not re-gifting, that’s clearing the shelves. Give those things to charity shops.

5. Candles (unless they love collecting candles), old boxed sets of towels, bath products or pens, obscure CDs or books, socks – are all a no-no. After all, there was a reason you didn’t like them in the first place, wasn’t there?

6. Speaking of old gifts – re-gift promptly. Receiving something that’s been stored for 20 years or so and unearthed when you cleaned out the cupboards isn’t a gift, it’s an insult.

7. Don’t tell the recipient it’s a re-gift of something you didn’t want

8. Do tell the recipient it’s a re-gift if it’s genuinely something you adore, and you know they have set covetous eyes on it as well – you’ll score big brownie points for that re-gift.

“Our survey results just go to show that reusing and recycling isn’t rubbish – if we all follow the Rules of Re-gifting, everyone can have a great Christmas.”

Research was carried out during the week 7-13 December with a sample of 1005 nationally representative New Zealanders on behalf of TNS via Smile City, New Zealand’s largest and most robust online panel.

Ends

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