A survey conducted by group buying and ecommerce platform, Groupon reveals that the most desired gift this festive season is to share an experience with a loved one. According to the survey, 61% of the respondents chose this option because they believe an experience is a memory for a lifetime.
“What experience people chose ranged widely, with a holiday topping the list (33%). But it seems there are very few daredevils out there, with only 5% choosing sky diving and a mere 1% selecting bungee jumping as their preferred experience. What is clear is that it’s all about fun this festive season – not one of the respondents said they would like to receive a health check-up as a gift. During the year the beauty and wellness category is one of our most popular,” says Wayne Gosling, CEO of Groupon.
While experiences trump electronics they are still regarded as a hot gift; 27% would like to see a PlayStation 3 or an X-box under the tree this year, 15% would like a tablet in their sock and 7% would like an iPhone or smartphone.
“The 40 days between the December and January salaries is the longest stretch between paydays. It is also the period when expenses are at an all time high; summer holidays, gifts, and then in January, school fees. South Africans struggle to stretch their budgets over the festive season and group buying can help shoppers to save money without cutting down on gifts or missing out on a holiday away,” says Gosling.
The survey was conducted through Groupon South Africa’s Facebook page between 11 of November 2012 to 21 of November 2012 and had 1000 respondents whereof 54% were female and 46% were male.
