Gift Cards Rival Apparel As Gift Of Choice, Says Survey
For the first time, gift cards will surpass toys, games, music and movies as the gift of choice, and will rival even the perennial favorite, apparel, as the gift to give and get this holiday season, according to the 2006 American Express Gift Card survey.
Gift cards are an increasingly popular gift. Two-thirds (66 percent) of shoppers plan to purchase them this year, up from 57 percent in 2005 and 55 percent in 2004, according to the survey. Those planning to purchase apparel remained steady at 68 percent in 2006 and 2005, only a slight increase from 66 percent in 2004.
Among those planning on purchasing gift cards, two-thirds (66 percent) want the receiver to choose his or her own gift, and a large majority (57 percent) say that the option of giving gift cards has changed how they think about shopping. Seventy-three percent say they finish shopping faster with less stress. Shoppers also say they will go to the mall and stores less often, including Thanksgiving weekend (60 percent), some will likely get their holiday shopping done earlier (59 percent) although other shoppers say they plan to start later because they know they can always get a gift card (45 percent).
Source: American Express
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