A last-minute dash to the shops on Christmas Eve appears to be a thing of the past with just 3% of Brits saying they do their festive shopping on December 24.
That’s according to new research from commercial insurer NFU Mutual, with results showing a whopping 97% of people surveyed won’t leave it until 24 hours before the big day to get any additional gifts
This year, the vast majority of UK shoppers appear to have done their shopping from November onwards, with 40% of Brits saying they give themselves almost two months to get sorted. Then there are the more organised festive buyers among us, with 15% saying they spread it over the course of the year.
One in 10 had already finished getting all their gifts before the start of December – with Black Friday deals a possible draw for that – while 21% of consumers will start on December 1 and run right through to Christmas, which suggests a boost is still to come for retailers.
James Jordan, Commercial Specialist at NFU Mutual, said: “It is no surprise our research shows the majority of shoppers get gifts from November and even a large chunk spread this throughout the year. The cost-of-living crisis has hit our retailers and consumers, so this approach makes sense.
“While the UK had seemingly become synonymous over the years with our late shopping sprees, it now appears that is a thing of the past, with just 3% of those surveyed saying that is their plan this year. This also means retailers can be well prepared for a steady flow of December visitors instead of a final-day rush.
“The Golden Quarter is a vital time for our businesses and retailers, and we want to see them thrive as much in the festive period as any other time throughout the year.”
In a boost to retailers and small businesses, two-thirds of shoppers (66%) said buying a personal gift for loved ones was of the utmost importance, while buying from local shops (18%) came third on the list of priorities.
Jordan added: “Local shops are the bedrock of our communities and it’s good to see so many people still supporting independent businesses where possible.”
