A few months ago I was eating a steak dinner at my mum’s – a rare treat. (Well, medium rare, to be exact.) As tasty as it was, from a Saddleworth butcher if I recall, the table knife just wasn’t cutting it. Literally. I used a paring knife from the drawer, but my parents were prepared to battle on with standard cutlery.
A plan formed.
I never know what to get people for Christmas, but a set of steak knifes seemed to me to be a great present idea (regardless of what Glengarry Glen Ross will tell you). So, that was one parent sorted. Over the years, I've also bought numerous books that had been signed and dedicated to family members, because I needed to get them something, and I had no other idea... and there was the opportunity to meet a celebrity in the process.
Around the time I started Christmas shopping, local Public Relations company Brazen PR hit me up with this release. It me.
A THIRD OF BRITS BUY ‘SELFISH’ CHRISTMAS PRESENTS
• Nearly 1 in 5 Brits will still be gift shopping on Christmas Eve
• Dads are the hardest person to buy for at Christmas
• Showcase Cinemas is giving customers £5 if they purchase a £25 gift card for a loved one this Christmas
Is there such a thing as selfish gift giving at Christmas? It seems so, according to new national research1 published today.
A third of the nation buys presents for other people that are actually for themselves, according to the study, commissioned by Showcase Cinemas, which investigated the UK’s gift buying habits ahead of the festive period.
What’s more, almost a quarter of people (23%) in the UK are more tempted to purchase a gift for someone if it means they benefit from it too.
Despite November (34%) being the most popular month to begin Christmas shopping, nearly one in five Brits (18%) will still be last minute shopping on Christmas Eve, with almost half of the nation (46%) citing vouchers and gift cards as the perfect Christmas present.
Men are less organised when it comes to Christmas shopping, with a quarter of UK men still expected to be buying presents on Christmas Eve, with the number dropping to just 13% for women, the survey shows.
The news comes as nationwide cinema chain Showcase Cinemas launches its Christmas gift card offer. The perfect gift for any film lover, when a £25 gift card is purchased the buyer will receive a bonus £5 voucher to use for themselves – free of charge.
The gift card could be the solution to that one person who is impossible to buy for, as research revealed nearly a third of Brits (30%) believe their partner is the most troublesome when it comes to gift giving, followed by dad (20%) and mum (18%).
Jon Dixon, UK Marketing Director at Showcase Cinemas, said: “Christmas is renowned for being the most wonderful time of the year, but there’s no doubt we all experience the stresses of last-minute shopping as we get nearer to the big day.
“We’re hoping our gift cards can help take away some of those stresses and provide the perfect gift for film lovers and cinemagoers across the nation, while also allowing the buyer to bag a cheeky bonus for themselves. What could be better than giving the gift of film (and tasty cinema snacks) this Christmas?!
“Our findings also revealed that spending time with family and friends is our favourite thing about Christmas time (63%). Here at Showcase Cinemas, as well as the big new blockbuster for Christmas, Wonka, we’re screening several festive flashback films, and we can’t wait to welcome families into our cinemas to sit back, relax and enjoy quality time together watching a Christmas classic like Elf, Home Alone, The Polar Express or It’s A Wonderful Life on the big screen.”
When it comes to the nation’s number one Christmas film, Home Alone has taken the crown, with the 90s classic starring Macauley Culkin taking 23% of the vote, beating out stiff competition from Will Ferrell’s Elf (17%) and the British favourite Love Actually (15%), with both films celebrating their 20th anniversaries this year!
To purchase a Showcase Cinemas gift card, and earn yourself £5 for every £25 gift card purchased, head to your local cinema’s box office or visit the website.
For further information and to purchase tickets for Showcase Cinemas festive flashbacks, please visit the website.
UK’S TOP TEN CHRISTMAS FILMS OF ALL TIME
1. HOME ALONE (23%) (great)
2. ELF (17%) (overrated, steals jokes from Naked Gun)
3. LOVE ACTUALLY (15%) (never seen)
4. IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE (13%) (brilliant, very dark, misleading title until the end)
5. THE SNOWMAN (13%) (I think I’ve only seen the ‘Walking in the Air’ bit)
6. MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET (12%) (never seen)
7. DIE HARD (12%) (exceptional plotting for an 80s action movie, started a subgenre, and is definitely a Christmas film despite what Bruce Willis thinks. The guy’s got dementia.)
8. A CHRISTMAS CAROL (11%) (Never seen)
9. THE GRINCH (11%) (Big Jim Carrey fan so I’m going to put it up there, despite it being a bit depressing. Excellent narration from Anthony Hopkins.)
10. THE POLAR EXPRESS (10%) (Never seen)
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