Best-selling author, broadcaster, and charity campaigner, Katie Piper has teamed up with Oxfam to launch the charity’s new service, available for one exclusive, festive weekend only, designed to help ease the pressure on shopping at this time of year.
New research from Oxfam has revealed:
39% of people feel under pressure to spend beyond their means this Christmas
Two thirds (66%) of us now describe Christmas shopping in person as stressful, with crowded shops (52%) and feeling rushed (26%) among the biggest turn-offs
69% added poor customer service would make them look elsewhere next year
65% of shoppers agree they want to find unique Christmas gifts this year, rather than items anyone could buy
Among those who would consider buying pre-loved Christmas gifts, 61% say they are likely to shop for presents from charity shops this year, while 57% say some of the best “hidden gems” can be found there
The data shows that the typical UK festive shopping spree involves visiting five shops across three separate trips, plus an hour and a half browsing online, and £494 spent on gifts for eight loved ones.
To help shoppers find affordable, meaningful gifts with a difference, Oxfam has created its first-ever Christmas Personal Shopper Gifting service. Best-selling author, broadcaster, and charity campaigner Katie Piper, who is supporting the campaign, said: “This is such a brilliant and exciting idea. Christmas shopping can feel overwhelming, and I never know where to start with gifts. Oxfam’s new Personal Shopper Gifting service is a great way to encourage more people to choose second-hand at Christmas. If you’re shopping pre-loved, you’re smart, savvy, and environmentally conscious. It’s cool to be kind.”
Oxfam operates over 500 shops across the UK, supported by more than 20,000 volunteers, and also runs the nation’s largest online charity shop. Lorna Fallon, Retail Director at Oxfam said: “Everyone has their own approach to Christmas shopping. For some, it’s the excitement of the high street, for others it’s about finding something meaningful that really shows thought. However you like to shop, you’ll always find a warm and friendly welcome in our stores, whether that’s through our Christmas personal shopping service or thanks to the year-round expertise of our dedicated shop volunteers.
“Our stores offer a real treasure trove of unique finds, from pre-loved books, clothing, homeware and accessories, to our carefully curated Sourced by Oxfam range and meaningful Unwrapped gift cards. With every purchase, shoppers are not only choosing a special gift but helping to create a fairer, more equal world.”
To coincide with the campaign, Oxfam has also launched the Oxfam Christmas Shopping Personalities Quiz, helping shoppers discover their festive shopping approach – from “Last-Minute Legend” to “Pre-loved Pro” – and how second-hand shopping can make Christmas more fun, affordable and sustainable. To find out what kind of shopper you are, click here.
The Oxfam Personal Shopper Gifting service will be available at its Manchester and Oxford Superstores on Saturday 6th – Sunday 7th December, and at Oxfam Twickenham on Saturday 6th December.
