Majority of Kiwis well prepared for Christmas 2006

NEWS RELEASE

Majority of Kiwis well prepared for Christmas in 2006

Visa International releases insights into the Christmas shopping behavior of New Zealanders.

Auckland, 12 December 2006 – Forty-one per cent of Kiwi shoppers will be armed with a Christmas gift list in advance of hitting stores this festive season, according to research released by Visa International.

In contrast, 38 per cent of Kiwis hope to get inspiration while out shopping. Not surprisingly, women are more likely to be prepared before embarking to the local mall with 51 per cent of females writing shopping lists compared to just 36 per cent of men.

As well as being more prepared for Christmas shopping women are also more likely to enjoy it. Two thirds say they take pleasure in shopping for gifts, compared to only a third of men. Overall 49 per cent of Kiwis admitted to enjoying Christmas shopping compared to 47 per cent of those who said they didn’t.

Seventeen per cent of New Zealanders intend buying at least some of their Christmas gifts online this year. Ease and convenience was cited as the main reason for shopping online followed by wider choice and buying for people overseas.

Gift cards and vouchers are shaping up to be a popular and convenient choice of gift for Christmas in 2006 says Visa International’s New Zealand Country Manager Iain Jamieson.

“More than 40 per cent of Kiwis have indicated that they would prefer to receive a gift card or voucher over a present this year, as they know they will be able to use it to buy something they really want.

“However men be warned, if you’re thinking of buying your better half a voucher from the local hardware store don’t be surprised if the reaction you receive is slightly less than satisfactory,” says Mr Jamieson.

Help is on hand for shoppers having difficulty choosing the perfect gift this season. The recently launched Visa Prezzy Card, available from New Zealand Post, is the first and only pre-paid gift card of its kind in New Zealand and is ideal for risk-free gift giving.

The Prezzy Card is loaded once with as little as $25 or as much as $500 and can be used wherever Visa is accepted electronically - physically at the point-of-sale, over the Internet, by telephone and mail order and at more than 24 million merchant locations around the world.

“Gift cards are one of the fastest growing payment cards internationally and we anticipate Kiwis will live up to their early adopter reputations and give them a go, either as a gift and stocking filler for Christmas or as a personal card.

“We’re sure New Zealanders will love the flexibility the Prezzy Card offers, not to mention the peace of mind they will get from giving the right gift every time. They are also safer than cash - and more fun,” says Mr Jamieson.

New Zealanders on the whole are generous gift givers with more than 70 per cent of Kiwis planning to purchase presents for 6-20 people this Christmas. Two thirds of Kiwis expect to be giving more gifts this festive season, than what they will receive.

ENDS

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