Britons will spend 324 HOURS (five hours a year*) of their lives wrapping a staggering 1,885 Christmas presents (29 a year**), according to new research.
The study, conducted by Amazon Fresh stores, reveals that one in two Britons (51 percent) HATE wrapping because it takes so long. Things that drive the nation mad about Christmas wrapping include trying to wrap gifts which are unusually shaped (39 percent) and always losing the end of the sellotape (34 percent).
Also on the list of pet peeves is constantly misjudging how much paper is needed (27 percent) and knowing it will be ripped off in seconds (26 percent). A quarter (24 percent) dislike wrapping presents because they always leave it until the last minute.
Britain’s least favourite objects to wrap are awkwardly shaped toys (50 percent) followed by round and soft objects such as footballs (32 percent) and teddy bears (30 percent). Musical instruments like guitars (24 percent), wine bottles (23 percent), mugs (22 percent) and festive shaped chocolates (20 percent) also all prove to be tricky.
So it’s no surprise that almost a quarter (22 percent) feel embarrassed handing over a gift that isn’t wrapped as well as they would have liked. However, the research also reveals the nation’s best present wrapping hacks to make the festive season that little bit easier.
28 percent will ease the repetition of wrapping by watching a Christmas TV special or film while they do it, with a further 24 percent ensuring they are not going to be interrupted by family members.
Getting help from family, friends and a partner (22 percent), enjoying a cheeky glass of mulled wine and mince pie (14 percent) are also go-to gift wrapping rules.
Almost four in ten (37 percent) secretly envy people who always wrap their gifts perfectly, with one in four (24 percent) appreciating a present more if it is well wrapped.
Four in ten (42 percent) say they have wrapped a present into a different shape to disguise its contents, with more than a quarter (28 percent) admitting they have wrapped a present for a pet. 45 percent of Brits leave Christmas present shopping until the week before the big day, while almost a third (32 percent) say they have everything wrapped and ready to go by Christmas Eve.
To help busy shoppers this Christmas, professional gift wrappers will be available at the Gift Wrap Grotto from noon until 8pm on 12-13th December at Amazon Fresh Wembley and on 19 – 20th December at Amazon Fresh Sevenoaks. To make Christmas shopping even easier, gifts can be ordered from Amazon.co.uk and delivered via click-and-collect to the Amazon Hub Pickup & Returns counter in the store.
The Gift Wrap Grotto will be opened by ‘The Gift-Wrapping Queen’ Jane Means and her team of professionals, ready to transform the most fiddly presents into parcels to be proud of.
Jane, who is renowned for her gift-wrapping tutorials, said “Every Christmas, I meet shoppers looking for tips and tricks to take them from a wrapping rookie to a present pro. We’re looking forward to sharing some insider expertise at the Amazon Fresh Gift Wrap Grotto.”
