New Survey Reveals the Gifts People Really Want (and Don't Want) This Holiday Season

DELRAY BEACH, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Here’s a quick tip for the holidays: If you do not want your gift to be returned or re-gifted, avoid fruit cakes and novelty items like candles, lotions and potpourri. These items ranked as the worst holiday gifts, according to more than half (52 percent) of consumers surveyed in a recent study commissioned by Office Depot (NYSE:ODP), a leading global provider of office products and services.

“Keep it simple by giving technology items and make your gift stand out by adding a personalized note that references a memorable experience.”

The good news is that respondents were emphatic about the “cool” gifts they would like to receive this year. The reason behind the enthusiasm? Technology.

According to the Office Depot survey, the following technology gifts reigned supreme:

Half of all shoppers (50 percent) ranked plasma or LCD flat panel TVs as the number one must-have technology gift this year;
More than four out of ten respondents (42 percent) want to receive a laptop computer;
Thirty percent would be happy to receive a digital camera for the holidays.

The results also showed consumers’ willingness to spend money this holiday season for the right gifts. More than a third (35 percent) of people surveyed by Office Depot stated that they plan to spend up to $500 on gifts for friends and family this season. An additional 24 percent reported that they will spend up to $1,000.

“This survey shows that people don’t need to over think gift-giving this holiday season,” says Hillary Mendelsohn, gift-giving expert for Office Depot and noted shopping authority. “Keep it simple by giving technology items and make your gift stand out by adding a personalized note that references a memorable experience.”

Together with Office Depot, Mendelsohn has assembled a collection of gift ideas for all the special people on your list this year. “The key to picking out holiday gifts is to know something about the personal interests of the recipient and then select the appropriate gift,” Mendelsohn advises. Here are a few ideas:

The Family Historian – Almost every family has an amateur photographer who loves to record events and get-togethers. Consider a creative gift that combines all of the tools needed to take great photos and showcase them for everyone. For example, the Canon Camera and Printer Bundle ($249.99) from Office Depot is a great value. Together, the Canon PowerShot A630 Digital Camera and PIXMA MP470 Photo All-In-Printer offer maximum enjoyment at the right price. Consider adding the Ativa Digital Photo Frame which is available in seven- and 11-inch frame sizes ($99.99 and $229.99, respectively), making them some of the largest digital photo frames available today.
The Professional – Busy business professionals are always looking for ways to get the most out of the day, so why not give them the tools they need to maximize their time. Ensure they get to that important meeting safe and on time with the Navigon 5100 Navigation System ($499.99), which has 3-D maps of both the United States and Canada along with over 5 million points of interest, including Zagat reviews and recommendations. And make sure they arrive in style with the Foray line of business cases. Starting at only $39.99, these business cases are the perfect blend of organization and fashion.
The Acquaintance – Every holiday list includes associates, co-workers and service providers that deserve recognition at the end of the year. Mendelsohn reminds shoppers that you don’t have to spend more than $10 to show your appreciation. For instance, add a sophisticated touch to any traveler’s luggage set with the Foray Leather Luggage Tag ($9.99) or help colleagues and friends transport files or photos with the Ativa Memory Card USB Drive ($9.99) that instantly transforms memory cards into portable flash drives.
The Environmentalist – Make a lasting impression with a gift that not only demonstrates your appreciation for the recipient, but towards the environment too. With its more than 4,000 environmentally-friendly products, Office Depot makes it simple and convenient to select a “green” gift. Top “green” picks include the Voltaic Solar Charging Bags ($179.99 - $219.99) that feature three lightweight and waterproof solar panels that charge nearly all hand-geld electronics, or the ENERGY STAR-rated Canon Pixma iP1800 Photo Printer ($49.99), which can help conserve up to 75 percent of the electricity used as compared to standard equipment.

About the Survey

The Office Depot Holiday Survey, conducted by TNS NFO, was designed to gain insights into consumers’ gift-giving behaviors and challenges for the holiday season. The poll of 2,500 people (representative of the U.S. household population, 18+ on age, gender, geographic division, income and household size, household designation and market size) was conducted October 3-5, 2007.

About Office Depot

Office Depot provides more office products and services to more customers in more countries than any other company.

Incorporated in 1986 and headquartered in Delray Beach, Fla., Office Depot has annual sales of over $15.4 billion, and employs approximately 52,000 associates around the world. Currently, the Company sells to customers directly or through affiliates in 43 countries.

Office Depot is a leader in every distribution channel -- from retail stores and contract delivery to catalogs and e-commerce. As of June 30, 2007, Office Depot had 1,186 retail stores in North America and another 369 stores, either company-owned, licensed or franchised, in other parts of the world. Office Depot serves a wide range of customers through a dedicated sales force, telephone account managers, direct mail offerings, and multiple web sites. With $4.7 billion in online sales during the last twelve months, the Company is also one of the world’s largest e-commerce retailers.

Office Depot’s common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol ODP and is included in the S&P 500 Index. Additional press information can be found at: http://mediarelations.officedepot.com. Press materials and background specific to Office Depot’s environmental initiatives and product offerings is available at http://mediarelations.officedepot.cc/environment.