Ever wondered why we find joy in wrapped-up surprises? Let’s take a Deep Dive. 

🍀 The tradition of giving goes a long way back. In pre-Roman times, sacred mistletoes were distributed during the new year to signify protection and good luck. 

🇨🇳 The first documented use of wrapping paper can be traced back to ancient China, where paper was invented in 2nd century BC. Monetary gifts to government officials were wrapped with paper, creating what became known as a chih pao.

💘 While the focus of gifting is often on the receiver, research shows that the act can give the giver an enhanced sense of purpose and self-worth.

🧐 Picking out the right gift is an art. It can also be a subtle—and not so welcome—message.

80% During the pandemic, global searches for “online gift” increased by 80 percent in 2020 compared to 2019.

70 million A report by Facebook and Bain & Company showed that 70 million more people shopped online in six Southeast Asian countries since the pandemic began. 

$36.7 billion Alibaba’s 11.11 shopping day raked in an estimated $36.7 billion for the year 2022—down from $75.6 billion the year before.

In the Singapore Retail Trends report commissioned by Amazon, what percentage of Singapore consumers look online first before going in-store to purchase their items?

A. 48.8%
B. 61.2%
C. 90.4%

Scroll to the bottom for the answer.

Talk about a gift that could change your life. It is not uncommon for Korean parents to send their children for eyelid surgery upon graduating high school, before entering university.

🛍️ Shopping is cheaper than therapy. It helps to alleviate negative emotions by releasing powerful neurotransmitters and gives the shopper a sense of personal control.

🧟‍♂️ Beware of mindless consumerism. Retail shopping can result in massive resource consumption that significantly taxes our planet.

🇯🇵 On gift duty. In Japan, the act of gift-giving is more than commemorating special events. It is about social rank and obligation.

⛔ No gifts, please. Some prefer not to receive gifts because of “gift guilt”.

Countries and cultures across the world have different rules and traditions when it comes to giving and receiving gifts—from the shape of the present to its colour.

Despite economic pressures, Deloitte found that in 2022, US consumers are maintaining how much they spend on gifts while cutting back on non-gift purchases such as clothing, home furnishing and holiday decorations.

The fastest time in the Guinness World Records for a team of eight to wrap a person in wrapping paper was 41.10 seconds.

The answer to the quiz is A (48.8%).