Eight Toasters & A Wedding

Shortly before we married, we attended a large English country wedding (think Four Weddings A Funeral). As was the custom, the wedding presents were displayed for the guests to admire and see who had given what by surreptitiously examining the gift tags. Discreetly distributed among an excessive indulgence of premium gifts were eight toasters. A few weeks later on our own wedding day, it came as no surprise when we opened our presents to find one of the surplus toasters.

Some of those we shared the story with thought this was a rather cheap gesture. I thought it rather sensible — though I was slightly disappointed the other couple hadn’t instead been given eight oak dining tables.

The problem of unwanted (and often duplicate) presents is as old as gift-giving itself. But it seems to have grown worse as most of the shops around us have become filled with endless versions of the same things under different brands.

So many unwanted gifts end up at the back of a cupboard or drawer, untouched for years. I must admit, I have a couple of these myself. 

Christmas is peak season for unwanted gifts. A survey by Trade Me found that 46 percent of respondents admitted to receiving at least one unwanted Christmas present. And last year — even before tucking into turkey sandwiches on Boxing Day — more than 4,600 people had already listed their unwanted gifts on Trade Me, with thousands more joining them over the days that followed.

True to New Zealanders’ laid-back nature, 73 percent of us said we'd pretend to like an unwanted gift, with only four percent brave enough to admit disappointment!So what can we do? Firstly, when your children or partner ask what you’d like for your birthday or Christmas, have a few ideas ready — it makes life easier for everyone.

Secondly, if you’re buying for someone else, take the time to find out what they’d really like. And if it’s within your means, buy them a good-quality version — something they’ll actually use or treasure for years to come.

So much of giving today has become about convenience rather than consideration — a quick purchase, beautifully wrapped but soon forgotten. Yet the best gifts are those chosen with care, that carry a sense of the person behind them. At Artevo, we believe in gifts worth giving — pieces designed to be kept, used, and appreciated long after the wrapping paper’s gone. Perhaps that’s the difference between another pair of novelty socks, and something truly remembered.

Simon Stockdale - Artevo Founder