Flowers and Jewelry Are Appreciated Most - International Communications Research for the Society of American Florists survey on gift-giving - Brief Article

USA Today (Society for the Advancement of Education), Dec, 2000

Who gave you the best gift you ever received? What gift is most likely to make you smile? Which presents do Americans send right back to the store? A nationwide survey by International Communications Research for the Society of American Florists provides insight into our favorite presents, givers, and thank-you etiquette in this high-tech age.

"Our favorite gifts are the ones that allow us to express emotion and make us feel special," indicates Robyn Spizman, author of The Perfect Present. "They are personal expressions of our feelings for each other."

When asked which makes us feel most special, respondents named flowers (37%) and jewelry (34%). Fifty-eight percent of Americans say they gave flowers at least once during the past year. One out of three females gave them to males. "Not surprisingly, the top reason women and men like to receive flowers is love," Spizman points out. Respondents also note friendship, thank yous, and anniversaries.

Men who forget their anniversaries reach for the phone to call their florist, as flowers were named the most popular gift to get out of the doghouse. Clothing is the gift Americans give most often, but is also the one most often returned.

In keeping with our romantic feelings about gifts, an overwhelming majority of Americans surveyed cited their spouse or significant other as the person who gave them the best gift they ever received. Mothers rank a distant second, followed by other relatives. As for love interests, more than 25% of Americans say what they would most like to receive from an admirer is flowers or houseplants, followed by jewelry, clothing, and perfume or cologne. In the office, 35% of those receiving gifts from business associates would most appreciate tickets to a sporting or entertainment event.

Approximately 25% of Americans admit to rewrapping gifts and giving them to others. Women are more likely to do so than men and are also more likely to expect a thank you from a gift recipient.

When it comes to gratitude, over one-half of Americans do not expect to be thanked for a present. While women are more likely to anticipate a sign of appreciation, both men and women agree that an in-person thank you and a handwritten note are the most acceptable ways of expressing gratitude for a gift. Most agree that a phone call is okay, too. However, when it comes to high-tech modes of communication such as e-mail and voicemail, agreement significantly drops. A faxed note is the least acceptable method of saying thank you for a present.