PHONES TOP CHOICE FOR CHRISTMAS GIFTS

A survey commissioned by Flexi Finance also finds that FIlipino shoppers still prefer to go to malls

Filipinos aged 25 to 55 years old want to give mobile gadgets as a Christmas gift this holiday season, a survey found.

Cebu-based financing firm Flexi Finance Asia Inc. commissioned the survey, which involved over 1,000 Filipinos aged 25 to 55 years old from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

More than half of all respondents have put mobile phones at the top of their Christmas gift list for their loved ones. This is followed by home appliances at 32.6 percent, then tablets, televisions, laptops and cameras.

Male respondents and those aged 41 to 45 years old are the top purchasers of mobile phone gadgets as a present for Christmas.

The Flexi Finance survey found that a significant number of respondents, across all ages and gender, already start shopping for the holidays by November.

This is followed by the month of December, when 38.7 percent of respondents do the shopping. A combined 83.7 percent of respondents do their holiday shopping during the last two months of the year.

Even with online shopping options, 80.7 percent of the survey respondents or still shop for Christmas presents in malls.

Only 9.3 percent of respondents do their holiday shopping online while only eight percent of the respondents prefer buying gifts at thrift shops or ukay-ukay outlets.

Of holiday shoppers, more females shop Christmas presents for more people when compared to their male counterparts. But when it comes to age, those aged 31 to 50 years old tend to purchase more gifts compared to those in the 2530 and 51-55 age group.

Married respondents spend about P1,000 to P5,000 for their partners, while 37.8 percent of respondents spend P2,000 to 5,000 on Christmas gifts for others.

As millions of shoppers begin to flock malls and shopping destinations for the holidays, Flexi Finance is offering loan options and a Christmas raffle promo to help Filipino shoppers make their loved ones’ wish come true.

Richard Lorincz, Flexi Finance chief marketing officer, said the financial services company is running a Christmas raffle promo between Nov. 2 and Dec. 27.

Flexi Finance, founded in Cebu City in 2015, features accessible and convenient financing deals with a maximum approval time of 30 minutes requiring just valid IDs, Filipino citizenship and proof of three months’ employment. /