Now that Black Friday and Cyber Monday are out the way, we're officially in the lead-up to Christmas - and the panic gift buying has begun. But what if we told you there's an easier - and more environmentally friendly - way of shopping that means you don't even have to leave the house? Avoid the crowds this year and give your loved ones an experience gift voucher, choosing memories over material goods.
It's no secret that our world is facing a major plastic problem; just the other day two albatrosses were spotted playing with a deflated balloon 1km off the coast of Tasmania, and a 2017 study by the Australian Council found that household waste increases by 30% during the Christmas season. With that in mind, it may be worth asking ourselves whether buying someone a physical gift just for the sake of it is actually worth it?
Instead, we propose the idea of experience gifting. Give a Christmas present that lasts forever by gifting the opportunity to explore the world, try something new, or tick off a bucket list item. An experience gift voucher website promoting experience gifting? Yes we know, of course we're going to suggest intangible gifts overs physical items, but sciences backs us up too! Harvard psychologist Daniel Gilbert conducted a study which concluded if you're looking to maximise happiness from every dollar spent, experiences are the way to go.
Here at Gifting Owl we've teamed up with travel & tourism sustainability advisory group EarthCheck, to ensure the activity providers we're partnering with are delivering sustainable and environmentally friendly experiences that are safe for our customers to visit. EarthCheck CEO Stewart Moore says “sustainable experiences that are authentic and immersive allow people to connect with special places, people and cultures. People might buy products but they actually remember experiences".
By being an online-only vendor we eliminate physical packaging, transport delivery, and enhance global relations. Anyone in the world can purchase an experience gift certificate and instantly send it to a loved one on the other side of the globe - it's that simple. With online calendars and digital vouchers, recipients can easily book the ultimate day out that will be cherished forever.
