One in five to do some Christmas shopping on Christmas Eve, study finds

Shops can expect a busy Christmas Eve as last minute shoppers take it to the last day before the 25th, new research from The Green Insurer, the UK’s greener car insurance broker, suggests.

Its nationwide study reveals nearly one in five adults (19%) plan to do some shopping on Christmas Eve meaning a busy time for stores and high streets on the Sunday before the 25th despite the general shift to online shopping for the festive period.

Almost all (93%) of adults say they will do some Christmas shopping online. Around two out of five (38%) say half or more of their shopping will be done online this year but the research shows people still rely on the high street.

One in four (25%) expect to have completed all their Christmas shopping by December 18th – a week before Christmas Day – with the likelihood that those who haven’t done so may have to rely in part on the high street due to potential delivery delays.

“Last minute Christmas shopping on the high street is still alive and well despite the rise of online shopping with millions expecting to spend some time on Christmas Even in the shops,” Paul Baxter, chief executive of The Green Insurer, said.

“The fact that so many people are waiting to December 18th before completing their shopping demonstrates that the digital world hasn’t quite wrapped up Christmas yet.”

The Green Insurer offers rewards for environmentally friendly driving worth on average £20 a year through its Leaves scheme as well as discounts of up to 6 per cent on weekly supermarket shopping through a range of partnerships.

Up to 70 companies have partnered with The Green Insurer to offer rewards and discounts including Asda, Tesco, Sainsbury’s Waitrose, Iceland and Morrisons plus retailers Clarks, Harvey Nichols, Halfords, Habitat and Waterstone’s as well as restaurant chains Zizzi, Ask Italian and Café Rouge.

The company plans to expand the number of rewards partners and is contacting companies who can also sign up on its website. It will also add other insurance partners in the future and potentially expand the types of policies it offers.