Read more
Do Poles still choose carp for Christmas? Survey results
Purchase for the Christmas table where low prices and promotions
Where will we go to buy groceries for Christmas? The results of the PAYBACK Opinion Poll show that, like last year and 2022, we are most likely to make such purchases at discount stores. This year, as many as 78% of polled Poles, like a year ago, declare that this is where they plan to shop, while two years ago 67% of respondents indicated so. For the past three years, hypermarkets have invariably ranked second in terms of the number of indications. This year, more than 42% of Poles plan to do their shopping there. Compared to last year, this is an increase of 3 percentage points. The third most frequently indicated shopping destination for Christmas tables was again markets and bazaars. This year and last year, 23% of respondents indicated them.
What are Poles guided by when choosing the store where they will do their Christmas shopping? First of all, product prices and promotions (69%). Further down the list comes the availability of quality products (53%) and the convenience and availability of products in one place (50%). Thus, in the case of the last two answers, we can speak of a change in the order. A year ago, it was for 52% of surveyed Poles that convenience and availability of products in one place was the key criterion, and for 49% of respondents the most important selection criterion was the quality of the products they bought.
Polans are still looking for savings in their shopping. It will be no different before the upcoming holidays. We will do them in places where it is cheaper and which offer better promotions. The second selection criterion has become the quality of the products. It seems that to combine these two expectations, it is best to use loyalty programs. Every year we count more and more meticulously and focus on the right value for money. Convenience has fallen to third place this year.
This year’s results of the PAYBACK Opinion Poll show that more than 45% of Poles will do less shopping before Christmas due to high prices. This is more than 9 percentage points less than a year ago. As for the amounts, , the number of respondents who declared spending between PLN 101 and PLN 500 decreased. This year it was 48% of people, while last year two percentage points more respondents answered yes. More than 35% of respondents admitted that, just as 12 months earlier, they would spend between PLN 501 and PLN 1,000 on Christmas.
Slightly richer Santa consistent when choosing gifts … from the internet
No one is probably surprised anymore that Christmas gifts are most likely to be bought online. For the past three years, the number of Poles who indicate that it is online that they will complete gifts for loved ones has been growing. This year, more than 65% of respondents said so. Last year, 62% of respondents gave such an answer, and in 2022. 57% of PAYBACK survey participants. At the same time, the number of people seeking gifts in shopping malls continues to decline. This year, this way of shopping was declared by more than 38% of respondents, last year by 40%, and two years ago by 47%. The least likely to go for gifts are hypermarkets. This year just over 18% will do them there. A year ago, 25% of surveyed consumers said so, 6% less than in 2022.
The PAYBACK survey shows that this year we will spend a similar amount on gifts as last year. Usually it is between PLN 101 and 500 (this year over 42% of indications, last year 47% of respondents) or between PLN 501 and 1000 (this year over 34% of respondents, last year 31% of responses). Interestingly, we will mostly carry out our Christmas shopping two weeks before Christmas – this was declared by more than 41% of Poles.
When it comes to the categories of products chosen for gifts under the Christmas tree, the composition of the podium has been very similar for several years. In 2024, as a year ago, cosmetics and perfumes are the most frequently purchased products (50%). In second place, with a score of more than 31%, are clothing and footwear, and in third place are games and toys (30%). Last year, the top three were cosmetics and perfume (42%), followed by games and toys (32%), and books and CDs (over 25%) in third place.
The vast majority of pre-Christmas purchases will be financed from current income or savings. In the PAYBACK Opinion Poll, nearly 90% of respondents answered yes. Slightly more than 9% of respondents will pay by credit card (last year, more than 8%). As the survey results indicate, this year there will be a slight increase in the number of people who will cover their pre-Christmas expenses with funds obtained from social programs. Almost 5% will use money from the 800+ program for this purpose. Last year, less than 4% of Poles said they would use funds from the 500+ program for this purpose.
At home best
As the results of the PAYBACK survey show, we intend to spend the holidays mainly at home. Slightly more than 50% of Poles said so (last year, 51%). Compared to last year, the number of respondents planning to spend Christmas at the family’s home dropped by 3 percentage points. More than 23% of people declared so. All indications are that this year we will spend this time a little less often meeting with relatives and friends. Slightly more than 53% of those surveyed plan to do so this year, while a year ago a group of 55% of respondents said so. On the other hand, the number of people who will catch up on books and movies during the holidays will increase. This year, nearly 25% of Poles want to spend Christmas relaxing and reading books or watching movies. A year ago, this group accounted for 22% of respondents.
The PAYBACK Opinion Poll was conducted on PAYBACK Program participants from December 2-4, 2024, using an online survey method on a group of 902 people. The survey group, aged 18-65, was selected to match the demographic structure of the country.
