Holiday Gifts Often Meant as Subtle Suggestions, Remington Survey Finds

MADISON, Wis., Nov. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Before you thank your loved ones for their holiday gifts this year, you might consider what they're really trying to tell you.

More than two-thirds of Americans (68 percent) think people give gifts as a way to make subtle suggestions about what someone wears or how they look, according to a new survey released by Remington Products.

And 41 percent of the respondents - including 46 percent of the women - admit that's why they've previously picked certain presents for their significant other. The gifts ranged from a rowing machine that one spouse found "nice but offensive," to a nose hair trimmer that the recipient loved, to any clothes other than "the same striped shirt."

The online survey,* conducted by Zoomerang, found that of those who have given gifts to improve a loved one's appearance, the most popular presents were:

    -- Clothing (57 percent).
    -- Grooming tools, a hair product, a hair cutting kit or a salon gift
       certificate (22 percent).
    -- Gift certificates for beauty or cosmetic makeovers (15 percent).
    -- Lingerie or something sexy (5 percent).
    -- Gym memberships or personal trainers (1 percent).

With the busy shopping days of Black Friday and Cyber Monday drawing near, the survey found gifts bought this year to spruce up someone's appearance are most likely to come from those ages 21-39, or from people "seriously dating" but not married. More than a third of the respondents in those groups said they planned to pick presents to help someone look better.

Those shoppers should take heart, according to the survey. Eighty percent of the respondents said the gifts they have bought as constructive criticism were actually worn or used.

Remington Products, a division of Spectrum Brands, Inc, is a leader in shaving and grooming products for men and women. For more information about Remington's new PG-350, a 7-in-1 personal groomer, or other gift ideas, please go to www.remington-products.com.

(*) A total of 400 consumers were surveyed throughout the U.S. The margin of error is +/- 5 percentage points.

About Spectrum Brands, Inc.

Spectrum Brands is a global consumer products company and a leading supplier of batteries, lawn and garden care products, specialty pet supplies, shaving, grooming and personal care products, household insecticides and portable lighting. Spectrum Brands' products are sold by the world's top 25 retailers and are available in more than one million stores in 120 countries around the world. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, with North America Headquarters located in Madison, Wisconsin, Spectrum Brands generated fiscal 2007 net sales of $2.6 billion and has approximately 7,100 employees worldwide. The company's stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol SPC.