As the UK prepares for office Christmas parties, festive dinners and family gatherings, it’s the season for gift giving. However, over half (55%) of Brits confess they’ve arrived at an event embarrassed, having forgotten that crucial present*.
To rescue the more than half the nation (59%) who scramble to find a fantastic last-minute gift from gifting something they already own (29%) or making a pit stop at the petrol station (13%), Deliveroo has launched a unique Christmas store. This allows forgetful customers in a pinch to order beautifully wrapped Christmas gifts and have them delivered in total stealth mode, just when they need them most, in under 30 minutes.
Deliveroo has recruited the master of undercover operations, Harry Clark, to head the covert delivery operations. Known as the nation’s king of stealth, the winner of the popular TV show The Traitors has specially trained a team of covert ‘Secret Like Santa’ riders in the art of disguise and sneakiness.
READ MORE: Kim Jong-un mad with Putin who will use North Korean soldiers as ‘cannon fodder’ as WW3 nears
READ MORE: Laos Booze factory suspected of ‘bad batch’ that killed six tourists shutdown by police
Click for more of the latest news from across the world from the Daily Star.
These riders will deliver gifts on the down-low, hiding behind bushes, tiptoeing down driveways, and even passing presents through windows – doing whatever it takes to deliver last-minute presents, completely unnoticed. The free ‘Secret Like Santa’ doorstep delivery service will save last-minute gift givers from the guilt (34%), awkwardness (32%) and embarrassment (32%) they’ve felt when they’ve forgotten a gift in the past.
From the 11th to the 13th of December, Deliveroo is launching a sneaky service where every purchase will come with a complimentary undercover drop-off. Available only in London, Manchester, and Birmingham, customers can browse the ‘Secret Like Santa’ shop for a range of gifts from top brands that won’t break the bank, all listed between £5-10.
The TV star Harry Clark mentioned: “I know a thing or two about flying under the radar, so I’ve trained Deliveroo’s ‘Secret Like Santa’ riders to do what I do best and deliver gifts to last-minute buyers – secretly and speedily. Forgotten grandma’s present? Your office Secret Santa? Even your best mate? You know what to do. Head to the Secret Like Santa store on Deliveroo, pick a gift, and my ‘Secret Like Santa’ riders will sort it – delivered so slyly and quickly, they’ll be none the wiser.”
With a study showing the UK forgetting presents because they run out of time (24%), mess up communication (24%), or can’t decide on the right present (20%), Brits end up using classic excuses like ‘I forgot’ (24%) or ‘It’s at home’ (20%). Commonly forgotten are mates’ gifts (22%), more than workmates’ (14%) or the neighbour’s (13%).
And get this – Gen Z are the kings and queens of last-minute shopping, with a whopping 26% leaving their festive purchases until the final week before Christmas.
With a third (32%) of Brits finding gift wrapping a chore and almost half (49%) willing to pay for someone else to do it, Deliveroo’s ‘Secret Like Santa’ riders are set to deliver pre-wrapped gifts, leaving recipients none the wiser about any last-minute purchases.
Arabella Jenkins from Deliveroo said: “This Christmas, no one needs to be in a panic if they’ve forgotten a gift. With Harry and his specially-trained stealth squad of ‘Secret Like Santa’ riders’, we’ve got you covered, with a range of thoughtful gifts delivered in as little as 30 minutes. We’re excited to expand our Deliveroo Shopping offering even further with wonderful gifts to suit every occasion and every recipient, available all year round, even on Christmas Eve! ” The ‘Secret Like Santa’ store offers a selection of 12 handpicked gifts suitable for anyone, ranging from colourful candles to jewellery, and even a grow-your-own chilli sauce kit.
These gifts feature products from popular retailers such as Boots, Not on the High Street independent UK brands, Hurleyburley and Gluttonous Gardener, and London-based shops Lark and Not Another Bill, but they’re only available for a limited time.
The exclusive ‘Secret Like Santa’ store and complimentary undercover gift delivery service will be hitting London on 11th December, Manchester on the 12th, and Birmingham on the 13th. They’ll be offering a range of gifts to cater to all your gifting needs on a first-come-first-serve basis – but hurry, it’s only while stocks last!
This service is exclusively for UK Deliveroo customers in the specified cities and dates. Geographical restrictions may apply. To avail this, search for ‘Secret Like Santa’ in the app or online.
For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.