It’s an ancient annual tradition: looking to meet all your nearest and dearest for a drink during the festive season, only to find that full diaries, clashing schedules and last-minute shopping makes it all but impossible.
Which is why this year Aperol®, the iconic Italian aperitivo, is encouraging the nation to give friends and loved ones the gift of more spontaneous connection through its first-ever range of Merry Spritzmas cards.
The cards, available in three vibrant designs, include a complimentary pair of Aperol Spritz® for the sender and recipient to enjoy from January 2023 and February 2023 – so friends have ample time to organise their get togethers after the busy festive period.
And they come as almost three quarters (72%) of the UK say they will value the presence of loved ones more than receiving presents this year, with a quarter (27%) saying they would rather receive a card with a meaningful message than a material gift.
The new research from Aperol also shines a light on what’s important to the nation this (hopefully) post-Covid Christmas, as 55% plan to do more catching up with loved ones than previous years. With spending time with family and friends and festive food, topping the list of seasonal anticipation – whilst giving presents through Secret Santa ranked amongst the lowest.
To help bring friends together, Aperol’s Merry Spritzmas cards have been created in collaboration with Bristol-based artist Bett Norris, to celebrate togetherness and spread a little bit of spontaneous joy outside of the festive rush, as one in seven of us (15%) have had to cancel get-togethers due to last-minute Christmas admin.
The cards, which retail at £5 each and unlock a pair of Aperol Spritz at any All Bar One across England and Wales, also aim to alleviate the challenge of not knowing what to buy or how much to spend, as 81% of Brits say they will find the present buying process stressful this year, and one fifth of Brits revealed they would most like to be gifted with an experience to enjoy with a friend/loved one this year.
Proceeds from the sale of each Merry Spritzmas card will go to hospitality charity The Drinks Trust, providing support to the hospitality workforce, both past and present, as the cost-of-living crisis continues.
Loris Contro, Campari Group UK Italian Icons Brand Ambassador, says “Coming together with friends and family is what Christmas is all about – spending time with each other is a gift.
“And while the festive season is a swirl of social events, we know that the sheer volume of pre-planned arrangements and last-minute admin can be overwhelming.
“With reconnecting with loved ones so high on the agenda this Christmas, we want everyone to reclaim a little bit of spontaneity throughout the festive period and enjoy some quality time together.
“That’s why we launched our initiative to help bring people together over their favourite tipple, all while helping the hospitality industry.”
