There are two types of people in this world: Those who return or exchange gifts and those who don’t. With the Christmas holiday gift-giving now wrapped up, you may be debating which one you will be right now.

Yes, you were likely gifted a shirt that is too small, jewelry that’s not your style, and a DVD you know you will never watch because you don't even own a DVD player. Am I close?

According to Red Stag Fulfillment, in 2021, about 27% to 33% of adult Americans were expected to make a return of holiday gifts before the end of January. And, since then, it has gotten worse (or better, depending on which camp you are in).

A 2025-2026 consumer report from Shorr Packaging says 40% of consumers plan to return a holiday gift this year, and that 65% have returned one in the past. Good grief!

Other interesting takeaways from the report are:

• 91% of those consumers have returned at least one item this year overall.
• 54% admit to regifting items.
• 69% kept an item they wanted to return because the return process can be so frustrating.
• 48% avoided returning a gift to avoid offending the gift giver.
• Nearly one in five pretended to like or use a gift in order to avoid awkwardness.

I can relate to the last two points. In fact, I don’t know if I ever returned or exchanged a gift. If I did, it was a long time ago. My daughters, on the other hand, return gifts like library books — except they rarely check out library books. Regardless, returning gifts is not a big deal to them. I would rather go to the dentist.

The Shorr Packaging report also offered insight as to what shoppers expect from retailers:

• 86% of shoppers say a free shipping return is non-negotiable.
• 75% prefer a full refund instead of store credit.
• Nearly one in four don't check return policies before buying a gift.

Apparently, where you live is an important factor. The cities in the U.S. with residents most likely to return gifts are Atlanta, Orlando, Las Vegas and Minneapolis. No Iowa cities made the list. That’s why we are wearing shirts that are too small, jewelry that’s not our style, and have DVDs we will never watch.

Shane Goodman
Publisher
Big Green Umbrella Media
shane@dmcityview.com
515-953-4822, ext. 305
www.thedailyumbrella.com

Read more of Shane Goodman's columns here.

2025's top gifts to the Des Moines food scene, part V: Italian-American Cultural Center of Iowa
The bounty of this one will be reaped in 2026, but all the hard work is done. No other group of immigrants has overcome as much, nor contributed to our food identity more than Italians. For awhile in the decade before and two after WWII, fine dining in Des Moines was dominated by Italian places like Babe's, Wimpy's, Noah's Ark, Mama Lacona's, Ricelli's, Rocky's, Johnny & Kay's, Chuck's, The Hilltop, Alice's, Vic's Tally Ho, etc.

DES MOINES FORGOTTEN
Ingersoll Wine & Spirits

By Kristian Day

I was in Ingersoll Wine & Spirits back in October to pick up a couple bottles of wine as a treat to myself for getting through a challenging commercial project. Full disclosure: I am not much of a drinker these days. My brother in-law loves to talk about whiskeys with me, but it is difficult for me to pretend to be interested. I think IPA’s taste gross, and my only preferences with wine are that it is not from Iowa and has a cork. The only time drinking becomes a priority is if I am attending a wedding, and I am trying to forget that I am there. But, that night I walked into Ingersoll, I was feeling proud. They had a wine tasting happening, and the ambassador from the Okoboji distributor got me for $60 on two bottles of wine. It reminded me of the few wine-tasting events that Ingersoll used to throw around the holiday season. ...

Handmade for the holidays
Residents share the joy of gifts from the heart.
 
By Darren Tromblay
 
The quilt from a beloved aunt. Knitted sweaters from Grandma. A child’s table and chairs crafted in a relative’s workshop. A personalized ornament. Handmade gifts are unique, but, more than that, they are gifts of time spent in the crafting, imagination in their design and love in their giving.

An aromatic gift
Aubrie Doyle, a Realtor by trade, enjoyed putting together plates of baked goods to give to friends and clients each Christmas season.
But, as the years went by, she realized her annual “project” was becoming more and more time consuming. Too much so. ...

These celebrities were born on this date:  Psy, Gabby Douglas, Steven He, Hunter Schafer, Anthony Hopkins, Logan Sargeant, Cameron Brink, Joey McIntyre 

SUBMIT: Send your local birthday greetings and congratulatory notes to: tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com

The answer to the last riddle: What is a New Year’s resolution? SOMETHING THAT GOES IN ONE YEAR AND OUT THE OTHER! Other answers: Bill Snyder

Today's riddle: Why did 2025 go by in a blur?

Have a guess? Email tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com

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