A GameStop voucher may seem like an ideal gift for a gamer, but it’s not necessarily what they’d want to receive. Canvas8 spoke to Julian Givi, a doctoral candidate at Carnegie Mellon University, to learn why a fear of missing the mark means people shy away from giving something more meaningful.

'Tis the season to be merry – if you're flush with cash, that is. With no budget in mind, and credit cards at the ready, Aussies are expected to be splashing out during the Christmas period. But while it might get people feeling festive, heavy debt and interest is set to follow in the new year.

A lot of Australians are currently reminding themselves that it’s the thought that counts, with nearly three-quarters of them estimated to have received an unwanted gift for Christmas. As a result, product listings on Gumtree have jumped by over a third following the holidays.

No longer filled with an orange and some candy, Christmas stockings have become an appetiser to the main unwrapping event, boasting premium items like designer socks, gift cards and collectibles. With greater importance now placed on these smaller gifts, how can brands maximise their impact?