Boots is offering rapid Christmas gift deliveries from hundreds of UK stores, including services running until midnight on Christmas Eve in selected locations, as demand from last-minute shoppers continues to rise.
The health and beauty retailer said customers can order items for delivery in as little as 30 minutes, following strong demand for on-demand shopping in previous years. Christmas Eve was the busiest day for on-demand orders in 2024, according to the company.
Boots has announced that on-demand delivery is now available from 500 stores across the UK, working with delivery partners Uber Eats, Deliveroo and Just Eat. In some areas, customers will be able to place orders until midnight on 24 December and still receive them before Christmas Day.
Research commissioned by Boots, based on a survey of more than 2,000 UK shoppers, found that 56% leave their Christmas shopping until the last day. Among working respondents, 31% said they lacked time to shop, while 23% cited working hours as a barrier.
The survey also suggested shoppers are increasingly buying gifts in short bursts. Around a third said they shop while commuting or at work, almost half said they shop from bed, and one in 10 men said they buy Christmas presents from the pub.
Paula Bobbett, chief data and digital officer at Boots, said: “We all know Christmas is a busy time, so we want to make it even easier for our customers who find themselves shopping right up to the last moment. Boots on-demand can help change that final dash into an easy delivery.”
