A Preloved Christmas: Gifts With a Story
There's a moment every Christmas morning when someone unwraps a present and says "Where on earth did you find this?" That's the moment we live for, and it almost never comes from the same aisle everyone else shopped in.
Preloved presents used to be something people kept quiet about. Not any more. When YouGov asked Britons how they'd feel about receiving a second hand gift, 55% said they'd be pleased and only 14% said they'd be unhappy. Oxfam's research in 2024 found a third of shoppers were planning to give preloved gifts that Christmas, up from a quarter just three years earlier. The stigma is fading fast, and honestly, it's about time.
Why preloved makes a better present
Nobody else will be unwrapping the same thing
Almost everything on our shelves is a one off. When it's gone, it's gone, which means the person you're buying for is getting something genuinely unique, not this year's bestseller in a different colour.
It comes with a story
A board game from 1975 has been round the table at somebody's family Christmas before. A record pressed in 1956 has already been loved for nearly seventy years. That history is part of the gift.
Your budget goes further
Quality items that would cost a fortune new are often a fraction of the price second hand. You can buy something properly special without the January regret.
It's kinder to the planet
Every preloved gift is one less thing made from scratch, packaged and shipped across the world. Giving something a second home is about as sustainable as Christmas shopping gets.
Our preloved gift guide
Here are a few of our favourite finds in the shop right now. Every one is a single item, so if something catches your eye, don't hang about.
For the nostalgic one: 1975 Bionic Crisis board game, £10.99
Parker Brothers' Bionic Crisis, based on The Six Million Dollar Man, is a proper slice of 1970s telly memorabilia. Perfect for anyone who remembers Steve Austin running in slow motion, and a great talking point after Christmas dinner.
For the stocking: Garfield paperback bundles, from £16.99
Everyone's favourite lasagne loving cat never goes out of fashion. Choose from a bundle of five Garfield Classics (£16.99), a bundle of six vintage paperbacks (£19.99) or go all in with thirteen Garfield Classics (£46.99). Ideal for younger readers discovering him for the first time, or grown ups who never stopped reading.
For the music lover: Richter and Mravinsky, Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 1, £72
A 1956 USSR pressing in VG+ condition, with Sviatoslav Richter at the piano and Yevgeny Mravinsky conducting. For the classical collector, this is the kind of record they'll never find in a high street shop, and it sounds wonderful on a winter evening.
For the one who has everything: Rotary moonphase watch, £117
Classic and elegant, this Rotary moonphase watch on a genuine black leather strap looks far more expensive than it is. A thoughtful, grown up present that will be worn for years.
For the retro gamer: Grand Prix by MicroProse for the Atari, £13.99
The classic Formula One racing simulation that ate up whole weekends in the early nineties. A brilliant little gift for anyone still running an Atari, or building a retro collection.
For the collector: Tudor Mint Myth and Magic wizards, £15.99
Two Tudor Mint pewter wizard figures (3053 and 3102). If someone you know had these on their bedroom shelf back in the day, this is pure nostalgia in a small parcel.
For the house proud: Balsam Hill XXL door wreath, £56
A huge one metre Balsam Hill fir wreath that would cost £115 new. It's the kind of front door showpiece you'll bring out every year, and getting it early means you can enjoy it for the whole of December.
A few tips for preloved gifting
- Shop early. One off items don't come back in stock, so the best finds go first.
- Read the description and look at the photos. We describe condition honestly and show the item as it is, so you know exactly what you're getting.
- Wrap it with a note. Tell them the year it was made or where it came from. The story is half the fun.
- Don't apologise for it. A carefully chosen preloved gift says far more than a last minute voucher.
Every gift does a little good
When you shop with us, you're not just finding something special. The Retrograde supports charitable causes, including No Knockout, so your Christmas shopping helps our local community too.
New to The Retrograde? Use code WELCOME10 for 10% off your first order, and UK delivery is free when you spend over £40.
Sources: YouGov, "Merry Thriftmas: Are Britons happy to receive second hand gifts?"; Oxfam research on preloved Christmas gifting, 2024. Prices and stock correct at the time of writing.