What’s in Your Gift Closet?:Investigating the Use of Stored and (Perhaps) Unwanted Items

Gift closets are a dedicated space in one’s home in which potential gifts are stored, for which either the recipient or the exact timing of the gift giving is not known at the time the item is stored or acquired. Based on a questionnaire (n=111), including a free elicitation process of words associated with gift closets, we describe the content of gift closets, the intended recipients of the stored potential gifts, and perception of gift closet owners actions. Finally, we theorize how the perception of gift closets may affect the value creation process in gift giving rituals.