Research: Vacuums make surprisingly good gifts

Floor care products make perfectly acceptable holiday gifts, according to research just released by The NPD Group. In its consumer tracking study, conducted between November 2010 and October 2011, the market research firm discovered that 6% of all floor care appliances -- the majority of them vacuums -- were purchased as a gift for someone else. And in half of the purchases, the item was intended as a Christmas or Hanukkah gift.

Other data teased from the study indicate that 45% of vacuums sold are upright models, while 25% of the robotic vacuums purchased were bought in November and December 2010.

Not surprisingly, the majority of floor care purchases are researched online (retailer or manufacturer websites, product review websites and social networks/blogs).

Floor care categories included are upright vacuums, bare floor cleaners, stick vacuums, hand vacuums, deep carpet cleaners, canister vacuums, workshop vacuums, robotic vacuums and non-electric carpet sweepers.