Anyone who unwrapped a brand-new pair of Uggs this holiday season got more than a flashback to 2004; they also received the most popular present of 2012. The sheepskin boots topped Experian Media Services’ list of the most-searched-for products last year. It was an impressive feat for the polarizing brand, which became a holiday must-have some 10 years ago. Yet Ugg searches were more common than those for iPads, Kindle Fires, Beats by Dr. Dre headphones and Barbies. It ameliorated a dismal year for Uggs, which saw a 31% sales decrease, prompting talk of price reductions.
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Is Tom Brady that lucrative of a spokesman? Does Alexa Chung’s opinion matter but at all? Or is it more that the once trendy product has managed a resurrection to a level of guilty pleasure turned functional retro footwear whose price tag ($135 and up) still makes it a legitimate gift? Whatever the reason, it topped an impressive array of technology, proving that utility and plush thermal boots really can triumph over logic and crystal-clear digital tablet displays.
The top 10 gift searches were:
1. Uggs
2. Kindle Fire
3. iPad
4. Amazon Kindle
5. Barbie
6. iPad Mini
7. iPod Touch
8. Kindle Fire HD
9. Ugg Boots
10. Beats by Dr. Dre