Gift exchange - Shop to swap unloved gifts for practical presents in Ljubljana

On a narrow cobbled street winding up to a medieval castle overlooking the Slovenian capital, Darilnica (the Gift Shop) opened this month as a place where Christmas, birthday, anniversary, indeed gifts of any kind, can be exchanged for something you do want.

Four young women decided to open the shop to make people think before giving presents.

- People get and give too many presents nowadays so we believe there is a need for a shop where you can exchange gifts, so that every present gets an owner who will find good use for it - said one of the four women.

No money is needed for that shop because anyone can take anything he wants in exchange for the unwanted gift he brought.

Each present is put in a box, wrapped up neatly and placed under a large Christmas tree while its photo is put on the wall so people can choose presents from the photos. Each present is displayed with a piece of paper explaining why it was brought to the shop, but no names are mentioned to avoid possibly embarrassing situations.

Ljubljana

gift

Christmas tree

Darilnica

gift shop