Father's Day spending moves up to match Mother's Day

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According to the annual US Brand Keys Father's Day survey, the 2012 average anticipated spend for Dad is up 10%, moving up from the trend where consumers usually spend 15-20% more on Mom than on Dad for special days.

"That's precisely the increase we saw for Mother's Day spending this year," said Robert Passikoff, president, Brand Keys, the New York-based brand and customer loyalty research consultancy that conducts the national survey.

"The 2012 survey also indicates a slightly higher number of consumers (75%, up 4% from 2011) will be celebrating as last year. Those that are will be spending an average of $136.00 to recognize Dad."

Gift choices

As part of the Brand Keys Customer Loyalty Engagement Index, the firm polled a national sample of 5250 men and women, ages 18-60, asking if and how they were planning to celebrate Father's Day. Here is what celebrants indicated they were looking to buy for Dad this year. (Parentheses indicate any percent-changes from last year):

• Gift cards 39% (+4%)
  
• Electronics 20% (-6%)
  
• Clothing 23% ( -0- )
  
• Tools/Automotive 20% (+1%)
  
• Sporting Goods 10% (+4%)
  
• Wine/Alcohol 8% (+3%)
  
• Books/eBooks 5% (+4%)
  
• DVDs/CDs 2% (-1%)

The biggest change was in Gift Cards (up 4%). Consumers are still shopping smarter and looking for bargains, but as last year high-tech products were the actual gifts-of-choice, anticipated sales on those kinds of gifts are down a bit. "How many tablets or e-readers does one Dad need?" asked Passikoff.

Sales of wine and alcohol are up over 2011, while anticipated clothing purchases are flat. "Although you can always count on the perennial Father's Day tie and virtually everybody (95%,) says they'll be sending a card, either snail-mail or electronic." About half of the consumers (46%) surveyed indicated they will be celebrating with an excursion for brunch, lunch, or dinner.

Retail choices, connectivity

There's a relatively even distribution in terms of where consumers will be shopping for Dad's gift when it comes to "bricks and mortar" stores, perhaps reflecting a willingness to spend a bit more.

Discount stores are only up 2% while department stores are up 5%, and specialty stores are up 3%, with planned location-of-choice for Dad's Day shopping looking like this:

• Department stores 40% (+5%)
  
• Discount stores 34% (+2%)
  
• Online spending 25% (+3%)
  
• Specialty outlets 16% (+3%)
  
• Catalogue 3% ( -0- )

Nevertheless, whatever they buy and wherever they buy it, beyond cards, folks intend to "connect" with Dad on Father's Day, with outreach by gender unchanged from last year.

"There's an old saying that a father carries pictures where his money used to be. This year's increase in spending seems to indicate that families are trying to make up for that."