
We looked at three websites that address the first two questions and then one site where you can buy nearly anything. Offers.com is a website that provides details on deals as well as coupon codes, discounts and other offers from more than 16,000 stores and brands. RetailMeNot Inc. (NASDAQ: SALE) bills itself as a savings destination for online and in-store purchases, and the National Retail Federation (NRF) is a professional organization of retailers.
According to Offers.com, more than 20% of moms want a massage/day spa treatment or a personalized gift. Flowers were named by 18%, and a dinner out was the choice of 14%. Only 12% said they wanted jewelry. The firm’s survey indicated that the average spending for a gift for mom would be $67.59, compared with spending of $90.67 for wives. Some 59% of moms can expect a gift this year.
The NRF estimates average Mother’s Day spending of $186.39, not that far away from the combined total for moms and wives estimated by Offers.com. The vast majority (78%) will purchase a greeting card while nearly 69% will purchase flowers and 56% plan a special outing for dinner or brunch.
RetailMeNot’s survey indicated that 88% of moms will receive a gift this year. The firm’s survey also showed that 27% of moms want a gift card and 13% want that spa day treatment. According to a press release:
A majority of moms appreciate a sentimental gift. In fact, more than half would rather receive something sentimental (58%) rather than something creative (19%,) experiential (13%) or expensive (6%). Proof that what you give mom doesn’t have to cost a lot.
And that’s where Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) figures in. When we searched “gift ideas for mom” at the Amazon website, the most expensive item presented — a Luxury Bamboo Wooden Utensil Set — cost $38.47 (maybe we’re just tagged as cheap by Amazon). Most of the items presented on the results page cost less than $20. There were no spa visits among the 16 results, but with nearly another 163,000 items to choose from, there might be one tucked away in there.