Britons 'to spend £1.6 billion' in lead up to Mother's Day
Monday, 25 Feb 2008 13:35
£1.6 billion to be spent on Mother's Day cards and presents
More than £1.6 billion will be spent on cards and presents in the build-up to Mother's Day, retailers claimed on Monday.
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) says £85 million will be spent on greeting cards alone, while sons and daughters will shell out £230 million on flowers and £65 million on chocolates.
According to analyst Nielsen, the statistics put the amount spent on Valentine's Day in the shade.
"These figures seem to show more of us want to spend on our mothers than our lovers," said Nielsen's senior manager of retail services Mike Watkins.
"Cut flowers will be the nation's number one gift choice this Mothering Sunday, with mixed bouquets the most popular.
"With purse strings tight, competition will be even tougher this year. There will be some good deals for customers wanting to make their mothers feel special."
The BRC said it expected Mother's Day spending to rise six per cent on last year.
"It feels like non-stop cards and flowers so far this year," the trade association's newly-appointed director Stephen Robertson said. "Little more than a fortnight after Valentine's Day, millions of us will be with our mums on Sunday showing how much she's appreciated.
"With an early Easter too, three celebration days in quick succession presents a supply and restocking challenge for retailers as they try to keep up with whether customers want hearts, rabbits, roses, pot plants or chocolate eggs."