For Mother’s Day Shoppers, It’s Business as Usual
Mother’s Day is the second biggest holiday for gifts after Christmas, according to the National Retail Federation. Spending is expected to reach $18.6 billion this year. Unlike Christmas, however, most people don’t start shopping three months ahead to prepare for the day.
In fact, according to a survey by PriceGrabber, 30 percent of 4,296 online shoppers surveyed said they would purchase gifts in the week leading up to Mother's Day; another 18 percent said they would wait until the last minute. So, if you’re a merchant that sells flowers, candy, perfume, and gift certificates for manicures, expect Saturday to be busy. If you’re open on Sunday — even better!
If Mom isn’t nearby, FedEx is ready to help: The overnight shipper is prepping for a busy Sunday of deliveries, it said in a statement: “FedEx team members are ready with the solutions that make it simple to meet … the looming May 11 shipping deadline for Mother’s Day delivery.”
What if the most loving of children miss the shipping deadline? There’s a website for that.
You can send a “bouquet of digital knowledge,” to get Mom up to speed on Internet basics. Skillcrush, a start up that offers tutorials on all things tech, will send Moma personally selected assortment of five tech terms, and their definitions, to increase her digital savvy (and lessen your frustration).
It even offers a ready-made sentiment to send along with this thoughtful gift: “I know that you’ve wondered about the way the web works, so I’m passing along a few terms to help you get started down the path toward digital enlightenment.”
What mom wouldn’t be thrilled?
Maybe some of the Moms interviewed by CNBC.com, who told us what they really want are flowers, manicures, and massages. That’s good news for local business owners, FedEx and last-minute shoppers alike.
Email us at and follow us on Twitter.