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Is Fathers day now as recognised as Mothers Day?
Added: (Wed Jun 07 2006)
Has an annual celebration of fatherhood created in the US as late as 1972 grown as recognised as Mothering Sunday, celebrated in the UK since the 1600’s?
A survey carried out by hampers and gifts company Virginia Hayward Ltd seems to suggest that this may be the case, despite the fact that over half the people interviewed couldn’t name the date Fathers Day fell on.
The survey, carried out by Virginia Hayward Ltd to coincide with the launch of their Father’s day range of gifts revealed that 62% of those interviewed received a Fathers Day gift from their children in 2005, compared to only 6% who bought a gift for their father when they were younger. This compares to the nearly 91% of interviewees whose children gave a Mothers Day gift.
As the World cup looms and thousands of Wives and Mothers prepare to become ‘football widows’ it turns out that greater numbers of men will be celebrating than ever before.
When asked what gifts they received last year, 70.4% received a greeting card, 35% received tools/appliances, 47% CD’s and DVDs and 39% an alternative gift.
The amount of money spent on Fathers day has also increased considerably with an average of £30 now being spent compared to an average of 25p that was spent by interviewees who had purchased for their fathers when they were young. (approx £2 in today’s money)
Interestingly, only 23% of Men interviewed thought the day was just a gimmick compared to 38% of Women.
Jane Lowton, Senior Manager at Virginia Hayward Ltd, has noticed the increase in orders for Father’s Day gifts over the last few years “Whilst gift sales for Mother’s Day are still greater, there has been a distinct and noticeable growth in the number of Father’s Day gifts that are purchased. Father’s Day seems to have arrived as a genuine gift giving day.”
The type of gifts being sold has also changed “Whilst people used to buy practical gifts for their fathers, we have seen a huge growth in more pampering goods such toiletries and fine foods, although we do still sell a lot of barbeque gifts suggesting the old stereotypes still exist!”
The survey seems to suggest that Father’s Day is starting to emulate the US where the day originated. American children spend in total $8.04bn on Father’s Day compared to $10.43bn on Mother’s Day. (source: NRF 2005 Father's Day Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey)
The survey was carried out on 307 Males in March 2006.
###ENDS###
Notes to Editors
Virginia Hayward Ltd
Every Christmas since 1983, strange goings on are reported by locals in the village of Stour Row in the heart of the Dorset countryside. Stories abound of green suited workers arriving early and leaving late into the night, ferrying parcels from one area to another, all carefully co-ordinated by a Husband and Wife team. The locals whisper to each other, and keep an eye to the sky.
Whilst Geoff Hayward has no white beard, and red is not his colour, for the last 22 years, he and wife Gin have been working to ensure that at Christmas time, a little bit of magic is delivered all around the UK.
Convinced that there was a real need for a company which could provide a personal and efficient hamper service, the couple set up Virginia Hayward Ltd in 1983 and ever since have provided hampers and gifts of traditional good taste to businesses and individuals all over the UK. Whilst Christmas is undoubtedly the busiest time of year, the company has all year round ranges as well as for annual events such as Valentine’s, Father’s Day and of course birthdays and all other celebrations.
Since its inception, the company has grown organically and now creates hampers and gifts for well known high street stores such as John Lewis, Waitrose, Sainsburys, Woolworths and Interflora. Operating from a beautiful range of traditional farm buildings, the office base comprises a state of the art call centre with cutting edge web and fulfilment technology and 75,000 sq ft of highly specified and licensed warehouses.
The Virginia Hayward Father’s Day Range
This year’s selection comprises a number of gifts for father’s ranging from The Black Magic Gift; a sumptuous tray containing a selection of wonderful treats, to a modern take on a traditional gift, The Barbeque Anywhere; a portable barbeque in a cool bag complete with Marinades and a bottle of red wine. There is also a comprehensive selection of wines and spirits, beautifully packaged and presented. The full range can be viewed at www.virginiahayward.com/FathersDay
For further Information please contact:
Gavin Paye / Jane Lowton
Virginia Hayward Ltd
Tel: 01747 852598
gavin.paye@virginiahayward.com
jane.lowton@virginiahayward.com
Virginia Hayward Ltd
Blynfield,
Stour Row,
Shaftesbury
Dorset. SP7 0QW
Tel: 01747 852598
www.virginiahayward.com