Mother’s Day, the second most important gift giving occasion for gift retailers, didn’t disappoint last Sunday (10 March).
“Despite the current climate, and the doom and gloom in the news, Mother’s Day sales were up this year and the shop was busy busy busy!” enthused Libby Holden, owner of Lovely Libby’s in Rayleigh. “In fact, this was our best Mother’s Day in the four years we’ve been trading, hurray!”
In Colchester, Bill Nettelfield, owner of Bill & Bert’s, concurred. “Wow! Mother’s Day really came with a bang this year. Sales were far greater than anticipated and came right across the board. Our best sellers included candles, food of all sorts, Cartwright and Butler tins, and Cottage Delight. We were also really pleased with Joy Pots, a new range we found at Spring Fair. Plus, scarves and socks from Powder and Miss Sparrow all sold well.”
“Mother’s Day was a lovely week,” commented Samantha Gibbs, owner of Nest gift shops in Stoneygate, Staughton Grange and Thurlaston Garden Centre. “Over the Mother’s Day weekend, we had an exceptional Saturday in all our shops. There was an energy in the air and an optimism. It felt like a really positive day and we were busy right up until late afternoon.”
Explained Samantha: “We filled the shops with more new lines than we have ever had over the previous few years. In fact, we focused on Mother’s Day straight after Christmas – and the ranges that we would have by then – and it really worked. It was great for a very wet season punctuated with an enthusiastic week.”
Also reporting that the tills were jingling for Mother’s Day was Karen Ritchie, owner of The Rowan Tree in Budleigh Salterton. “Small gifts and cards sold well,” she confirmed. “Especially popular were Ronin bracelets, Inis cologne as well Emma Bridgewater ‘Mum’ themed mugs. I think people were spending a little more than last year on their gifts and it was lovely to see the care taken in choosing both cards and gifts for their special mums.”
Meanwhile, at Maddison in Harborne, it was a bit of a slow start to Mother’s Day. “However, as it gained momentum, we eventually had a good week,” confirmed Maddison’s manager Bev Yates.
“We sold lots of Indulgence and Byzantium jewellery, as well as Sarunds chocolate and Jellycat – although I’m not sure if the children really got Jellycat items for their mums, while hoping they could claim them after Mother’s Day! Other products that sold were Alice Wheeler bags and accessories,” added Bev.
Top: Emma Bridgewater ‘Mum’ mugs were a popular Mother’s Day gifts at The Rowan Tree in Budleigh Salterton.
