Though handmade gifts from little budding artists are often the most treasured gifts on Mother’s Day, older children and spouses will be searching for more elaborate gifts.
Flowers always make a mom smile, said Joe Jumper, owner of The Clay Pot in Riverview, noting that Mother’s Day is one of his busiest holidays of the year.
“People start ordering flowers early so that their mothers can enjoy them when Mother’s Day arrives,” he said. “Even in this economy, people will buy flowers.”
His signature arrangement, which includes roses, hydrangeas and tulips, comes in several sizes and is priced from $50 to $90.
“We will have something for most every budget,” he said.
Wendy Beker, co-owner of York Jewelers on Battlefield Parkway in Fort Oglethorpe, offers special deals for Mother’s Day.
“The economy is pretty outrageous now, and we want to offer affordable and nice jewelry to our customers,” she said. “Mother’s Day is typically a good time of year for us, but if we only offer expensive jewelry, we won’t be able to help our customers.”
Mother’s Day customers have been as young as 6 years old, she said.
“I’ve had children come in long before Mother’s Day and pick out something they want to give their mothers. I will let them put jewelry in layaway and pay on it with their allowance,” Ms. Beker said.
Ms. Beker said a nice choice is Hershey Kiss jewelry, a line of pendants, earrings and bracelets licensed by the famed chocolate company.
“It has been really popular,” she said, noting that celebrities Carmen Electra, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Kim Kardashian and Denise Richards have been seen wearing the silver or gold pendants.
“When I saw the actresses on the television series ‘Vampire Diaries’ wearing them, I knew the Kisses line would be popular,” Ms. Beker said. The sterling-silver or 14- and-18-karat pieces sell for $50 to $7,000.
Blue Skies, named one of the best boutiques in Chattanooga by Southern Living Magazine, carries merchandise made by local and national artists, as well as free trade items from other countries. Items of interest to moms include jewelry, frames, purses and handmade cards.
“Mother’s Day is one of our biggest sales days outside of Christmas,” said Denise Shropshire, Blue Skies inventory manager. “Our things are unusual and ideal for people looking for gifts for moms and wives.”
Ms. Shropshire said jewelry sold in the store, all handmade, averages $35 to $45 per piece.
Blue Skies also stocks products that are eco-friendly, she said.
“We have a purses made from recycled material and vintage fabric,” Ms. Shropshire said. “One artist makes purses out of discarded ponchos worn by women in Guatemala. It’s a free-trade product.”
Items at Blue Skies range from $4 to $200, she said.
Say it with flowers
Joe Jumper, owner of the Clay Pot in Riverview, said fresh flowers are a sure bet to make your mom happy. Mr. Jumper’s signature arrangement for Mother’s Day is an 8-inch vase filled with hydrangeas, roses, tulips and green trick dianthus. The arrangement will last a week to 10 days. In addition to adding water to the flowers, he suggests spraying a light mist of water on the hydrangeas. The arrangement sells for $90.
Scented gifts
Pamper mom with scented gifts from Blue Skies on Frazier Avenue. Large bars of scented soap, $7 each; a metal soap dish, $9.95; lavender-filled sachets with messages of love, $18; and frames made from recycled wood, $65.
A kiss for Mom
Give your mother a sterling-silver or gold Hershey Kiss pendant, earrings or bracelet. The sterling-silver necklace sells for $79, and the matching earrings, with cubic zirconia stones, sell for $149. The smoky topaz necklace is $79, and matching earrings are $21. Jewelry courtesy of York Jewelers on Battlefield Parkway in Fort Oglethorpe.