Maybe it’s apples and oranges – or, filet cuts and pork bellies – to compare Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, the two summer Sundays separated by six weeks and designated for the honoring of our fathers and mothers.
But the numbers don’t lie: we celebrate moms more.
According to this year’s National Retail Federation survey on Mother’s Day spending, Americans spent more than $21 billion for gifts and dinners on and around Mother’s Day. That put Mother’s Day spenders dolling out around $175 each.
Now, Father’s Day has arrived, and NRF numbers estimate that Americans this year will spend a collective $12.7 billion on the holiday – spending around $115 each.
Almost $2 billion will be spent on clothes, or ties or socks for dads. Almost $3 billion will be spent on ballgames or meals, an experience rather than a gift.
The staff at Woodcraft Toolbox of Chattanooga welcome the holiday, despite its scaled-back impact compared to other spending holidays, including Mother’s Day, Valentine’s Day and Easter.
“Summer is kind of slack, and Father’s Day is kind of the highlight of it,” said Larry Ridge, sales associate at the specialty shop.
There has been a noticeable uptick in foot traffic and sales the week of the holiday, he said Friday.
But it’s not a secret that it can be hard to buy for dads, especially if their interests include miter saws and dowel rods.
That’s what makes gift cards so great, said Ridge. It’s the perfect gift “if you don’t know what the fella wants,” he said.
All Father’s Day week, Ridge has seen families, wives, sons and daughters come in, browse store shelves and walk out with a gift card.
Ridge has seen a few dads window shopping, too, proactive with a working wish list.
“There were three or four guys in here today, walking around the building, scouting out the store,” said Ridge.
Meanwhile, across town at Don’s Meat Shop in Hixson, Donnie Rains said there is more business than normal around Father’s Day week – a 20 to 30 percent uptick – but the traditionally grill-friendly holiday doesn’t outshine Mother’s Day.
But what those customers buy is very different from one holiday to the next.
Around Mother’s Day, the shop sold a lot of filet cuts, said Rains. But around Father’s Day, larger, strip steaks go out the door.
Barbecue is bigger this time around, too. Brisket is big, ribs are big and meats for the smoker are popular.
And pork belly has been a good seller this year.
“I’ve probably had five go out the door today that they’re going to smoke,” said Rains on Friday.
Don’s Meat Shop and Toolbox are both offering sales and discounts on select items for Father’s Day.
Contact staff writer Alex Green at agreen@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6480.