What Moms Really Want for Mother's Day

ForbesWoman

By Leah Bourne

What does Mom really want for Mother's Day?
What does Mom really want for Mother's Day?

It turns out that what dads and kids think moms want for Mother's Day doesn't match up with what they actually want. Respondents to a survey performed by Harris Interactive on behalf of Ebates.com in April, 2012 found that 48% of women want a spa day for Mother's Day, making it their top choice for a gift. 72% of men that responded to the survey said they think moms want flowers, making it their top pick. Quite the disconnect.

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Flowers did come in second among moms, with 38% responding it was a gift they wanted, followed by 36% wanting jewelry and 30% wanting a smartphone or tablet. Jewelry came in second for men, with 59% responding they thought it was a gift moms want, followed by 58% thinking moms want a spa day, followed by 37% who said moms want candy. Yes, candy.

What to take away from this? Just because you are buying a gift for your mom, or wife, don't rule out buying a tech gadget (women have been on board for the technological revolution too, remember). Also, it never hurts to pamper mom on her big day.

And before moms decide to raise pitchforks aimed at the men out there for doing such a bad job of deciphering what they want for Mother's Day, we might want to examine the great job that flower distributors and candy brands are doing to market to men in order to get their Mother's Day business. Electronic companies should take note that there is clearly a piece of the pie here that they are missing out on.

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The good news for moms and retailers alike is that Mother's Day spending is expected to top last year. The National Retailer Federation, based on a survey conducted by BIGinsight, has predicted that the average person celebrating Mother's Day this year will spend $152.52 on gifts, up from $140.73 spent on average per person last year. Total spending is expected to reach $18.6 billion. For those spending more on mom this year, just make sure to get her something she actually wants.

Click on this slideshow for some gift ideas for every type of mom-from a must-have gadget to straight off the runway sunglasses-and don't forget Mother's Day is Sunday, May 13th.

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