Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Flipboard 0 A day born in memory and gratitude by a daughter who thought her father should be honored with a special day has turned into what’s expected to be a $18.8 billion retail holiday this year. That’s according to this year’s Brand Keys Father’s Day survey, a national poll of 5,800 men and women, 18-65 years of age, which asked if – and how –consumers were planning to celebrate Father’s Day. The 2016 average spend is up 6 percent this year, twice the increase from last year and equal to this year’s increase for Mother’s Day, which is good news. Steady economic conditions and consumer confidence are fueling holiday sales. This year’s survey also found a slight increase in the number of consumers celebrating Father’s Day this year (78%, +2%). Retailers are looking at an average spend of $157.00 to recognize Dad with relatively equal spends between Women and Men ($161.00 and $153.00 respectively). Celebrants indicated they were looking to buy gifts in these categories for Dad with #s in parentheses indicating the percent-change from last year: Gift cards 40% (- 2%) Clothing 35% (+5%) Tools 20% (- 5%) Electronics 18% (+2%) Wine & Spirits 15% (+5%) Home Improvement 15% (+1%) Sporting Goods 14% (+1%) Automotive 10% ( – 0- ) Spa Services 10% (+2%) Smartphones 9% (- 3%) Books/eBooks 5% (+3%) DVDs/CDs 2% ( – 0- ) The biggest increases in gift choice were Clothing – Dad can always count on that perennial tie – and Wine and Spirits, mostly whiskeys, bourbons and scotches. We guess if you’re a Dad there are always occasions that call for a drink too! All other categories were relatively stable with only very slight decreases seen for Tools and Smartphones, both of which were up last year, so it all evens out. After all, how many phones (smart or otherwise) or hammers does Dad really need? When it comes to “bricks and mortar” stores, and perhaps reflecting a willingness to spend a bit more this year, Specialty Outlets are up a little again this year. Department stores were down, continuing to reflect a general, marketplace retail trend. Department Stores 39% (- 3%) Discount Stores 36% (+1%) Online 34% (+1%) Specialty Outlets 22% (+2%) Catalog 1% (- 1%) In addition to the 70% of folks who intend sending send Dad a card (both e- and traditional), people intend to “connect” on Father’s Day at levels and outreach similar to those of last year, and pretty evenly distributed as regards “device”: Phone 52% Personal Visits 30% Online 25% In 1909, Sonora Dodd, raised alone by her father, listened to a Mother’s Day sermon and conceived the idea for a Father’s Day. She held a Father’s Day celebration a year later and by 1956 Father’s Day had been recognized via a Joint Resolution of Congress. In 1972, President Richard Nixon established a permanent national observance of Father’s Day to be held on the third Sunday of June. There’s an old saying, “A truly rich man is one whose children run into his arms when his hands are empty.” This year those children are bringing a few extra gifts to celebrate just that. Twitter Tweet Facebook Share Email This article originally appeared on The Keyhole: Peeking at 21st Century Brands and has been republished with permission.Find out how to syndicate your content with B2C Join our Telegram channel to stay up to date on breaking news coverage Author: Connor Brooke Connor is a Scottish financial expert, specialising in wealth management and equity investing. Based in Glasgow, Connor writes full-time for a wide selection of financial websites, whilst also providing startup consulting to small businesses. Holding a Bachelor’s degree in Finance, and a Master’s degree in Investment Fund Management, Connor has … View full profile ›More by this author:ACH Crypto Price Prediction 2022 – Is it a Buy?Lucky Block Partners with Dillian Whyte ahead of Heavyweight Showdown with Tyson FuryNFT Pixel Art – The Best NFT Collections for 2022