Dads are gaining ground, according to the National Retail Federation’s latest spending survey of Father’s Day. In fact, 2016 will see the highest spending for that nationwide holiday so far. This year’s expenditures on gifts for dad are estimated to hit $14.3 billion dollars!
Ironically, it was a daughter, not a son, who gave rise to the first Father’s Day celebration 106 years ago. Sonora Smart Dodd created a special day to honor her dad on July 19, 1910. Sonora’s father, William Jackson Smart was both a Civil-War veteran and the single parent of six kids, having lost his wife to complications in her delivery of their sixth child. The only daughter in the Smart family, Sonora helped her father as much as she could with taking care of her siblings, so she knew the great personal sacrifices he made to both keep the family farm running and raise his many children.
Today, there are more than 70-million fathers in the U.S., according to History.com. And, even though there is a National Grandparents’ Day on September 11th, most families honor their grandpas on Father’s Day, as well. Our presents to these special men in our lives take the form of fun-filled outings, clothing, gift cards and electronics — in that order. Also on the gifts-for-dad list will be items for personal care, car accessories, books, music, home-improvement materials, garden supplies and sporting goods.
We’re proud to say we predicted one of this year’s most popular categories for Father’s Day presents with our Gearhead trend in our Spring Forward 2016 color-and-trend forecast, released in 2015! With its expert recommendations for the use of cork, painted metal, recycled rubber and colored cement, those who purchased Spring Forward last year had the inside track on just the right textures, materials and styles for 2016 Fathers’ Day gifts and cards.
For Father’s Day 2017, The Trend Curve recommends a modern makeover for Dad’s home bar with our Mixology trend in Spring Forward 2017. Polished nickel and gifts engraved with geometric motifs like boxes, diamonds and chevrons will be just a few of the looks Dad will love on his special day!
Father’s Day, by the way, is just one of the 7 holidays our Spring Forward forecast covers every year. This complete color-and-trend package includes 30 fresh-and-fabulous hues, plus details for 10 seasonal trends. Spring Forward 2017 is available in the Trend Store.
