Most say it with flowers
Whether it’s burnt toast in bed from your kids or a beautiful spring bouquet from your spouse, Mother’s Day gifts are important and the weak economy won’t have a big impact, local retailers say.
Florists, restaurants, department stores and gift shops are hopeful that the National Retail Federation’s numbers are right — that spending for the May 9 holiday will increase this year, rather than suffer the 11 percent drop it predicted last year.
Susan Hauglund, co-owner of Coble’s Flowers, 514 Plaza Court in Sand Springs, said clear crystal vases with mixed flowers are popular. Women age 50 to 60 like bright, vivid flowers, while older mothers and grandmothers typically enjoy pastel flowers, she said — and tulips are popular with everyone.
Hauglund also said dish gardens — a ceramic dish filled with small plants, with accents like butterflies, bees and ladybugs — are popular with older generations.
The gift might be smaller — a $30 arrangement instead of one costing $100 — but mothers will always be remembered, she said.
Norma Coble, founder and co-owner of the shop with her daughter, said each year she thinks the economy will punch a hole in sales, and each year she is proven wrong.
“We’re so thankful for that,” Coble said.