Jun 21, 2009

Sports gear, gift cards popular presents for local dadsBy Andrew WyderPal-Item.com

Father’s Day for 19-year-old Stephen Brown is important because it allows him and his siblings to show why Dad is one of the people he admires.

“We get to celebrate the person we all look up to,” Brown said. “He’s one of our heroes. We get to celebrate Mother’s Day, then this right after. He works hard to make sure we all get to do activities we want, and it’s a day we get to show him how thankful we are.”

He said he and his siblings had to wait to the last minute to get together to decide what they wanted to get their father Tim, a battalion chief with the Richmond Fire Department. Father’s Day for him and other fathers locally and nationwide is recognized today. “We all get together and put our ideas together,” Stephen Brown said. “Then we weigh the cost and go from there. We want to make sure we get something that he is going to like.”

This year some more traditional Father’s Day gifts, such as ties, have not been as popular. But some, such as sports items and gift cards, have continued to sell well.

Local JC Penney store manager Michelle Slate said T-shirts, shorts and polo shirts have been the most popular clothing items this year.

“I’ve seen more casual than business attire,” Slate said. “Usually we are pretty well balanced.”

Sports-related items are another traditional Father’s Day gift. Kesslers Team Sports sales floor manager Alex Kuprewicz said the store has sold mostly local team and coaches’ gear for gifts this year.

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