A Mothers’ Day Dilemma
By Deb Kassoff and Colleen Gorman
Deb’s Perspective
With less than four feet between our workstations, my colleague Colleen and I chat daily about things ranging from work to our personal lives. We recently had a discussion that involved both – does working at CEA influence the gift choices we make for our own friends and family?
According to CEA research, when it comes to the next gift-giving holiday – Mother’s Day – only 12 percent of people reported that they intend to purchase a CE product for their mom. But that same study revealed that one-third of mothers are interested in receiving a token of their children’s gratitude in the form of a CE gadget, gizmo, or hot new product.
So I’m starting to wonder if I’ve gotten it wrong all these years by falling into the group of people who think Mom would be pleased with the typical flowers or card, or maybe a nice dinner. While I’ve never considered my mother CE-savvy – this is a woman who, if I asked her for her email address, would tell me that she would have to check with my father and get back to me – maybe I just haven’t put enough thought into what user-friendly CE product I could give her that could make her life a little easier and bring a smile to her face every day.
Colleen’s Perspective
On the other hand, my Mom loves every new gadget that she can get her hands on. She has often beaten my sisters and me to the punch by buying herself a new toy before we get a chance to get it for her. In just the last month, she bought a new (pink) digital camera and a laptop without even mentioning that she was planning on making these big purchases.
So, what are three daughters to do when their mother is so CE savvy that we can’t stay a step ahead of her? Last year, a study produced by TWICE revealed that the digital picture frame category grossed more than $12 million in the week prior to Mother’s Day – beating even Black Friday revenues. So maybe the thought this year is not the big gift, but a smaller CE one that complements her new digital camera and also gives her the opportunity to show off her favorite topic of discussion – her grandchildren.
The Daughters’ Conclusion
When we look at our moms with their different CE habits, what do they have in common? CEA research shows that women use some CE products more than men: TVs, 98 vs. 95 percent; cell phones, 95 vs. 93 percent; and digital cameras, 89 vs. 86 percent. Doesn’t it seem like CE products present the perfect opportunity to surprise Mom with something that she really wants instead of another bouquet of flowers? The government census reveals that there are 82.8 million moms in the U.S. What will you surprise your mom with on Mother’s Day?
Popularity: 23% [?]
