Better late than never: Brits to splash £1.32bn on Father’s Day despite last-minute scramble
Dads are in for a treat this weekend, predicts the international delivery expert Parcelhero. It says record amounts will be spent on pampered pops on Sunday, 21 June, which is Father’s Day in many countries.
However, it’s warning retailers should prepare for a last-minute spending splurge. This year 64% of UK shoppers have left it until the week before to buy their Father’s Day gifts.
Parcelhero is predicting a 5% increase in UK Father’s Day spending, resulting in a £1.32bn event. However, that’s nothing compared to expected results over the other side of the Pond. A 16% jump in spending is forecast in the USA, rising from last year’s $24bn to $27.9bn this year, according to America’s National Retail Federation.
‘Fortunate fathers are in for a record-breaking Father’s Day,’ says Parcelhero’s head of consumer research, David Jinks MILT: ‘A survey from the retail agency Savvy predicts a 3% increase in UK Father’s Day spending this year, while our own analysis of recent spending trends indicates a slightly more generous 5%, leading to a climb from last year’s £1.26bn to £1.32bn.
‘Interestingly, 67% of Brits say they have difficulty choosing gifts for dads for Father’s Day. That’s not helped by the fact that one of the top answers dads give when asked what they would like is “Nothing”! (32%).
‘Despite this, retailers and couriers should be prepared for a last-minute Father’s Day spike as Brits get set to spend on:
- greeting cards (50%)
- alcohol (48% with beer top choice at 25%)
- chocolates (33%),
- clothes (28%)
- sports and hobbies equipment (25%)
- vouchers or gift cards (20%)
- experiences (20%)
- aftershave (16%),
- homemade gifts (16%)
- gadgets or electrical products (14%)
‘That 25% expected spend on sports-related items reflects the fact that this year Father’s Day arrives just as a summer of football has kicked off. While some analysts have predicted the world’s biggest football tournament could put Father’s Day in the shade, our own analysis is that it will inspire gift ideas for many dads. That’s what happened on Father’s Day 2024, which coincided with the Euro 24 championships.
‘It’s not just fathers in England and Scotland that will be hoping for some football themed gifts, soccer-related items will prove popular across North America this year as it plays host to the event.
‘Interestingly, the UK’s top gifts list differs slightly from that for USA dads. According to the National Retail Federation, these are the favoured gifts for American fathers:
- greeting cards 60%
- apparel 58%
- special outing 55%
- gift cards 52%
‘Back in the UK, while record numbers are set to splash the cash on their pops, with meals and drinks out featuring strongly, Brits are increasingly leaving it until the last minute to choose their gifts. According to research from the personalised gifts specialists Create Gift Love, 64% of UK shoppers have left it until the week before to buy their Father’s Day gifts, up from 53.8% in 2023.
‘While they may be tardier than in previous years, Brits are not stinting on the spending. Two-thirds of shoppers in the UK expect to spend between £10 and £50 on Father’s Day gifts in 2026, with the most common amount being £10-£30 (34%).
‘Perhaps predictably, online search engines are the top source of gift ideas for Father’s Day, with 67.6% of respondents saying they use Google to start their gift hunt. However, High Street store owners can take heart from the fact that browsing in person was an extremely close second at 67.1%. Social media has soared in popularity as a source of gift ideas, 49.9% of people say they have used it for Father’s Day suggestions, up from 28.8% in just three years. Actually asking what dads would like came in at 35.9% and AI chatbots at 24.3%. We expect the number of people consulting AI to soar by next year.