Flowers and Jewelry Reported to be the Mother's Day Gifts of Choice for 2005

More than 55% of respondents to a recent gift industry survey reported that they plan to buy a Mother’s Day gift, with flowers and jewelry nearly even as the most popular gift choice for 2005. However, flowers saw a sharp decline in popularity, chosen by only 17%, down from 30% last year, while fine jewelry was chosen by 17%, up from 15% in 2004, according to the study.

The highest percentage of respondents also plan to purchase their Mothers Day gift one or two weeks before the holiday, earlier than they did last year. Slightly less than 25% indicated they will purchase their gift within one month of Mother’s Day. National jewelry chain stores and local independent fine jewelers are the top shopping venues. The majority of respondents plan to spend under $300 on fine jewelry for mom.

Over 50% of the mothers in the study responded that receiving a Mother’s Day gift is either somewhat or extremely important to them.

Mother's Day Gift Promotion Announced By Girlgear Industries

Girlgear Industries recently announced it's 2005 Mother's Day gift promotion. Company spokesmen stated that they are offering a 20% discount on the Pink Tool Belt for customers purchasing Mother's Day gifts. The special Mother's Day discounted price is valid through May 15th, 2005. Further details described in the announcement include the requirement that customers must purchase the Pink Tool Belt directly from the Girlgear Industries website.

In meeting current Mother's Day gift demands, the company stated that it has expanded the Pink Tool Belt product line to include leather tool belts and related home and garden accessories designed especially for women. The products offered are heavy-duty industrial grade, yet lightweight and shaped for a woman's body. The Pink Tool Belt is currently popular with professional contractors, carpenters, renovators, landscapers and handywomen. Girlgear Industries added that over half of their sales of the Pink Tool Belt product line are to men who purchase Valentine's Day and Mother's Day gifts. Girlgear Industries is currently working on special edition Pink Tool Belts to benefit the Pink Ribbon Breast Cancer Awareness foundation and the Habitat for Humanity's Women Build program.

Global Gift Industries Offers Free Martha Stewart Everyday Candle Replacement

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the Kmart and Global Gift Industries, has announced a voluntary recall of the Martha Stewart Everyday "sunny meadow" four-piece sanded votive candle sets. Consumers are instructed to stop using the recalled products immediately. Kmart and Global Gift Industries explained the "sunny meadow" four-piece sanded votive candle sets can have a high flame, posing a risk of burn injuries to consumers.

Kmart reported that it has received one account of a high flame, but no reports of injuries so far. The scented, flowerpot-shaped candles are approximately 2.5" high and have a sand coating and were sold in two different four-piece sets. The recalled candle sets were sold at Kmart stores nationwide between April 2004 and January 2005. Consumers can contact the manufacturer, Global Gift Industries, to request a free replacement product. Consumers can also return the candles to any Kmart store for a full refund.

Graduation Gift Certificate Concept Announced By Resume Ink

Jennifer Lynham, President of Resume Ink, recently announced the company has launched a new Graduation Gift concept to coincide with the upcoming high school and college graduation season. Specifically, Lynham explained the program is called Resume Ink Gift Certificates that are intended to result in powerfully composed resumes and cover letters that can help graduates get the interviews they are seeking.

Lynham stated, "When writing their own resumes, many entry-level job applicants underestimate their experience, often omitting impressive information. On the flip side, some exaggerate their achievements - a tactic hiring managers see right through. Either way, they don’t get the interviews they want. Resume Ink’s specialty is presenting the talents of entry-level jobseekers in ways that attract hiring managers and get interviews."

Bithday Gift Program Created for Visually Impaired Children

Thanks to a donation to the National Library for the Blind from the Lions Club United Kingdom, visually impaired children throughout the United Kingdom will each receive a special birthday gift this year. Members of the National Library for the Blind between the ages of 8 and 12 will receive a birthday gift in the form of a giant print book to mark their birthdays.

Director information services at the NLB, Pat Beech, stated "Visually impaired children don't have the same opportunities to buy books as their sighted friends, which makes the Birthday Gift Book scheme vitally important. They can't just pop to the local shop to browse the Giant Print book selection because it simply doesn't exist. We feel this project is an ideal way for these children to start to build their own personal library of books to read again and again."

Currently only 5% of books published each year in the United Kingdom are available for people that are visually impaired. The addition of a Giant Print service means that NLB will now be able to offer more selections to the 20,000 partially sighted young people and children. Beech added "We launched the UK's very first lending library of books in Giant Print aimed at partially-sighted children and teenagers last year and it's already proving extremely popular. It's a free service to all who need it and we've already had some very positive feedback from parents and schools. The book birthday gifts scheme is a logical extension of this service, and we hope it will prove popular with the children and their parents."

'Secretary of the Year' to Be Awarded by Chamber of Commerce

A spokesman from the Louisiana Greater Beauregard Chamber of Commerce announced it is hosting a promotion to select a "Secretary of the Year" in honor of Secretary's Day on April 27. In the first annual promotion all members of the chamber can nominate their secretaries until Wednesday, April 20. The winner will be selected by the Chamber's Executive Board of Directors and the membership committee, with the winner to be announced on April 27, Secretary's Day.

Avon Knowlton, Chamber of Commerce Executive Assistant, stated "We want to recognize our secretaries in the area. They are the backbone of their businesses." Besides the Chamber of Commerce Membership Services Committee, the event is sponsored by Lake Area Limousine, Sweet Dreams, Green's Flowers and Gifts and Double D Steakhouse Restaurant. Knowlton explained that the Secretary's Day gift prize for the winner will be a gift basket of goodies, one dozen roses, a limo ride and lunch.

Secretary's Day Gift Bags Available from Red Cross

The Morgan-Lawrence County Tennessee Chapter of the American Red Cross recently announced they are offering gift bags in appreciation of National Secretary's Day on April 27th. A spokesman explained the Secretary's Day gift bags are on sale for $30, with half of the proceeds going to support Red Cross services.

The spokesman added that the secretary gift bag contents includes a freshwater pearl and organza ribbon necklace donated by Jimmy Smith Jewelers, Masterpiece Collection stationery, a citrus spice-scented candle, citrus foaming bath salts, citrus burst moisturizing lotion, a Red Cross cork coaster, Wilford's cheese crisps, a flower-shaped cookie on a stick, a membership to Curves and a personalized gift card. All this is included in a decorated gift bag. Also it is reported that more than 100 random bags will contain a secret gift item.

Amazon Birthday Gift Determining Tool Receives U.S. Patent

According to a recent US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) filing, Amazon.com has been granted a United States patent entitled "Methods and systems of assisting users in purchasing items", including the use of gift idea purchasing habits to determine the age, gender and birth-date of gift recipients. More specifically the patent refers to determinining information about gift recipients and using that data to suggest relevant gifts and services, such as birthday gifts or Mother's Day gifts and reminders and age- and gender-appropriate gifts.

The patent states "For example, if the purchased toy is a dress for a doll, it may be inferred that the recipient is a girl. The gender information may be used in determining which gift wrapping colors and patterns should be suggested when the item is being purchased as a gift. For example, if it is inferred that the recipient is a girl, pink or pastel colored gift wrapping may be suggested first."

Most of the Amazon.com patent describes how a Web site can determine the age and birth date of birthday gift recipients. The site is capable of using this information to automatically provide services such as birthday gift reminders. The patent description and filing continues "in order to receive birthday reminders, the customer has to actively provide the date of the birthday to the merchant. Many customers will not take the time to provide such birth dates, and so are deprived of receiving reminders." The patent grants Amazon a monopoly on many data-mining methods applied to identifying when a purchase is a gift, and what type of gift it is. The patent filing explains "If the item being ordered is perfume, and the date is one week before Mother's Day, it may be inferred that the perfume is being purchased as a Mother's Day gift. If a user chooses to send a message with a gift, the system can parse the message for 'key words, such as birthday or anniversary' and infer the type of event associated with the gift."