Falling on 30 March this year, UK shoppers are gearing up to spend more on Mother’s Day celebrations in 2025, with retail sales expected by Savvy to reach £1.57bn – up nearly 10% from last year. While inflation accounts for part of this increase, there is a clear shift towards celebrating at home, driving higher expenditure on food, soft drinks, and alcoholic beverages. Chocolate and clothing are also set to perform well as popular gift choices.
More UK shoppers plan at-home Mother’s Day 2025 celebrations
Savvy’s latest Shopper Panel research (survey of a representative sample of 1,000 UK shoppers) finds that 62% of UK shoppers plan to celebrate Mother’s Day this year, with more people opting for at-home family get-togethers. This finding is not surprising given that 74% of respondents report that “eating and drinking out has become prohibitively expensive”. While the on-trade is responding with targeted promotions, supermarkets and retailers including Tesco, Asda and M&S have stepped up their game by expanding meal deals and sharpening value messaging.
Social media inspires, but in-store experiences fall short
Social media continues to become more influential in how shoppers discover and shop for Mother’s Day gifts. Savvy’s research highlights that 40% of Mother’s Day shoppers turn to social media first when looking for ideas, and 44% have already seen Mother’s Day gift inspiration on their feeds. 39% expect to purchase something they have seen on social platforms, a trend particularly prominent among younger shoppers.
There is a growing perceived inspiration divide between digital and physical channels, with in-store retail experiences appearing to underwhelm shoppers. 58% of those planning to celebrate agree that Mother’s Day products in shops are boring and uninspiring. While innovation in retail media has helped improve the in-store experience, as more shoppers look online for ideas, physical stores must find further ways to elevate, whether through interactive experiences, exclusive in-store product or closer integration with shoppers’ smartphones.
Spending trends for Mother’s Day 2025: personalisation, sustainability, and local
Shoppers are prioritising more meaningful and thoughtful gifts this year. Over half (53%) of those getting involved in the event plan to buy a personalised gift. Sustainability also remains a key concern, with 61% of Mother’s Day shoppers looking for sustainable gift options where possible. Meanwhile, 58% expect to buy from smaller or local retailers, reflecting growing interest in independent businesses, particularly among younger audiences.
With 62% of Mother’s Day shoppers planning to buy gifts online, e-commerce remains a key and growing channel for Mother’s Day present purchases. We’ve seen increasing interest in retail platforms like TikTok Shop in the past year – certainly something to monitor closely in the next couple of years.
What are the top Mother’s Day gifts in 2025?
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