Moms are getting “more bang for their buck” for their annual holiday these days.

Who wants flowers or candy for Mother’s Day?

Some of our favorite women are asking for and stocking up on hardware and home maintenance supplies.
“We have Mother’s Day specials every year,” said Bill Klinker, owner of Klinker’s Lumber and Builders Supplies Inc. in Waverly. “It started several years ago when people started not buying things that are a waste of money, like flowers.”

And since the hardware store started the annual sale, the numbers of product buyers has increased each year for those specially priced items, such as a $29.99 leaf blower or a $25.99 weed trimmer.

“They look to buy something that’s useful or has more bang for your buck,” he said.

There’s something from every department showcased for the weekend at Lowe’s, along with specific sales on plants, crock pots and other small appliances.

“We get a lot of requests everyday (from women),” said Manager Don Richards, referring to hardware and other traditionally male-purchased items. “We don’t really think (the women who request them) are non-traditional.”

Mother’s Day isn’t typically a big holiday for Eastern Avenue Lumber and True Value Hardware, but many more women are shopping there these days.

“It used to be the only female you saw in this place was a bookkeeper,” said Craig Thornton, one of the Eastern Avenue’s owners. “There were very few women when I was a kid. In about the mid-1960s, it really started changing.”

Females seem to be taking charge when it comes to changing the home, he said.

“In most cases, what you see is the guy is doing the work but the woman is running the show,” he said. “They’re make color decisions, design decisions.”

Firearms don’t get much play for Mother’s Day, though, according to the owner of The Patriot, which specializes in guns, ammunition, metal detectors, coins and firearm accessories.

“I’ve been doing this for 37 years, and I’ve never seen many woman in here,” said George Sparks. “It’s pretty much male-dominated.”

About 75 percent of his customers are men, he added.

One local mother of five said she wouldn’t mind getting a gun for the special day, but she’s getting her own mother something more traditional.

“I think it’d be great,” said Becky Gilbert, whose children range in age from 30 to 17. “I’d be happy with a firearm.”

Mothers should get something practical they can use, she said, and her mom is getting money from Gilbert.

“I go for things that people can use … She needs money,” she said. “I’m going to write her a letter, which I usually do instead of cards. It’s more personal.”

(Lykins can be reached at 772-9376 or via e-mail at anlykins@nncogannett.com)

source : www.chillicothegazette.com