AUSSIE DADS EXPECT NOTHING FOR FATHER’S DAY

Announcement posted by Porter Novelli 31 Aug 2015

RedBalloon survey reveals experiences, if anything, top dad’s wish list

While Australians are expected to spend over $750 million in the lead up to Father’s Day*, new research shows only 28% of dads expect to receive any present at all from their kids, and that some dads are more likely to receive a gift than others.

Of those dads that will be lucky enough to receive a gift (82%), a survey conducted by RedBalloon** shows that those who fare best in the gift stakes are:

Still married – only 24% of children with divorced parents will buy a Father’s Day gift
Live in the country – 79% of people living in rural Australia will buy dad a gift this Father’s Day, compared to only 49% of city dwellers.
Have children aged 18-29 – 78% in this age group will purchase their dad a gift.
Dads of girls – with 61% of daughters purchasing their dads a gift, compared to only 42% when it comes to sons.

An experience rather than a standard gift is the best option for those kids aiming to impress, as the number of Aussie dads who admit they prefer an experience over a material gift for Father’s Day has almost doubled in the last three years.

CEO of RedBalloon, Australia’s leading online experience gift retailer, Nick Baker says, “As a dad, I can completely relate to the shifting trend we have seen towards fun experiences over than the usual socks, jocks and chocs. Like many other blokes, I’d much prefer a day of fun or time to enjoy a hobby”.

67% of dads prefer memorable experiences such as rally car driving, flying lessons or sailing trips. Only 15% of dads want a power tool, aftershave or a tie, and almost half (49%) have more socks than they know what to do with.

Giving dad a gift he’ll actually enjoy will be a big tick for 75% of Australians who also admit they’ve done something wrong by their dad and need an impressive Father’s Day present to clean the slate.

Misdeeds by kids are most likely to be a white lie (20%), denting the car (12%) or dobbing dad in to mum (10%), leaving Father’s Day the ideal time to make things right.

Aussies can make it up to dad with RedBalloon’s new gift selector, using the principle that the bigger the misdeed the better the gift he deserves! Big-spending or deal-hunting Aussies can also browse RedBalloon’s 2,000 Father’s Day experiences on offer at https://www.redballoon.com.au/fathers-day-gifts.

END

ABOUT RED BALLOON
RedBalloon.com.au is Australia’s most awarded online experience retailer. RedBalloon has sold more than 2.5 million experiences since it was established in 2001 with the vision of delivering experience activities as gifts. Today it offers more than 3000 unique experiences from more than 1000 providers across Australia and New Zealand. RedBalloon also distributes gift cards through selected major retailers nationally, including Coles, Woolworths, Big W, Australia Post, Target, Kmart and Officeworks. Visit redballoon.com.au.

Further Information:

Lauren Ashton, RedBalloon PR & Content Manager
lauren@redballoon.com.au / 02 8755 0034 / 0404 136 765

Lauren Neave, Porter Novelli
lneave@porternovelli.com.au / 02 8987 2128 / 0425 259 885

Note:
*Based on 2014 projection: see source – IBIS World Father’s Day spending forecast: http://media.ibisworld.com.au/2014/09/03/fathers-day-spending-forecast-soar-2014/
**Statistics from surveys conducted by RedBalloon.com.au - completed by more than 2500 respondents in July 2012 and 1250 respondents in July 2015.