Mother’s Day business is blooming for area shops | News, Sports, Jobs

According to the National Retail Federation, 74% of shoppers will buy flowers for mom, spending about $3.2 billion.

Mother’s Day is the top holiday of the year for Peterman’s Flower Shop in Juniata and The Tipsy Tulip in Altoona.

“We started receiving orders weeks ago. The busiest times are the five days prior. Our biggest sellers are fresh cut, hand-designed arrangements and outdoor blooming plants,” said Peterman’s owner Andrea Hammel.

“Mother’s Day is our biggest holiday of the year, ahead of Valentine’s day. Fresh cut flowers are our biggest sellers; we also sell a lot of hanging baskets and dish gardens. We will be busy all week long,” said Tipsy Tulip owner Andrea Benton.

Peterman’s Florist & Flower Delivery owner Andrea Hammel wraps up a handful of roses.
Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski

Mother’s Day is also the busiest holiday for Kerr’s Home, Gifts, Florals & Boutique, Hollidaysburg, said Chelsea Kerr Veneskey, operations manager.

“We sell a lot of fresh arrangements, hanging baskets and outdoor planters. We have already been so busy with the beautiful weather and taking orders early. We will be busiest Wednesday through Sunday the week of Mother’s Day,” Veneskey said.

The Excelsior Volunteer Fire Co. No. 1 of Bellwood will be holding its annual flower sale May 10-18 — just in time for Mother’s Day. It is the company’s second-largest fundraising event of the year.

Overall, consumer spending on Mother’s Day is expected to reach $34.1 billion this year, according to the annual survey released by the National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics. The amount is up from last year’s $33.5 billion and follows closely behind the record of $35.7 billion in 2023.

“Mother’s Day is an important holiday for many consumers, only surpassed by the winter holidays in terms of average spending,” NRF Vice President of Industry and Consumer Insights Katherine Cullen said. “Even in the face of economic uncertainty, consumers continue to celebrate the special women in their lives with gifts and outings.”

Consumers are expected to spend $6.8 billion on jewelry.

“It is big, it has taken over second place to Christmas and before Valentine’s Day. We have a lot of things such as bracelets, pendants and charms for bracelets,” said owner Mike Dorman of Dorman’s Jewelers, Altoona. “What is hot is lab-grown diamonds, they are the biggest thing to hit the industry in years. They have changed the buying structure for people. … Birthstones are also really big for Mother’s Day.”

Mother’s Day is always a meaningful season for Kranich’s Jewelers, and this year is no exception.

“With national spending on jewelry expected to reach $6.8 billion, we’re seeing strong interest in timeless gifts like diamond pendants, birthstone rings and personalized pieces that celebrate family,” said Altoona-based Kranich’s Jewelers President Michael Kranich Jr. “We anticipate our busiest days will be the Friday and Saturday leading up to Mother’s Day, as customers look for something truly special to honor the mothers in their lives.”

The survey said 61% of consumers will treat mom to a special meal, which is the reason Mother’s Day is the only Sunday of the year that Finelli’s Italian Villa, Altoona, is open for business.

“It is a pretty big day, we are about the only place not having a buffet,” owner Frank Finelli said. “We will treat mom to an elegant meal, we will wait on her and serve her, she won’t have to stand in line. We will have a special menu for mom to enjoy. It is a special day for moms.”

Finelli’s will be open from noon to 3 p.m. and reservations are required.

The Altoona Grand Hotel will serve its Mother’s Day buffet from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and reservations are required.

“We served 375 for Easter, for Mother’s Day we expect about 200,” said Katie Charlesworth, banquet manager.

Menu highlights include parmesan crusted chicken, pan seared salmon, pineapple pork tenderloin, summer roasted vegetables and more.

The Bistro at the Village Green in Martinsburg will hold a Mother’s Day brunch with seating times at 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.; reservations are required.

Menu highlights include sugar waffles, fresh fruit, salad bar, roast beef, tequila lime chicken, seafood lasagna, roasted brussel sprouts, lemon blueberry cheesecake and more.

The Jaffa Shrine is hosting a Mother’s Day buffet from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Menu highlights include turkey, beef, mashed potatoes, salad, vegetables and desserts.

Mirror Staff Writer Walt Frank us at 814-946-7467.