Have you ever wondered why Mother’s Day is so important? Do you know the amount of money that moves this day not only in Mexico but worldwide? How do companies prepare their logistics to meet the demand of this day? Stay and read this article, here you will find the answer to these questions and much more information about Mother’s Day.
Mother’s Day dates to Ancient Greece, where honor was paid to Rhea, the mother of the gods. Later, with the advent of Christianity, the Virgin Mary was honored. In contemporary times, the activists Julia Ward and Ann Jarvis organized certain meetings or peaceful demonstrations for mothers who had suffered in the war. In 1905 one of the activists died, and her daughter commemorated her death every year, campaigning for an official Mother’s Day. Nine years later, President Woodrow Wilson officially established Mother’s Day.
Dates according to countries
No official date or day was set worldwide, so each country celebrates this important day on different dates, let’s know some of them:
- May 10: Mexico, Guatemala, India, Singapore.
- First Sunday in May: Spain, South Africa
- Second Sunday in May: Brazil, Chile, Canada, Germany, United States.
- Fourth Sunday in Lent: Ireland and the United Kingdom.
- March 8: Russia, Romania, Albania.
- 21 March: Egypt, Syria, Lebanon
Most countries celebrate this day in May because it is the month of the Virgin Mary. In Mexico, Mother’s Day is the second holiday, after Christmas, that generates the most movement in commerce, mainly in the restaurant, flower, technology, home appliances, clothing and footwear, and jewelry sectors, among others. Marketing and logistics are key elements for this long-awaited holiday. According to a study by Forbes, the average amount spent by locals on gifts is $716 MXN.
In recent years, eCommerce demand during this time of year has increased by leaps and bounds, with respondents saying they prefer to buy their May 10th gifts online because they find more discounts, easier payment, and a greater variety of products, among other things. And not only has eCommerce grown a lot this month, but also the entire restaurant sector, as it is customary to give a gift and take moms out to eat at restaurants, or even prepare delicious dishes at home to amaze her with a good lunch or dinner. In response to these traditions, the trade and logistics sector prepares in advance to meet the demand.
One of the most challenging logistics sectors is transportation management and last-mile transportation, which must ensure that shipments are delivered in a timely manner, to reaffirm the quality of service compared to the competition. Since package shipments increase at this time of the year, it is of utmost importance to have good control and organization in transportation to avoid conflicts with customers.
Last year, the United States registered a record number of flowers for Mother’s Day celebrations. These were sent by air transport, totaling 215,000 tons that crossed the Miami airport, which was valued at 1.1 billion dollars. It is said that 90% of the flowers that were consumed and given as gifts on this holiday crossed through the Miami airport. Most of these imports came from Latin America, especially Colombia and Ecuador. Flower exporting companies are very careful with the temperature chain that the flowers maintain during their journey until they reach the retailers, even the paper and cardboard packaging in which they send the flowers was delayed due to the closing of borders by COVID-19, thus increasing the logistic and raw material cost, which the companies assumed without increasing the sale price. Last year, more flowers were sold on Mother’s Day than on Valentine’s Day.
“In Mexico, according to the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI), there are about 35 million mothers, and although about 30% of them recognize in surveys that they would like to be invited to eat for Mother’s Day, most ask not to forget the traditional gifts.” (Notimex, 2019, para.7).
SMEs are companies that have benefited from the increase in trade for May 10, thanks to the increased acceptance of campaigns to support local businesses and SMEs. These prepare their social networks up to 60 days in advance to attract customers. The path followed by large companies is the same, they keep the same suppliers only by preparing in advance the arrival of products in time and quality.
Now that you know a little more about the impact of May 10th on the whole world as well as on commerce and logistics, surely you are anxious for this day to come, and you can celebrate your mom as she deserves. HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!