Update dad's image this Father's Day
Companies are pitching gifts full-throttle these days, and they all seem to be selling a "vision" of the man dad should be. From Nautica to Tommy to Target, they've all got ideas
Date published: 6/10/2007
By KIM BAER
Thanks to business casual, Father's Day shopping has become a whole new experience.
No longer is the tie the go-to gift for offspring seeking a present that Dad will like, need and use.
After-shave also is passe.
This can make holiday shopping a challenge for moms and children, said Herbert Jack Rotfeld, a professor of marketing at Auburn University in Alabama and the editor of the Journal of Consumer Affairs.
Part of the problem, Rotfeld said, is that men tend to simply buy themselves what they need.
But what if Dad doesn't really know what he needs?
Never fear: There are plenty of companies willing to lay it out for him.
We were hit with e-mail solicitations from companies pitching their "vision" of what dad can be.
From Target to Sperry Top-Sider to Tommy Bahama, they all have ideas.
Consider Tommy Bahama's "Eternal Optimist":
"Without trying, his look comes together in a natural, maybe even a slightly disheveled way.
He exudes a quiet confidence in silk trousers, camp shirts in updated prints and jackets that work from office to outdoor barbecue. Life is an adventure and he owns every day."
To be sure, finding the right gift for dad is important, according to women shopping at Spotsylvania Towne Centre on a recent day. The holiday hasn't really caught up with the new role of dads, the women said.
Suzanne Mastrorilli of Fredericksburg rattled off the list of chores her grown son helps with: the cooking, the cleaning, the grocery shopping, the child care.
"He deserves a nice gift," she said with a laugh.
In Brenda McDaniel's church, women receive roses on Mother's Day. The men don't get such special treatment on their day, said the New Jersey resident. That doesn't seem right to her.
"They are highly overlooked," she said.
Finding the right gift also makes the giver feel good.
Sonya Davis of Stafford County once saved up with her siblings to give their dad a pocket watch. He loved it.
"We were so happy."
So maybe dad deserves a little "vision" with his pres- ent next Sunday.
With that in mind, we share some of the solicitations we received.
Kim Baer: 540/368-5028
Email: kbaer@freelancestar.com
| Consider these options from Tommy Bahama.
"We speak to a generation of people who aspire to live a great lifestyle and enjoy the world around them," said Don Kerkes, president of men's for the company.
We certainly enjoyed their J. Petermanesque product descriptions. J. Peterman is known for its lengthy and creative descriptions in its clothing catalogs.
Tommy Bahama clothing is available at several stores in the Richmond and Washington areas.
The largest store is the Tommy Bahama's store at Tysons Galleria in McLean.
Windswept Sophisticate: Tommy Bahama Relax. "He takes a huge breath of Sunday morning air and loves the layout of his day.
A pickup basketball game. Cold beer and oysters on the wraparound porch.
Soft T-shirts, colorful swimwear and moisture-wicking polo shirts power him through, from dawn to dusk.
At sundown, he opts for a pair of linen shorts or drawstring pants with an easy linen, button-down shirt or cotton hoodie."
Above Par: Tommy Bahama Golf 18. "Her club or his, on Palm Beach or St. Andrews, he's always happy to get on the links. In a selection of sun-drenched Caribbean-inspired colors, he brings the tropics to the greens.
Everywhere Adventurer: Indigo Palms.
"His second skin is denim, and he wears his jeans from business flights to Tequila-tasting to warm welcome home.
His jeans flatter with a natural fit, and although there are hints of the au courant, from abrasions to bleaching, it's never overdone.
He pairs them with easy, button-front shirts in solids and prints, from bold paisleys to mellow stripes, depending on his mood.
Fashion trailblazer: Island Soft. "He knows that sometimes you need more--something deluxe.
Timeless jackets and blazers of linen, wool, cashmere, silk and blends and trousers from top quality cotton or silk/cashmere blends lay the foundation.
Mix Italian lamb leather in for a dose of decadence. Add an unexpected shirt trim like velvet ribboned seams on collar and cuffs as well as the twist of contrasting interior fabrics."
Check out tommybahama .com to find out more and to search for store locations.
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| Every Man Jack
This line of men's personal grooming products was founded by Ritch Viola, former vice president of marketing for Method, a line of Earth-friendly home-cleaning products.
Every Man Jack products are for the man who cares about how he looks, but doesn't want to spend a fortune on grooming products or be overly fussy, Viola said.
The promotional photo from a Father's Day press release shows a ruggedly stylish man in ruggedly stylish dark jeans, walking up a rocky hillside with his two young sons.
"Fathers have so many responsibilities, and often a grooming regimen is the least of their worries," the ad reads.
Not to worry.
"Every Man Jack has created an easy-to-use grooming line--a perfect gift for Father's Day-- allowing dads to focus on the things that matter most; their children."
Sound like a Dad you love? The products are rolling out in Target stores now. Go to every manjack.com to learn more. |
| Sperry Top-Sider:
Here's the company's manifesto, from sperrytopsider.com:
"There was a time when the frontier was out west.
Mountains, prairies and deserts. Limitless miles of wilderness, which no boot or shoe had ever crossed.
Today it's the complete opposite. Every available inch of our great land has been touched by enough heels and soles to make a footwear mountain.
But does this mean there is no more frontier to conquer?
Absolutely not.
But it isn't the land. It's the water. Water Out on the greatest bodies of water--the open oceans--there are no stoplights, no traffic signs. Nothing to slow you down. All you need is a boat and a breeze and you're off, climbing the waves with both feet.
How far and how fast you go is up to you.
This is the message of our brand, Sperry Top-Sider. Best known for boat shoes that have logged more miles of open ocean than any other. And have out-raced, out-cruised and out-fished any and all competitors, again and again, from 1935 to this very moment."
Does this rugged water-lover sound familiar?
If so, the company offers several styles of shoes for Father's Day:
Baseball Leather: "Ideal for any sports enthusiast, these luxe shoes from Sperry's Gold Cup collection are made from the same soft and supple leather as a baseball glove."
Hawaiian Prints:
"These colorful canvas prints put a fun twist on any outfit. Dads are sure to love this fashionable find."
Built to Last boat shoes:
"Sperry's best-selling Billfish is rugged yet stylish. Constructed with added comfort, support and traction that makes them perfect for everyday wear."
Check out the company's Web site, sperrytopsider.com, for store locations. |
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Date published: 6/10/2007
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