Father’s Day is just around the corner and it’s not just another date on the calendar. For retailers, it’s a chance to connect with their communities and help customers celebrate the fathers and father figures in their lives in a meaningful way.
While the jury’s out on the exact numbers for Father’s Day 2025, previous data sheds a light on consumer habits around this holiday. In 2024, Father’s Day spending hit $22.4 billion, with the average shopper shelling out nearly $190. Popular gift categories included clothing (54%), an activity or outing (52%), gift cards (48%) and personal care items (31%). Topping the list once again, though, were greeting cards, with 58% of respondents saying they planned to buy one for dad. These patterns indicate that people are eager to offer gifts that feel personal, practical and memorable.
As for where consumers are shopping? Nearly half (42%) of consumers shopped online. Meanwhile, 38% frequented department stores, while almost a quarter of consumers went to discount shops.
The good news? No matter what you sell, there’s room to tap into this moment. Here are 12 promotion ideas (plus a few real-life examples) to help you boost visibility, drive sales and make Father’s Day shopping a breeze.
Turn more window shoppers into buyers
Gone are the days when “May I help you?” met with an enthusiastic response. Today, retailers need to find creative ways of capturing the attention of those wandering into their store. This guide shows you how.
1. Start with the right Father’s Day displays
Let’s start with the basics: get your gift-worthy items front and center. Whether you’re highlighting cozy hoodies, handmade grooming kits or outdoor gear, make it easy for shoppers to spot the perfect pick. Use signage that calls out “best gifts for dad” or “shop for every father figure,” and don’t be afraid to mix products that invite storytelling or spark nostalgia.
Another interesting finding from last year’s survey indicated that 47% of consumers were focused on finding a gift for dad that is unique or different while 39% wanted to offer something that created special memories for them.
2. Build a Father’s Day hub on your website
With nearly half of all shoppers planning to buy online, a Father’s Day collection page on your website is a must. Feature your top gifts, offer helpful filters and use bold banners to drive traffic from your homepage.
City Bird, a Detroit-based gift shop and Lightspeed customer since 2011, nails this approach with a curated Father’s Day collection that’s easy to browse and full of fun and endearing knick knacks.
3. Offer freebies for your Father’s Day promotion
Here’s another Father’s Day promo idea: give out free products with every purchase. Everyone loves a little extra. Offering a small free gift (like a tote bag or branded item) can give shoppers the nudge they need to check out. It’s a simple way to boost perceived value without cutting into margins.
Plus, when customers receive a freebie, they’re likely to share their positive experience, generating word-of-mouth that can benefit your business well-after Father’s Day.
4. Bundle bestsellers into gift sets
Help those having trouble shopping for dad by curating bundles or collections specifically for Father’s Day. Aside from making the gift selection easier on your shoppers, curating a handful of items allows you to showcase your range of stock.
In some cases, it can even help you sell your slow-moving stock. By bundling slow-movers with better-performing merchandise, you can clear your shelves and avoid having too much capital tied up in inventory. Tools like Lightspeed Insights can help retailers identify their heavy hitters to ensure they’re well stocked around the holiday.
5. Run tiered promos to encourage Father’s Day shopping
Speaking of promotions, if you’re looking to further entice people to buy their Father’s Day gifts from your shop, consider applying promotions to specific products or categories. Whether it’s “Spend $75, get 20% off” or “Buy two, get one free,” tiered promotions give customers a reason to spend just a bit more. They also help move slower stock and reward loyalty without devaluing your brand. If you have a loyalty program, consider rewarding shoppers extra points or dollars for spending on specific items.
Using Lightspeed Retail, you can easily set up custom discounts, apply them by product or category, and track their performance in real time.
6. Add a little humor to your messaging
If there’s one time of the year when dad jokes will be (fairly) well-received, that would be Father’s Day.
So, consider injecting some endearing dad humor in campaigns or in-store signage. Whether it’s adding a joke in your next email, sharing a funny video on Facebook or posting a dad quip on Instagram, seize the opportunity to crack some dad jokes!
7. Offer easy-to-grab gift cards
For the last-minute shoppers or for the dad who would prefer to pick something out for themselves, gift cards can be a lifesaver. Ensure gift cards are available both in-store and online. Offer digital gift cards that can be instantly delivered via email, perfect for those truly down-to-the-wire shoppers. This also broadens your reach to customers who might not be local.
8. Create a digital gift guide
Gift guides are always a good idea for big retail events and special occasions—and Father’s Day is no exception. Retailers can help overwhelmed shoppers by pulling together a curated guide that highlights staff picks, bestsellers by price point or gifts tailored to different personalities—like the foodie dad, the techie or the weekend warrior.
For best results, put your merchandise into different gift categories. Maison Lipari, a Montreal-based homeware store and Lightspeed customer since 2015, is a great example of a retailer that has combed through their catalog to offer a curated digital gift guide.
9. Celebrate all kinds of dads and father figures
Father’s Day isn’t one-size-fits-all. Take a moment to reflect on whether your messaging and visuals reflect the diversity of fatherhood. Whether someone is shopping for a stepdad, grandparent, mentor or chosen family member, your campaign should feel inclusive and welcoming and showcase diverse customer stories.
10. Host an in-store experience or mini event
If you have the space, a hands-on event can bring people into your store and create positive brand associations. Consider a gift-making station for kids, a Father’s Day tasting bar or a quick workshop tied to your products. Not only does it make shopping more enjoyable, it gives customers a reason to linger and explore.
11. Run a Father’s Day giveaway
Contests are a great way to engage your community and increase your reach. Ask customers to share their favorite dad memory or tag a father figure who deserves a treat, then offer a themed prize pack that includes your products. It’s a low-cost way to build buzz, grow your audience and bring more heart to your marketing.
12. Use data to plan your promotions
While industry data and research are valuable, you should always consult your own store data to make decisions around Father’s Day promotions (and beyond). The best ideas come from combining industry trends with insights from your business.
Here are some of the steps we recommend you take:
Look at historical data
What sold well during Father’s Day last year? Which items moved the fastest and which ones didn’t perform? Looking at the previous sales period can provide valuable info, so dig into those reports.
Lightspeed Retail makes it easy to look into sales and product performance from previous periods. Just select the report you’d like to see (e.g., Sales), specify the date range and viola! Instant insights.
That said, historical performance doesn’t always translate to future success, especially if you’re in a fast-moving industry. That’s why you need to compliment last year’s data with this year’s insights.
Drill down on relevant categories this year
Make it a point to drill down present-day data. With Father’sDay coming up, you may want to check out relevant categories (e.g., gift cards, men’s apparel, electronics, etc.) and identify trends that are emerging or continuing from previous years.
In doing so, you can better tailor your inventory and marketing strategies to current consumer preferences.
Make it easy, meaningful and memorable
With Father’s Day just around the corner, you have a unique opportunity to help customers celebrate the people who’ve shown up, taught them something or simply been there for them. Whether shoppers are planning ahead or scrambling last-minute, your goal is to make the experience feel personal, seamless and thoughtful.
So in the weeks ahead, strive to tap into the excitement surrounding Father’s Day and cater to the diverse preferences of shoppers. From setting up appealing displays and running targeted digital campaigns to offering freebies for dads and curating special collections, these strategies can help you attract customers, increase foot traffic and boost sales.
And if you need a hand staying on top of sales and managing your business this (and beyond), check out Lightspeed Retail’s tools that help retailers streamline operations, optimize inventory management and enhance the customer experience. Talk to an expert to see how Lightspeed can help you this Father’s Day.