Google has registered a spike in searches for “gifts and “hampers” as the UK gears up for Mother’s Day on Sunday 30th March.

Google Retail has released its latest Search Trends consumer report on consumers, in which it highlights the importance of the weeks surrounding the celebration for UK retailers to promote sales and connect with their customers.

According to the report, as of Monday 17 March, the UK comes second in the world for searches of these products, after Indonesia for “gifts” and Nigeria for “hampers”.

Additionally, the UK is currently the top country in the the world for “experience gifts” searches.

Sophie Neary, Google's managing director of retail and consumer goods, said in a LinkedIn post that over £1.6 billion is expected to be spent on Mother's Day this year alone, demonstrating consumers' strong desire to celebrate.

"Last year searches for ‘Mother's Day Gifts’ increased by 74 per cent,’ she added.

Top trending retailers searched together with the search term “Mother’s Day 2025” include Harrods, Pandora, Tesco, M&S and Etsy.

When it comes to gifts, the top trending searches include birthstone necklaces, slippers, flowers, beauty gift sets and personalised planters.

“While consumers might be mindful of their spending, this report demonstrates that they still seek meaningful ways to mark the moment, whether through personalised gifting, convenient meal solutions, or inspiring experiences,” Neary added.

In 2024, compared to 2023, searches for flower bouquets increased by six per cent, chocolate by 12 per cent, stuffed toys by 14 per cent and gift cards by five per cent in the two weeks leading up to Mother's Day.

During the same year, food and self-care also led the way, with searches for Mother's Day dishes increasing by 20 per cent and cake recipes by 250 per cent. Beauty and fitness searches jumped by 12 per cent, while skin and nail care soared by 15 per cent.

Neary pointed out that the evolving shopping and consumer landscape can be an overwhelming experience for shoppers and brands at peak times such as Mother's Day, adding that retailers should ensure a strong online and offline presence with seamless delivery options to meet the diverse needs of consumers.

“Optimising for ‘near me’ and ‘local’ searches to capture last-minute shoppers – we’ve all been there after all – will give brands a real opportunity to take the panic out of buying,” she added.

Commenting on YouTube consumer engagement ahead of Mother’s Day, she said: “YouTube continues to operate as an inspiration hub, with Mother’s Day audiences actively engaging with beauty, fashion, home, and childcare content, making it a crucial platform to ensure that your brand is at the heart of their memories through curated campaigns that capture their hearts, ultimately boosting sales and the UK economy.”

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