Warren Thayer

Parents Just Saying 'No' to Birthday Gifts

July 29, 2010

FROM RETAILWIRE:
If a lot of people follow the example of Bill Doherty, a researcher in childhood consumer culture at the University of Minnesota and co-founder of BirthdaysWithoutPressure.org, retailers could see a big drop-off in the amount of goods purchased as birthday gifts. Are there ways retailers can actively work with parents looking to create more responsible birthday celebrations?      [more...]

This is more a case of something getting publicity, versus any sea change in how kids' birthdays are celebrated. You'll always have the folks who go overboard, the folks who cut spending or make charitable donations, and the huge group in the middle to whom this will be pretty much off the radar.