Latest news with #InternationalWomen'sDay
Campaign ME
7 hours ago
- Business
- Campaign ME
How MENA consumers shop during Father's Day
Ahead of Father's Day on June 21, MENA-based gifting marketplace Flowwow and Admitad, affiliate marketing platform, have released insights into shifting gifting habits in the MENA region, based on over 55,000 online purchases. Admitad analysts studied the behaviour of online shoppers in MENA countries (with the UAE and KSA analysed separately) during the 'calm period' of June 20–22, 2023 and May 20–22, 2024 and 'the peak period' June 20–22, 2024. In Saudi Arabia, 25 per cent more gifts for men on Father's Day were purchased online, choosing thoughtful and family-oriented options, the study reveals. Online orders during the 2024 Father's Day period across MENA rose 16 per cent year-over-year, with Saudi Arabia leading at a 30 per cent rise. According to Flowwow's market study, Father's Day 2024 saw a 129 per cent increase in gift orders year-over-year, with gross merchandise value (GMV) up 121 per cent. The overall trend of gifting to men continues to grow, showing a more than 20 per cent year-over-year increase, the study reveals. Looking ahead to 2025, Flowwow forecasts a 30 per cent increase in Father's Day sales in Saudi Arabia, with strong demand for gift sets including hamper boxes and gourmet sets, as well as themed Father's Day cakes and premium chocolates. From material to meaningful Customers in Kuwait and UAE spent the most on gifts for dads, with the highest average order values (AOV) at $114 and $57.2 respectively. They were followed by Jordan ($38.6), Egypt ($31.6), and Saudi Arabia ($29.1), where spending was more modest. The average order value for gifts dropped by 3.4 per cent to $73.75, approximately 12 per cent lower than other major holidays like Mother's Day or International Women's Day, which the report suggests is due to a preference for personal and meaningful options over costly gifting in MENA. 'Father's Day is becoming more meaningful in the MENA region, especially in Saudi Arabia, where gifting for men is growing alongside a strong cultural appreciation for fatherhood. It's not just about fathers any more, people are celebrating all the important male figures in their lives, including stepdads, and grandfathers, showing that their presence truly matters to families across the GCC,' said Slava Bogdan, CEO at Flowwow. New e-commerce trends on Father's Day According to research by Flowwow and Admitad, Google Trends confirms the rising relevance of Father's Day in Saudi Arabia and the broader Middle East. The search volume for Father's Day-related content – such as quotes, greetings, cards, and gift ideas – surged more than 30 times this week from June 15. Google Shopping data also shows a peak in gift-related searches ahead of the celebration, indicating that more people are preparing for the holiday with purposeful intention. 'Father's Day is quickly becoming one of the key drivers of e-commerce growth in Saudi Arabia and in the MENA region. Between June 20 and 22, we saw a 16 per cent year-over-year increase in orders across the region, with Saudi Arabia as a digitally advanced country showing the strongest growth – a 30 per cent surge in order volume during the holiday period,' said Anna Gidirim, CEO of Admitad. According to data from Admitad, the best-selling gift categories for men in MENA include home and tools (30 per cent), electronics (22 per cent), and automotive accessories (9 per cent). In Saudi Arabia, customers favoured electronics and gadgets even more, accounting for 28 per cent of all sales. Overall, family-oriented holidays like Father's Day are becoming more significant in the GCC gifting market. Flowwow claims. Consumers are making emotional and meaningful purchases as they search for ways to connect more deeply with loved ones – often choosing simple, thoughtful gifts or shared family experiences over expensive items.
The Hindu
a day ago
- General
- The Hindu
Kudumbashree to release book of writings by NHG members
The Ernakulam District Kudumbashree Mission is set to release a book titled Samavayana, a compilation of 102 writings by members of its neighbourhood groups (NHG) centred on gender equality and gender justice, on next year's International Women's Day, March 8. The idea is to include at least one entry from each of the 102 community development societies (CDSs) in the district. Preliminary work on the initiative was launched on Reading Day, observed on Thursday (June 19, 2025). 'We sent an intimation about the project to all 102 CDSs, and it was included in their respective Reading Day programmes. The CDSs will now disseminate the information among NHG members. The district mission will act as a facilitator to encourage and awaken the creative spirit hidden among them,' said T.M. Rajeena, district mission coordinator, Ernakulam. Reading and writing-related sessions will be held at the NHG level during which members will be equipped with the necessary skills. Feedback from NHG members will also be considered as the project progresses. The possibility of involving writers to guide members in expressing their thoughts more effectively may be explored at a later stage. 'This is not a project bound by any particular format or genre. Contributions could be short stories, poems, personal reflections or experiences, or even original inspirational couplets. They may write about instances where they faced gender discrimination or injustice and how they overcame it. The whole idea is to spark their creative potential and help them express it through words,' said Ms. Rajeena.
USA Today
2 days ago
- Business
- USA Today
Meet fluffy 'bookseller' puppy Story at Dog-Eared Books in Iowa
Meet fluffy 'bookseller' puppy Story at Dog-Eared Books in Iowa Independent bookstores are the heartbeats of their communities. They provide culture and community, generate local jobs and sales tax revenue, promote literacy and education, champion and center diverse and new authors, connect readers to books in a personal and authentic way, and actively support the right to read and access to books in their communities. Each week we profile an independent bookstore, sharing what makes each one special and getting their expert and unique book recommendations. This week we have Ellyn Grimm and Amanda Lepper, co-owners of Dog-Eared Books in Ames, Iowa. What's your store's story? We are high school classmates who returned to our hometown to raise families. We reconnected over a shared love of reading, social justice and our strong-willed daughters who ended up in the same preschool class. As the years passed, we hatched a plan to create something we thought was sorely missing in our community – an independent bookstore. Dog-Eared Books opened on International Women's Day in 2021. We are a place committed to nurturing a love of reading for all members of our community by offering a thoughtfully curated and inclusive selection of books. We believe reading and storytelling make us better humans, allowing us to better care for one another. What makes your independent bookstore unique? We're proud to be located on a thriving, historic Main Street in a college town that attracts people from all over the world. We engage with our local community in a multitude of ways: more than 15 book clubs, puzzle competitions, book fairs for kids and adults, author events, fundraisers, collaborations with other community businesses and organizations and advocacy work around social justice issues. In the age of algorithms and AI, bookstores do what tech cannot – human connection. Our booksellers read voraciously across all genres and can find the perfect read for anyone who walks through our door. Of course, everyone's favorite 'bookseller' is Story, a 6-month-old golden retriever who works as a service animal in the store. What's your favorite section in your store? We personally love fiction of the slightly absurd variety – 'Sky Daddy,' 'American Mermaid' and 'Margo's Got Money Troubles,' to name a few. That said, we enthusiastically curate for the tastes of all of our readers. What book do you love to recommend to customers and why? Right now, we're really loving 'So Far Gone' by Jess Walter. We love to recommend it because we think it's a book that speaks to so many of us at this particular time. When the temptation to disengage from the world is so strong, the author urges us to remember why we need connection. And it's funny. We had the privilege of chatting with Jess Walter on our podcast "Bubbles and Books." It was a delight to discover that even with a laundry list of literary awards to his name, he remains warm and welcoming. We were so inspired by his hopefulness. What book do you think deserves more attention and why? We were blown away by 'O Sinners!' by Nicole Cuffy. It would be a travesty of epic proportions if it doesn't win all the things. Cuffy writes with such precision and intention. The interwoven narrative structure is brilliant. She also respects her readers – she gives us challenging, fundamentally human questions to grapple with and she doesn't give us easy answers. Cuffy also appeared on our podcast. Why is shopping at local, independent bookstores important? Reading is a solitary activity, but it can also be the basis for meaningful connection – we have found that our store has become a place that has allowed our community to forge connections and come to know one another better. Independent bookstores are run by readers for readers – each one that you walk into will surprise you with its unique offerings and forever change your reading life. What are some of your store's events, programs, or partnerships coming up that you would like to share? We offer four monthly subscriptions that ship all across the country: new release fiction, romance, chapter book, and picture book. Our podcast discusses two of the best things in life – books and champagne. We're thrilled to be hosting one of our all-time favorite authors, Kevin Wilson, in June. Some other upcoming authors we're excited to host are Tarah Dewitt, Jess Walter and Paisley Hope. This summer, we'll be offering puzzle competitions, a boozy adult book fair and a flash tattoo event benefitting reproductive health care.
The Star
4 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Urgent push to improve fertility rate
Inspiring change: Nancy (centre) officiating the Women's Inspiration Programme: Womenpreneurs – Shaping the Future Economy in Butterworth. — Bernama BUTTERWORTH: The government is ramping up efforts to increase Malaysia's total fertility rate (TFR), which has been declining over the past 15 years, by promoting inclusive solutions involving men, says Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri. The Women, Family, and Community Development Minister said the country's TFR is at 1.7 this year – a slight improvement from 1.6 last year, but still below the replacement level of 2.1. 'This is still not enough, which is why we are expanding awareness through more programmes and roadshows. 'Sometimes, women are not the problem. Men could also be the cause of the low fertility,' she told reporters yesterday after officiating the Women's Inspiration Programme: Womenpreneurs – Shaping the Future Economy, organised by the Department of Women's Development in collaboration with the Penang Women's Development Corporation. She said the national roadshow began in Sabah and will soon continue across other states. 'There are several other programmes under the National Population and Family Development Board (LPPKN) that address fertility issues, with solutions catering to both genders,' she said as reported by Bernama. On yesterday's event, Nancy said the programme provided an avenue for women entrepreneurs to learn, share strategies and build support networks. She reaffirmed the government's commitment to enhancing women's leadership across multiple sectors, noting that it is a key objective of the National Women's Policy and the Women's Development Action Plan 2025-2030, launched on International Women's Day in March. She said women make up 49% of Malaysia's population, but out of a total of 222 MPs, only 13.36% are women, which is still a huge gap. 'However, there has been encouraging progress as 38.9% of top positions in the public sector are now held by women. 'Women also account for 32.2% of board members in publicly- listed companies,' she added. At the ministerial level, Nancy said her ministry is nurturing female leaders through initiatives like the Women's Leadership Apprenticeship Programme launched last year, which has mentored over 1,200 women through guidance from 25 prominent figures across 10 major sectors. She said the programme will be expanded this year with RM5mil in funding, involving 100 mentors and 5,000 participants, underscoring the government's continued investment in developing women's leadership.
The Sun
4 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Govt seeks to ramp up TFR by promoting inclusive solutions involving men
BUTTERWORTH: The government is ramping up efforts to increase Malaysia's total fertility rate (TFR), which has been declining over the past 15 years, by promoting inclusive solutions to include men. Minister of Women, Family, and Community Development Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri said the country's TFR is at 1.7 this year, a slight improvement from 1.6 last year, but remains below the replacement level of 2.1. 'This is still not enough, which is why we are expanding awareness through more programmes and roadshows. Sometimes, women are not the problem - men could also be the cause of the low fertility.' Nancy said this to reporters here today after officiating the Women's Inspiration Programme: Womenpreneurs - Shaping The Future Economy, organised by the Department of Women's Development in collaboration with the Penang Women's Development Corporation. She said the national roadshow began in Sabah and will soon continue across other states. 'There are several other programmes under the National Population and Family Development Board (LPPKN) that address fertility issues, with solutions catering to both genders,' she said. On today's event, Nancy said the programme provided an avenue for women entrepreneurs to learn, share strategies, and build support networks. She reaffirmed the government's commitment to enhancing women's leadership across multiple sectors, noting this is a key objective of the National Women's Policy and the Women's Development Action Plan 2025–2030, launched on International Women's Day in March. Today, women make up 49 per cent of Malaysia's population, but out of a total of 222 Members of Parliament, only 13.36 per cent are women, which is still a huge gap, she said. 'However, there has been encouraging progress as 38.9 per cent of top positions in the public sector are now held by women, and women also account for 32.2 per cent of board members in publicly listed companies,' she remarked. At the ministerial level, Nancy said her ministry is nurturing future female leaders through initiatives like the Women's Leadership Apprenticeship Programme (PERANTIS), launched last year, which has mentored over 1,200 women through guidance from 25 prominent figures across 10 major sectors. She said, this year, the programme will be expanded with RM5 million in funding, involving 100 mentors and 5,000 participants - underscoring the government's continued investment in developing women leadership.
