• by Sarah Mahoney  @mahoney_sarah, June 7, 2013

While Father’s Day never packs the sentimental (or spending) punch of mom’s big day, forecasts call for slightly more spending this year. The National Retail Federation predicts the average person will spend $119.84, compared with $117.14 last year, with total spending expected to rise to $13.3 billion. And IBISWorld, a market research company, forecasts a slightly smaller gain of 2.1%, with spending expected to total $13.2 billion in 2013. 

As with Mother’s Day, the NRF says special outings like brunch or a sporting event are typically a big factor, and expected to reach $2.5 billion. And consumers are expected to spend $1.8 billion on clothing, and $1.7 billion on a new electronic toy, according to the NRF. (Amazon is marking its basic Kindle down to $179, from $199, for example.) 

And many consumers say they intend to use the June 16 holiday to celebrate other men in their life: More than half intend to buy gifts for their father or stepfather, 29% for their husbands, 10% for a son, 5% for a grandfather, and 6% for a brother, the NRF reports.

Nearly 30% expect to buy their gifts online -- up a bit from 28% last year -- and retailers are taking note. Neiman Marcus, for example, is offering a free pair of gift-wrapped pilsner glasses with online men’s purchases of $350 or more. And Kohl’s is offering free shipping off orders of $50 or more, plus an additional 15% off.

The survey, conducted by BIGinsight and based on some 5,700 adults, says consumers are increasingly relying on smartphones for such shopping missions, with 43% planning to use their phone to track down Dad’s present.

For marketers, Father’s Day specials range from the luxurious (like Tiffany’s $350 Ziegfeld Cufflinks, from its new Gatsby-themed collection) to the practical, with Kart offering 30% off its Craftsman line, to the sentimental (Jo-Ann Fabrics and Crafts is running a free make your own pop-up card clinic on June 9.)

And, of course, there’s always Hooters: Dads who buy 10 hot wings get 10 freebies, and the chain is selling $30 gift cards for $25.