Although she wouldn't release specific figures, Palter says tools are a huge seller for the company's 100,000 active gift registries. Amy Friend, a spokeswomen for Home Depot, says since it started a gift register in 1996, registrants have increased 15 percent. Friend says the No. 1 request is the basic garden hose. Hedge trimmers, circular saws and fire extinguishers round out the top four choices. Lowe's has no bridal registry.
Guys really enjoy tools.
They like debating the features, the pros and cons, the brands. And getting the basics can add up, he notes. Tools are quite expensive. On-line bridal registries are playing into the trend too. She says men tend to sign up for the traditionally masculine items such as power tools and electronic equipment like DVD players.