Coffee Chat with Eric #20: Gen Z Talks About Meaningful Gifts (coffee with my daughter)

June 16, 2025

This week’s Coffee Chat is a special one - I’ve got a guest...

My daughter, home from college and proudly repping GenZ, joined me for a post-Father’s Day chat about gifts, dads, and what gifts feel the most meaningful from her 20-year-old point of view. As a GenX dad, I loved hearing how she thinks about showing love and appreciation - it's educational for me as an incentive and gift card expert to hear how Gen Z talks about meaningful gifts.

According to her, the best gifts check these four boxes:

1. Make it personal

2. Keep it simple + heartfelt

3. Make it useful, e.g. gift cards

4. Prioritize time together, e.g. experiences

Turns out, her instincts line up with the data:

• Top 5 Gifts Given to Dads (National Retail Federation): Greeting Cards (58%), Clothing (55%), Special Outing (53%), Gift Cards (50%), Personal Care (33%)

• 58% of dads want quality time at home with family (LendingTree)

• 32% say they don’t want anything (YouGov), while another study found 71% say a shared meal or experience is the ideal gift

Bottom line?

As my daughter and I both agree: “Keep it personal.”

Catch my special Dad & Daughter Coffee Chat...