The real cost of Valentine’s Day
February 22, 2010 by Caylor Ballinger · Leave a Comment
Flowers are a common Valentines Day gift.
Whether it is a young couple that has been dating for two weeks or an older married couple of 20 years, people around the world will celebrate Valentine’s Day in some way.
Tanner Kloven, a student at Texas Tech University dating Alisha Grossman, said he would prefer going out on Valentine’s Day and having the special dinner, even though it is just another day of the year. But it is more the symbol of the day.
Americans buy a variety of Valentine’s Day gifts
According to the U.S. Census Bureau Web site (www.census.gov), 65 percent of American households buy greeting cards, 21 percent purchase stuffed animals, 38 percent indulge in candy buying, 32 percent order flowers and 11 percent buy jewelry.
February 14 is a date night for 44 percent of Americans, according to the census. Large amounts of money are spent on going out to dinner at a restaurant and going to see a movie.
Restaurants in Lubbock, like Red Lobster, saw 1,400 on the night of Valentine’s Day, according to Samantha Foreman, manager of the local chain.
In 2007, there were 20, 227 florists nationwide selling $416 million in domestically produced cut flowers, $29 million just in red roses, according to the census.
The Super Bowl of giving flowers
Kellie West of the locally owned College Flowers on Broadway refers to Valentine’s Day as their “Super Bowl” because sales in the week leading up to February 14 are doubled and bigger than any other week all year long.
“We do special arrangements for everyone. It’s very easy for the people to come in and tell us what they want. There is nothing we can’t arrange,” said West.
West said they have people of all ages come to their shop for Valentine’s Day gifts, ranging from high school students to elderly people.
In February 2008, U.S. jewelry stores sold $2.6 billion worth of merchandise, according to the census. Fifty-two percent of men propose on Valentine’s Day, which helps boost diamond sales.
Ann Winegar, owner of local Anderson Brothers Jewelers, said Valentines is when the store has the biggest sales of the year.
“Our average sale will cost $100 to $500 per customer,” said Winegar, “but we also sell about 10 to 15 pieces that go for $10,000 each.”
Winegar said there is no set pattern to the type of customer that comes in her store.
“We see it all,” said Winegar. “We see men buying, women buying men’s watches and young married couples.”
David and Jayne Ann Miller, the former mayor and his wife, have been married 38 years and consider every day to be Valentine’s Day.
“Here’s what I think about Valentine’s, it is not about the gifts and the candy, although that is very thoughtful. It’s just about the expression of love,” said Jayne Ann.
