A day of wine and roses
Twenty four hours and counting ...
That's about how much time is left to pick up that perfect Valentine's Day gift for your sweetheart. Not to worry, though, as there are plenty of items to choose from for those last-minute shoppers.
Traditionally, chocolates and candy, jewelry and flowers are the most popular gift choices.
Gloria MacQueen, manager at the Laura Secord store at Niagara Square, began decorating the store in red and white in mid- January.
There are a myriad of sweet confections available to satisfy everyone's sweet tooth, such as air brushed chocolate hearts, chocolate-covered Italian maraschino cherries and truffles.
"Women tend not to really want to buy chocolate for themselves, but if someone buys it for them it's a fantastic gift," Mac- Queen said.
Across the mall at Carlton Cards, assistant manager Jennifer Randall is seeing brisk business in the sale of Valentinethemed chocolates, jewelry, plush toys and helium balloons.
She expects 90 per cent of her customers today and Saturday will be men.
And, of course, the store will sell a lots and lots of Valentine's Day cards. Randall said romantic cards edge out the humorous cards in terms of popularity.
"Love is in the air," she said.
More than 50 per cent of all Valentine's Day cards are purchased in the six days prior to the holiday.
Continued After Advertisement Below
Advertisement
And close to one billion valentines are sent each year worldwide, making it the second-largest card-sending holiday of the year, behind Christmas.
Teachers receive the most Valentine cards, followed by kids, mothers, wives and sweethearts.
On the other hand, women will receive the most flowers Saturday.
"When a man takes his wife out, they're together. When a man buys a box of chocolates, he eats half of it or more. If he brings her a bottle of wine, he shares it with her. But when he buys her flowers, that proves he loves her because it's just for her," said Dennis Sunstrum, president of Sunstrum's Town and Country Florist.
Melissa Athanasas, owner of Bella's Floral Boutique, says you can't go wrong with a bouquet of roses on Valentine's Day.
"Most guys go for roses in traditional red, so we often try to steer them to some of the brighter colours," she said, adding roses come in every colour imaginable these days including champagne, lavender and various hues of pink.
Either way, florists are ready for the rush of last minute shoppers.
"We'll get guys coming in at 10 to six on Saturday," Sunstrum said with a laugh.
At Cole's Jewellers at the Town and Country Plaza, tokens of love and affection are always in style.
"Jewelry is a gift that lasts," said owner Katy Cole.
Earrings appear to be the popular choice this season, she said.
"Diamonds, hoops, birth stones ... it's across the board," she said.
Some customers appreciate a few gift suggestions from staff, others arrive at the store armed with information gleaned from their partner.
Meanwhile, with economic worries on the minds of many Canadians, Wal-Mart Canada is marketing gift ideas that won't break the bank or the heart.
"Wal-Mart's bringing customers Valentine's Day gifts that won't put them in the red or have their sweethearts seeing red,"
BUDGET:Trim staff or increase the levy?
said Gail Galea, vice-president of general merchandise.
Top gifts at Wal-Mart include flowers, candy, lingerie, jewelry and perfume.
The corporation estimates it will sell more than 5,600 kilograms of chocolate hearts; 22,950 kilograms of cinnamon hearts; close to 4,000 cut roses; and more than 1,000 football-field lengths of lingerie.
In a recent MasterCard Canada survey, 80 per cent of respondents said they expected to spend the same or more than last year on Valentine's gifts.
Only about one in five planned to spend less, according to the survey.
Thirty-one per cent of men polled said they will spend between $100 and $250 on a gift, and another 28 per cent will spend between $50 and $100.
On the other hand, 32 per cent of Canadian women will spend $20 to $50 and another 21 per cent will spend $50 to $99.
"Clearly, Valentine's Day remains a meaningful occasion that Canadians want to mark with gifts for their partners and family," says Julie Wilson, director of public affairs with Master- Card Canada.
"Canadians know it's not the price of the gift, but the thought behind it that makes the gift priceless."
Almost half of men asked admitted they will purchase their gift today or early Saturday.
Meanwhile, more than 60 per cent of women will get their gift shopping done a week or more in advance.
"Women are planning and preparing, while men are procrastinating and panicking," Wilson said.
"As it gets closer to Valentine's Day, we'll see a lot of last-minute Larrys wandering the mall, trying to find that perfect gift."
Meanwhile, according to the condom company Durex, condom sales are highest around Valentine's Day -up to 30 per cent higher than usual. And more at-home pregnancy tests are sold in March than in any other month.