Categories: Advice

Which Industries Are the Most Successful During Valentine’s Day?

Ever wonder which types of businesses cupid’s arrow snags the most throughout the season surrounding Valentine’s Day? While some of the answers won’t surprise you (like florists and candy shops enjoying a strong sales boost), others may. Did you know that in recent years one of the most popular gifts to give isn’t a bouquet of roses or a dinner date out, but the gift of experience via a gym membership or outdoor adventure? Or that now more than ever one of our biggest Valentines include our pets? Utilizing statistics from the National Retail Federation throughout 2014-2017, we’ve rounded up a look at February 14th’s greatest hits by the numbers to see which industries are consistently successful at spreading the love.

2017 by the numbers

54.8% — consumers celebrating Valentine’s Day in 2016

$136.57 — what the average person is expected to spend this year

$18.2 billion — total spending

What consumers are buying…

50% — candy

47% — greeting cards

37% — an evening out

35% — flowers

24% — gift of experience (concert tickets, gym membership, outdoor adventure)

19% — jewelry

19% — clothing

16% — gift cards and gift certificates

Men and Women: spending an average of $85.21 on gifts for significant others.

Celebrating more than couples…

$26.59 — other family members like children and parents

$6.56 — children’s classmates and teachers

$6.51 — friends

$4.27 — coworkers

$4.44 — pets

Where we shop…

35% — department stores

32% — discount stores

18% — florist

18% — specialty store

How we shop…

27% — online

15% —local business

2016 by the numbers

54.8% — consumers celebrating Valentine’s Day in 2016

$146.84 — what the average person spent on candy, flowers, apparel and more

$19.7 billion — total spending

What consumers are buying…

50% —candy

47.8% — greeting cards

38.3% —an evening out

24% — gift of experience (concert tickets, spa, art class)

19.9% — jewelry

$2 billion — apparel

$1.9 billion — flowers

Men and Women: spending an average of $89.86 on gifts for significant others.

Celebrating more than couples…

$27.79 — other family members like children and parents

$7.08 — children’s classmates and teachers

$5.83 — coworkers

$681 million — pets

Where we shop…

34.5% — department stores

31% — discount stores

19.4% — florist

19.1% — specialty store

How we shop…

27.9% — online

15.4% — local business

2015 by the numbers

$142.31 — what the average person spent on candy, flowers, apparel and more

$18.9 billion — total spending

What consumers are buying…

53.2% —candy

37.8% — flowers

35.1% — an evening out

21.1% —jewelry

$2 billion — clothing

$1.5 billion — gift cards

Men: average spending $190.53 on gifts for significant others

Women: average spending $96.58 on gifts for significant others

Celebrating more than couples…

$26.26 — other family members like children and parents

$6.30 — children’s classmates/teachers

$5.28 — pets

Where we shop…

36.5% — department stores

35.2% — discount stores

19.4% — specialty stores

18.7% — florists

How we shop…

25.1% — online

13.3% — local business

Spending habits per age group…

25 to 34 — $213.04

35 to 44 — $176.21

18 to 24 — $168.95

2014 by the numbers

54% — Americans celebrating with loved ones in 2014

$130.97 — what the average person spent on candy, cards, gifts, dinner and more

$17.3 billion — total spending

What consumers are buying…

51.2%) — greeting cards

48.7% — candy

37.3% — flowers

37% — an evening out

19% — jewelry

15.8% — clothing

14% — gift cards

Men: average spending $108.38 on gifts for significant others

Women: average spending $49.41 on gifts for significant others

Celebrating more than couples…

59.4% — other family members like children and parents

21.7% — friends

20.4% — teachers

19.4% — pets

12.1% — colleagues

How we shop…

32.2% — tablets

26.1% — online

24% — smartphones

Source: National Retail Federation

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Deborah Sweeney

Deborah Sweeney is an advocate for protecting personal and business assets for business owners and entrepreneurs. With extensive experience in the field of corporate and intellectual property law, Deborah provides insightful commentary on the benefits of incorporation and trademark registration.

Education: Deborah received her Juris Doctor and Master of Business Administration degrees from Pepperdine University, and has served as an adjunct professor at the University of West Los Angeles and San Fernando School of Law in corporate and intellectual property law.

Experience: After becoming a partner at LA-based law firm, Michel & Robinson, she became an in-house attorney for MyCorporation, formerly a division in Intuit. She took the company private in 2009 and after 10 years of entrepreneurship sold the company to Deluxe Corporation. Deborah is also well-recognized for her written work online as a contributing writer with some of the top business and entrepreneurial blogging sites including Forbes, Business Insider, SCORE, and Fox Business, among others.

Fun facts/Other pursuits: Originally from Southern California, Deborah enjoys spending time with her husband and two sons, Benjamin and Christopher, and practicing Pilates. Deborah believes in the importance of family and credits the entrepreneurial business model for giving her the flexibility to enjoy both a career and motherhood. Deborah, and MyCorporation, have previously been honored by the San Fernando Valley Business Journal’s List of the Valley’s Largest Women-Owned Businesses in 2012. MyCorporation received the Stevie Award for Best Women-Owned Business in 2011.