Player Plaza Blog

The Cost of Love

Confectioners will crank out about 8 billion conversation hearts this year, according to the National Confectioners Association. It is estimated that this would be enough candy to stretch from New York to Los Angeles and back again.

According to the article, "What it Costs to Say 'Be Mine' ", on Forbes.com, the average twitter-pated consumer will spend close to $120 on Valentine's Day this year. This amount is up from $101 last year.

Thinking about buying flowers? America's 22,000 florists moved 189 million roses for Valentine's Day in 2006, according to the Society of American Florists. In 2005, the combined wholesale value of domestically produced cut flowers totaled $397 million for all flower-producing operations with $100,000 or more in sales.

In total, U.S. consumers will spend $16.9 billion on their sweethearts this year, according to the National Retail Federation's 2007 Valentine's Day Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey, conducted by market research company BIGresearch.

The survey polled 7,703 consumers and found that 63% of them planned to celebrate Valentine's Day, most between the ages of 25 and 34. On average, men will spend $154 on their Valentines, nearly double the $85 the average female will spend on her sweetheart. The most popular gifts men plan to buy to say "Be Mine": flowers (58.3%), candy (42.9%) and jewelry (27.6%).

Hmmm, looking at these results, it seems that the lovebirds out there are in need of some creativity. Although flowers, candy, and jewelry are great Valentine's Day presents, they are in need of a supplementary gift. Perhaps, a romantic walk on the beach, a candlelit dinner, a personalized love poem, or a scavenger hunt using messages of love would suffice.

Personally, I am a Valentine's Day connoisseur. It is one of my favorite holidays. I spend well over the average dollar amount for American consumers, but when you love someone, there is no dollar amount that isn't worth spending to get the perfect gift.

Much love.