Imported or not, Australians too celebrate love and the Valentine’s Day celebration takes on different meanings for people. Last year’s shopping was pretty much as classical as ever: flowers, cards, chocolates, jewelry, romantic getaways and the sorts. People spent hundreds of millions (that’s right, hundreds) of dollars on February 14.
It’s not unusual for couples to get engaged or even married on Valentine’s Day, events that come with a fair share of expenses. And boy, don’t retailers know how to up their game with V-day related items! That probably explains all the spending, or maybe that’s just Cupid.
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Either way, February 14 might be the second most hectic and erratic time of the year for businesses. Christmas always comes first.
Florists and restaurants are probably the first to thrive. But you don’t hear shops complaining much either.
Top choices for Valentine’s Day available from retailers
Premium chocolates – generic brands are losing momentum as fair trade and organic chocolates are becoming widely available, and it seems that Australians prefer buying more exotic chocolates over staple brands.
This makes sense since a box of chocolates is always the option when in doubt, or when buying the size and style becomes tricky, in which case, of course, you’d want to make your chocolate choice equal to Victoria’s Secret most expensive line of lingerie.
Gift baskets – they never go out of style and what’s relevant is that shops are offering gift baskets for men too nowadays. Designed to impress and swoon are deluxe buckets, wine-duo buckets, BBQ gift baskets and of course the classical sweets & treats basket.
One thing’s for certain: gift baskets are never too practical for romance.
Perfumes – Another excellent choice for women and men, perfume sells really well on Valentine’s, and perfume sellers have their busiest time now, so busy in fact that some start preparations in December every year.
And if deluxe chocolates are the go-to in terms of sweet gifts, custom-made perfumes are the current big thing in the world of dazzling fragrances. Getting a truly unique perfume for Valentine’s to wear as yours and yours alone is the ultimate gift.
Romantic dinners – are usually accompanied by any of the above, so it’s a two-strike for some lucky ladies or gents. Most often, romantic dining on Valentine’s is something planned well in advance so the best places might be out of reach if you wait until the last minute, more so if we’re talking about select restaurants.
What’s different on February 14 to any other night is that some restaurants have special menus to help couples celebrate for a fixed price. Desserts are prepared to reflect the heartwarming holiday, and some people’s experiences in the past were definitely special, not what you normally get at the local restaurant or the pizza place down the street.
Romantic getaways – maybe not affordable for everyone, and definitely not international but coastal retreats are a favorite thing among Australian couples. A romantic getaway can be anything from wine tours to romantic cruises.
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If you are asked to go on a getaway this year, you might be in for a greater surprise than expected. Romantic getaways are when they pop the question.