From chocolate-dipped strawberries to vibrators and pedicures, local boutiques are preparing for the Valentine season.
While nothing quite beats December shoppers, Valentine’s Day is a peak in the winter season for some Centretown businesses.
Elaine MacDonald, who co-owns Edible Arrangements with her husband, calls Valentine’s Day a one-day wonder. “Christmas is a month-long event, but Valentine’s Day brings in a lot of business over a period of a few days,” she says.
Located at the corner of Bank and Lisgar, the chocolate-dipped fruit boutique sees a mix of personal shoppers and corporate businesses, says MacDonald.
“It’s a fun time of year because the demographics change with a lot more men dropping by the store,” she says. “Some of them are organized, some of them are not, but we try to help them out either way!”
The Upkeep Shoppe, a local spa on Preston Street, has also seen an increase in male patronage.
The nail bar and spa facility is running a “bring-your-man” promotion where both customers save 20 per cent on their spa treatment. “We don’t care if it’s a wife and a husband or two friends, we just want to expose more people to the lounge environment here,” says Natalie Esau, owner of The Upkeep Shoppe.
“The majority of our clientele is female, but we really strive for a gender-neutral environment.”
Esau says they’ve already gained lots of new customers since launching the promotion in January. She says they’ve also seen an increase in gift certificate sales and more customers splurging on themselves for the romance-filled occasion.
With Valentine’s Day falling on a Saturday this year, Esau says they are preparing for a fully staffed day. She says the week leading up to the holiday will likely be just as busy.
“A lot of people who have kids would rather do something during the week,” says Esau, “It’s nice to get a babysitter for a few hours and make a night of it together.”
At Venus Envy, Owner Shelley Taylor says every day is Valentine’s Day. However, Feb. 14 brings out a new category of shoppers.
“There are a lot of people who have never been to a sex shop before,” says Taylor. “Valentine’s Day gives them the permission to explore a little more and splurge.”
According to Taylor, these shoppers tend to purchase products with more visually appealing branding and packaging.
“Everything has been booming this month,” says Taylor.