Valentine’s Day is about showing love for the people who mean the most. Many people express their love through gifts, flowers, chocolate, and cards.

Harford County business owners from Dee’s Flowers & Gifts, Flowers by Bauers, Bomboy’s Homemade Candy, and Coffee Coffee shared how Valentine’s Day impacts their sales.
Flowers are used as a symbol. People usually gift flowers to show their love and affection for someone. The most popular flowers gifted on Valentine’s Day are roses.

Dave Layman, owner of Dee’s Flowers & Gifts in Aberdeen, said that “Valentine’s Day has a huge impact on florists.” Valentine’s is the busiest of all seasons for his business.

Mr. Layman estimates that 99% of the recipients of flowers are female. These recipients are traditionally wives and girlfriends.

Charles Baur, owner of Flowers by Baur’s in Jarrettsville, said that “Valentine’s is our busiest day in February and is the holiday most impacted by weather.”
Mr. Baur commented that “husbands and boyfriends are often the ones purchasing flowers on Valentine’s Day.”

Barry Bomboy, owner of Bomboy’s Homemade Candy in Havre de Grace said, “Valentine’s Day increases [our] monthly sales for February by 40-50%.” Valentine’s Day may not be their busiest holiday season, but it is the single busiest day of the year in total sales.

Mr. Bomboy said that both husbands and wives gift each other chocolate on Valentine’s Day. His store offers a variety of heart shaped boxes of chocolate and other sweet gifts during the Valentine’s season. One of the most popular Valentine’s gifts is their chocolate covered strawberries. They dip the berries in milk, dark, and white chocolate.

After graduating from John Carroll in 2003, Hillary Depman Tayson opened a coffee shop with her family. Hillary is the co-owner of Coffee Coffee in Bel Air. Over the years, they have expanded the coffee shop into a store that sells food, coffee, and many different types of small gifts.

Valentine’s Day is one of the busiest seasons for Coffee Coffee. Hillary reported that “Valentine’s Day sales usually begin in mid-late January and then really pick up the week leading up to the holiday. Valentine’s Day itself is a big business day for us as many people come out for a breakfast or lunch date or stop in and buy treats for their office or their family.”

Coffee Coffee offers many Valentines’ gift items. Ms. Tayson said, “We sell lots of Valentine’s Day cards and locally-made chocolates and candies. We also take preorders for special items from our bakery, such as the Valentine’s Cookie Box that launched this year.” They also feature special menu items on Valentine’s Day and have special Valentine-related bakery offerings throughout the month of February.

These business owners explained that people often requested that jewelry be delivered with their product. People asked that necklaces and engagement rings be placed inside the boxes of chocolate or delivered with their bouquet of flowers.