Many local retailers are expecting some big sales days as last minute shoppers hit the stores before Valentine’s Day.
The National Retail Federation expects Americans to spend about $19.7 billion on the holiday this year; a record high for their yearly survey of Valentine’s shoppers that’s up about $800 million from last year.
They also expect shoppers to spend about $90 on their significant others and just under $150 on average for all of their Valentine’s gifts; with men expected to spend nearly $200 on the holiday.
Other survey data shows about $4.4 billion will go to jewelry, $1.1 billion on greeting cards, and about $1.8 billion on candy.
That’s no surprise for employees at Denton’s Candy Haven where workers have been in around 4:30 am every day for the last week preparing gift baskets and chocolate covered strawberries.
Manager Stephanie Tennison said they aren’t even going to try to set business hours for the weekend.
"We open the store the first customer that gets here and we close when the last person leaves,” she said.
A similar situation can be found at local flower shops.
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Employees up the road at the Flower Garden said general they’re preparing arrangements through the night and into the early morning hours leading up to the holiday, but this year they were proud to say extra help had them home by midnight.
“For the most part it’s roses or mixed arrangements that include roses,” said owner Cindy Simmons.
Restaurants are also expected to stay busy with holiday crowds spread out over the weekend thanks to Valentine’s falling on a Sunday this year.
