Heart Rates Soar As Card Retailers Eek Out Last Minute Valentine’s Day Sales

Card retailers are holding their nerve hoping that today will be a sales bonanza for Valentine’s Day cards, to get the 2019 Spring Seasons off to a good start.

“The later in the week that Valentine’s Day falls the better, so with this year’s 14th failing on a Thursday, it stands to reason that sales should be up on last year,” predicts John Procter, co-owner of Scribbler. “We are on course to beat last year’s figures, but like happened at Christmas, a lot is riding on the final sales day.”

Above: A busy scene in Scribbler’s Manchester store on Saturday.
Above: A busy scene in Scribbler’s Manchester store on Saturday.

One independent is feeling the love is Sally Matson, owner of Red Card in Petworth who predicts: “It’s going to be a bumper Valentine’s Day love fest!” She feels that Valentine’s trading is better than previously due to what’s happening in the world about us. “I think that given all the lack of joy in the news on all fronts at the moment, people are up for spreading the love,” she added.

Above: A Dandelion Stationery design that is selling well in Red Card in Petworth.
Above: A Dandelion Stationery design that is selling well in Red Card in Petworth.

Sally highlights how the trend for humorous Valentine’s Day cards is increasing year on year among her customers. “Dandelion’s ‘I am every so slightly smitten with you’ design and The Art File’s ‘I’d shave my legs for you’ have been very popular! Rosie Made a Thing’s designs have been flying out and Crumble & Core’s cards are also selling very well.”

While the vast majority of Valentine’s Day card sales in the UK are sent between couples, the circle of sending is expanding to echo the States where Valentine’s cards are sent to friends and school classmates.

Even more inclusive than the Galentine’s cards – aimed to be sent between female friends are PALentine’s designs that can be sent to friends with no reference to gender.

Above: A quartet of images from Red Card’s Valentine’s window that it posted on Instagram.
Above: A quartet of images from Red Card’s Valentine’s window that it posted on Instagram.

According to recent research undertaken by Royal Mail 8% of Brits have sent their friend a Valentine’s Day card to cheer them up while

13% of parents have sent their child a Valentine’s Day card.

Some sad stats put out by VoucherCodes include that a quarter (24%) of millennials feel that Valentine’s Day is the loneliest time of the year to be single, causing the majority (54%) to actively pursue a last-minute date. A fifth (18%) admit they have returned to an ex and 1 in 6 (16%) have called on someone they had previously turned down in order to avoid being alone on February 14.

Top: One of the Point of Sale items that the GCA hosted for retailers on its site.

MORE NEWS
JL report Feature Image
 
Nation’s favourite retailer declares festive missives ‘lost in the post’...
Cath Tate Type And Story Feature Image
 
Established publisher now looking after Niccy Iseman’s soulful designs...
RM £10m fine Feature Image
 
Missed delivery targets news comes at worst time for greetings industry...
CF charity Feature Image
 
Stay Another Day music card fundraiser for Nordoff & Robbins charity...
Dragons chase Feature Image
 
Three days left to grab an earlybird ticket for 2025 Dragons Speed Dating...
Loxleys card Feature Image
 
Collab with uni students produces printer’s special Christmas card design...
Get the latest news sent to your inbox
Subscribe to our daily newsletter

The list doesn't exist! Make sure you have imported the list on the 'Manage List Forms' page.