Feb 27, 2009

Valentine’s Flower Sales Up in ‘09Source: SAF

Despite dismal consumer spending predictions, more Americans bought Valentine’s Day flowers and plants this year compared to the 2008 holiday, according to the Society of American Florists’ (SAF) Valentine’s Day polling results.

In fact, nearly 29 percent of Americans bought fresh flowers or plants as gifts for Valentine’s Day in 2009, a small but significant increase over last year’s 25.7 percent.

Synovate, a global market research company, conducted the nationwide poll for SAF.

The results support the industry campaign to promote flowers as an “affordable luxury in a rough economy.”

The most popular flower purchases were red roses (48 percent), mixed flowers (36 percent), non-red roses (24 percent) and plants (24 percent).

Consumers spent an average of $41.70 on flowers and plant gifts in 2009, comparable to last year’s $38.10.

Supermarket/grocery stores held their ground as the most frequent purchase venue (57 percent), up from 2008 (50 percent). Purchases made from retail florists (21 percent) were comparable to last year (23 percent).

Spouses were the most frequent recipients of flowers in 2009, with 48 percent. Substantially more mothers received flowers in 2009 than in 2008, up 10 percent this year.

For more information, visit SAF’s website.