Despite the best efforts by a research company to talk Valentine’s Day sales down, I’d thrilled to declare it a raging success – not only in my newsagencies but in other newsagencies too. I spoke to many newsagents yesterday who were busy with sales, most up on 2011 sales.
Greeting cards and gifts were successful. Oh, and to shoppers of all ages too. This really is a season without age boundaries.
I also liked hearing that some shoppers were being utterly practical, buying a magazine or two as a Valentine’s Day gift. Nice … a magazine will last longer than a bunch of flowers.
Like any retail season, we retailers make our own success. We buy and merchandise for it. Our retail team members serve for it. Here at the small business newsagency level we do all this with a local flair. Maybe this is why we’re saying it was a good season. Valentine’s Day is certainly a season for small businesses to shine compared to bigger businesses who don;t know how to be personal or local.
We have great fun on Valentine’s Day with
guys who buy MORE THAN ONE vd CARD?
We ask lots of embarrassing questions like
“is that for your Mother/sister” when they
have one for their wife and one for their
sweetheart (or more in some cases).
Some of the most unlikely blokes buy them and we have a really fun day with it.
Hope they come back next year after we
found out their little secrets??????
Most of them even gave us an answer!!
like “I like to give them to the girls in the office” to which we replied “yeah yeah”
I think my state is chocablock full of adulterers!!!!!
Happy Valentine’s Day to all my fellow newsagents and how many got a card from their partners when we sell them all
day (please say not many so I won’t feel
left out)
Good day and excellent sales. Easter going up as I speak.
Has anyone got any good ideas for Easter?
June, I stopped using vd as the code in my computer system and now use v/day.
Mind you for those buying multiple cards maybe vd cards is more appropriate…ha ha .
You seemed to have a lot of fun, June. We had our small share of giggles on the day.But nothing as wild as what you experienced.
For us, card sales were great, up on last year (though, should have ordered more in (sigh (it’s a bracket inside a bracket inside a bracket- INCEPTION))).
But Mark, I like your idea of magazines as additional gifts. It seems better than always having soft toys for sale.
Being off topic for a moment. WATCH OUT! I’ll be invading your country on the 20th. I have med school interviews in Queensland. Wish me luck.
Good luck Mal. Yeah, every season presents opportunities for us to promote cross categories.
I always like complimenting the blokes who are buying the high dollar cards – almost always for wives. Our special treat this year was a call from our 20 yr old from Times Square, New York, she was watching about 30 or so couples becoming engaged – no, they weren’t “moonies”, perhaps it was a media event of some sort. She said the square was all decorated for Valentines, stores and restaurants all getting in on the theme. I must say I like spotting the blokes carrying roses in the street. Our sales were great and again, not quite enough WIFE cards – I ran out at Xmas too. So now to get ready for Mum’s Day. I have to say I have NOT seen any reduction in card sales due to e-cards : cards, wrap and gift bags/boxes are staying quite strong here.