Feb 15, 2010

Snow cools Valentine passionBy Deborah GatesDelmarvaNow.com

Salisbury — Love. Say it with flowers, chocolates, wine, and, in a trend of achy backs from snow shoveling, a massage. But say it, with Valentine’s Day gifts from area shops that specialize in tokens of the heart, and are open today, hoping for last-minute business from snowbound Romeos.

Across the region this year, businesses that lost time during last week’s blizzard have decided to unlock doors today to shoppers who were either snowed in, too — or simply procrastinated — and are in need of a perfect Valentine’s Day gift. Adding an extra day to their workweek is a chance, too, to make the most of Cupid’s arrival on a weekend, when lovers are likely away from the workplace.

“The snow we had really hurt business, and Valentine’s Day on a Sunday hurt men who wanted to send flowers to the office. Most people are off on weekends, especially, Sunday,” said Jean Behrens, a partner at Jean and Ken’s flower and garden shop on Main Street in Salisbury. The business is among flower shops extending hours this week into Sunday.

“All girlfriends and co-workers at the office won’t get to see what sweethearts got,” Behrens said Friday. “This year, not only is Valentine’s Day on a Sunday, we got the stupid snow. That’s a double whammy.”

And even before the snow fell, the National Retail Federation was expecting falling sales.

According to the federation’s 2010 Valentine’s Day Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey, couples will spend an average of $63.34 on gifts for their significant other or spouse, compared to $67.22 last year. The average person will shell out $103 on traditional Valentine’s Day merchandise this year, similar to last year’s $102.50. Total holiday spending is expected to reach $14.1 billion.

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