Fresh flowers increase in price, gifts 'reign' on Valentine's Day

Flower shops are always crowded during this holiday. Photo: Thanh Phuc

These days, the streets of Vinh city become more brilliant when flower shops, cosmetic shops, cake shops, etc. display products for Valentine's Day. Along Nguyen Van Cu street, where large flower shops are concentrated, it becomes more bustling and lively when the number of customers coming to buy flowers increases.

Mr. Nguyen Tuan Tu, owner of an imported flower shop on Nguyen Van Cu Street, said: “The prices of all kinds of flowers have increased. The biggest increase is in red roses, Da Lat red roses increased from 10,000 VND to 30,000 VND/flower; imported roses from Ecuador cost from 70,000 - 150,000 VND/flower; double tulips cost from 80,000 - 100,000 VND/flower. Each flower basket has a popular price ranging from 200,000 - 300,000 VND/basket, high-end, custom-designed flower baskets cost from 700,000 VND - several million VND/basket.”

A variety of gift items depending on the needs and tastes of customers. From fresh flowers, wax flowers, money flowers to heart-shaped fruit baskets or cute stuffed animals... Photo: Thanh Phuc

According to fresh flower shop owners, the price of flowers increases sharply on Valentine's Day due to the scarce supply, especially imported roses. To meet customer demand, shops also import wax flowers and dried flowers with diverse, eye-catching designs and cheaper prices than fresh flowers, but they are durable and can be preserved for a long time.

“Wax flowers, silk flowers, dried flowers with diverse designs, modern and luxurious designs are popular with young people, especially students. We accept online orders and package flowers according to each customer's individual requirements. Up to now, the online ordering channel alone has reached 200 orders, and the number of people coming to buy directly at the store will increase rapidly on the evening of February 13 and 14,” said Ms. Thuy Quynh, owner of a flower and gift shop on Le Duan Street.

Wax flowers and silk flowers are chosen by many young people. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Besides fresh flowers, chocolate is also a meaningful gift that couples give each other on this holiday. Besides the shops selling imported chocolate, the bakeries also launch many attractive and impressive homemade chocolate models with prices ranging from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of dong.

“Compared to imported chocolates, handmade chocolates are designed with diverse designs, depending on the individual requirements of each customer and especially the price is much softer. This Valentine season, our bakery will supply the market with about 300 boxes of various types of chocolate, mainly made according to pre-orders from customers,” said Ms. Nguyen Ngoc Quynh, owner of a bakery on Nguyen Thai Hoc Street (Vinh City).

Cosmetics are also a popular gift choice. Photo: Thanh Phuc

No less bustling are the cosmetics, shoe, handbag, clothing and jewelry stores. Instead of choosing fresh flowers or chocolates like young people, many customers, mostly married people, choose practical gifts for their “other half”. Therefore, couple rings, couple watches, couple shirts, lipsticks, and perfumes are also “hot sellers” during this holiday.

Mr. Hoang Huu Tinh, a customer, said: “Fresh flowers and chocolates are only suitable for newlyweds. As for middle-aged men like me, I look for practical gifts for my wife that she likes. This year, I bought my wife a set of cosmetics that she often uses.”

Jewelry stores are also quite bustling during this holiday. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Jewelry is also a gift chosen by many people during this holiday. To catch the wave of consumers, gold and silver jewelry stores have launched many beautiful couple rings with diverse prices. At the same time, major jewelry companies on this occasion also have many promotional programs to stimulate shopping such as: Buy a couple ring and get a pair of movie tickets, buy a gold-plated rose and get a mini perfume...

Thanh Phuc