Love is in the air this St. Valentine's Day.
Chocolatiers, jewelers and florists are all seeing a boost in sales as people gift their loved ones.
Tennis bracelets and gold bangles are popular presents this year while some people will be getting proposed to with diamond rings today.
Jennifer Lyons from Keane's Jewellers in Cork says people have been spending big this year:
I suppose unlike the usual traditional chocolates and flowers, our gifts last a lifetime so we have had some engagement rings sold in the last few days so a very exciting few days for some ladies across Cork and as well as some promise rings which is really nice and we found tennis bracelets or diamond tennis bracelets and gold bangles are actually really popular as well this year. Our gifts do last a lifetime so people are kind of happy to spend a little bit more and buy something a little bit extra special for the person they love.
Florists will be busy today as people make a last minute dash to buy roses, tulips or mixed bunches of flowers.
Mikey Rose from the Roughty Foody in The English Market in Cork says people are spending between €16 and €20 euro their mixed bunches of flowers:
"People come in for a whole lot of things. Tulips are really popular today and obviously we've got the bunches of a dozen roses as well.
People should come in for that. They're really lovely and full stems. But then we tried to do a mix bunches as well. These ones are gonna go for 20 euros, we'll have some €16 as well. We have a good range."
Chocolatier's say people have been buying their sweet toothed partners boxes of chocolate earlier this year in case supply runs out.
Rose Daly from The Chocolate Shop in the English Market says nothing says "I love you" like chocolate wrapped up in bow:
"Valentines day is always traditional. It's about good chocolate buying the thing that you know your partner loves. And it's loads of different heart shaped boxes, different sizes, different textures, different colors. And once it's all tied up with the beautiful bowl, it says I love you. I think people are more and more prepared because I think with the way supplies have gone over the last few years, things run out early. So people know, people have learned now if it's Valentine's and Easter, come in early."
Jewellers, Florists and Chocolatiers all expect a boost in sales this Valentine’s Day ❤️ pic.twitter.com/YLPovm72VX
— RedFM News (@RedFMNews) February 14, 2024
Some people will mark the occasion with a romantic meal or a trip to the cinema.
These people in Cork told us their plans for the big plans for the day:
"Definitely steak on the menu, and desert" "Dinner, drinks and some tapas." "I'm personally going to be with my friends, 'Galentines'.. love it"
While some say it's all about the gifts:
"I would love a little bit of sparkle or something like that."
" I just got herself a watch in Keane's there. So she's actually in hospital at the moment so I said I try and treat her a bit extra this year now."
My mother, she doesn't have a partner so she has something nice to do usually get a voucher roses and chocolates and whatnot.
