Big Day for Florists

Valentine's Day is the No. 1 holiday for retail florists. The primary customer is male, with 65 percent of Valentine's Day floral purchases made by fellas. And these romantic guys give flowers to: wives and significant others, 84 percent; mothers, 4 percent; daughters, 4 percent; friends, 4 percent; and others, 4 percent.

Of women who buy flowers for V Day, 32 percent go to their moms; 24 percent to husbands or significant others; 22 percent go to themselves; 16 percent go to daughters; 14 percent to friends; and 15 percent to other relatives.

Men buy Valentine's Day flowers for romance; women, to show they care.

Among the fresh cut flowers men and women will purchase for Hearts and Flowers Day, 56 percent will be roses; 23 percent, mixed flowers; 10 percent, carnations; and 11 percent, other single flower types.

Of the roses purchased for Valentine's Day, 64 percent will be red; 11 percent, pink; 10 percent, mixed; 5 percent, peach; 4 percent, yellow; 3 percent, white; and 3 percent, other colors.

Hmmm. Maybe I'll join that group of women who treat themselves on Valentine's Day. Maybe something in a pink.

Information came from the Society of American Florists and IPSOS FloralTrends 2005.