Expect to pay more for Valentine's Day roses, gifts, experts say
The price of love is going up this Valentine's Day.
Costs on everything from chocolates to flowers have gone up, because of inflation and supply chain issues. However, businesses say that you can be prepared and save.
Shelly Poffley has been specializing in getting customers their dream bouquets for their loved ones for more than 20 years.
The owner of Napanee Blooms in downtown Napanee says this year, she’s seen her costs go up more than ever before
"Last year we were charging $89 for a dozen long stemmed red roses and that’s from our premium firm out of Ecuador," Poffley said. "This year we are charging $120."
Poffley says for the holiday prices usually go up, but this year, she says COVID, surging fuel prices and the supply chain are all adding costs to her bottom line on everything from roses to vases.
"Our suppliers aren’t guaranteeing products to us and so we can’t guarantee products to our clients, so it is important to pre-order," she says.
At Cocoa Bistro, owner Audry Brown says the price of their popular truffles have had to go up for the first time in two years.
Brown says that’s because suppliers are raising their prices too.
"Normally the percentage increases for chocolate would be in the two to three per cent every so often,” Brown explains. "Now we’re seeing more often raises of 5, 8, 10 per cent."
She says packaging is also seeing price increases, and with supply chain issues, can be tough to get a hold of.
"It used to be that you could get Valentine boxes very easily, just a few weeks before Valentine’s Day. Now we’re being told we have to order months in advance.”
Ken Wong, with the Smith School of Business at Queen’s University in Kingston, says even the cost of a romantic meal is higher.
Still, Wong says it isn’t slowing shoppers down, with people set to spend more on average than ever before.
"People 35-44 you’re probably looking at something in the order of $280,” he says. “With men spending roughly twice as much as woman on Valentine’s gifts.”
Businesses say they’re not seeing customers shy away.
If you’re looking to save, Poffley says work with your florist, and consider a mix of flowers in the bouquet.
"If somebody's budget is $30 to $40 then we can do up something lovely,” she says. “And if someone’s budge is $100-$150 we can do that too."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
'State or state-sponsored actor' believed to be behind B.C. government hacks
The head of British Columbia’s civil service has revealed that a “state or state-sponsored actor” is behind multiple cyber-security incidents against provincial government networks.
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
U.S. says Israel's use of U.S. arms likely violated international law, but evidence is incomplete
The Biden administration said Israel's use of U.S.-provided weapons in Gaza likely violated international humanitarian law but wartime conditions prevented U.S. officials from determining that for certain in specific airstrikes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Mother assaulted by stranger while breastfeeding baby in her car: Vancouver police
A person was arrested in East Vancouver Thursday after allegedly entering a car while a mother was breastfeeding her four-month-old boy.
'We have laws': Premier Smith says police action justified in Calgary
The actions, including the decision to use non-lethal force, to disperse pro-Palestinian protesters from the University of Calgary campus were justified, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said Friday.