Research released by Coles in the lead up to valentine’s day reveals how Australians celebrate Cupid’s special day right across the country.
The research suggests the keys to customers’ hearts come in many different shapes and sizes, with each state choosing to celebrate romance in different ways as Aussies get ready to spend $415 million on Valentine’s Day gifts this year.
NSW says it with flowers
When it comes to expressing those three little words, nothing is more classic than saying it with a big bouquet of blooms, and customers in NSW spoil their loved ones by purchasing enough flowers to stretch from the Harbour Bridge to Parliament House in the ACT – more than triple the amount of Valentine’s bouquets purchased by customers in Tasmania and the South Australia combined.
Coles expects to see high demand across all floral assortments, including unique varieties like the Native Australian floral bouquet – grown and supplied by Aussie florists – and the new Love Lips leafy foliage houseplant in-pot in the week leading to the big day.
Sweet-toothed Queensland
Coles shoppers across the country are expected to purchase the equivalent weight of a jumbo jet’s worth of boxed chocolate nationwide for gifting on Valentine’s Day, according to the retailer.
Queensland tops the list for the most boxed chocolates sold per capita for Valentine’s Day, eating the equivalent average weight of six adult African elephants worth of chocolate to mark the occasion, closely followed by Western Australia.
Sentimental Victoria
For Victorians, love is all about teddy bears, candles, and handwritten cards, with shoppers in the state spending 15% more on sentimental and novelty gifts than Western Australia and South Australia.
Sales of cards and merchandise gifts nationally see a significant spike close to the big day, with a 50% sales uplift across cards and non-food gifting occurring in the two days leading up to, and day of, Valentine’s Day, says Coles.
Raising a glass in ACT
In terms of raising a glass to romance, the country’s romantic heart is located at its political centre, with customers in the Capital Territory popping the most sparkling and champagne to celebrate Valentine’s Day – followed closely by romantics in Australia’s wine-growing capital of South Australia.
But there’s more than one way to toast love on February 14, with Coles customer research revealing more beer is sold than any other beverage in the lead up to Valentine’s Day across the nation, while Queensland, Victoria, or Western Australia go long on pre-mixed drinks.
Something for everyone
Coles Chief Executive of Commercial and Express Greg Davis says Coles has something for everyone to celebrate their relationships this Valentine’s Day.
“Valentine’s Day is the perfect opportunity to spoil our loved ones and show them how special they are to us – be it our partners, our friends or our families,” he says. “Choosing the right Valentine’s Day gift is a personal and sentimental experience, so however and whoever you’re celebrating Valentine’s Day with this year, Coles is helping make it one to remember with our wide range of gifting options.”