e-Valentine’s Day: How Cupid can boost your online shop
Red roses and chocolate pralines are a thing of the past! Valentine’s Day is becoming an important online shopping day in Switzerland, and much more than just flowers are being purchased. We’ll show you how to optimally position your shop. Help your customers avoid the disappointed faces of their loved ones.
The Florist Plot
Valentine’s Day was invented by florists. False—that’s just a nasty rumor! The history of this day of love dates back to the ancient Romans. The story of the Christian martyr Valentine of Terni is often told. During his lifetime, Valentine blessed couples, married them, and gave them fresh flowers—even to couples who, according to imperial law, were not meant to be together. For this reason, he was executed on February 14, 269. Romantic is different, but remember the flowers!
Valentine’s Day reaches Switzerland
English immigrants brought the custom to the USA, and after World War II, it returned to Europe. However, the hype surrounding Valentine’s Day, with its gifts and excessive consumerism, hasn’t been around for very long in this country. Migros first advertised Valentine’s Day in 1987, while Lindt and Sprüngli only did so in 2002.
The majority of gift purchases still take place in person in stores. However, online shopping is on the rise. As the 2019 Mastercard Love Index shows, the total number of e-commerce transactions related to Valentine’s Day has increased by 76 percent worldwide since 2016. In Switzerland, an increase of 80 percent was even recorded. This shows a clear trend away from material gifts and toward shared experiences: More and more people are treating their loved ones to an overnight stay in a beautiful hotel. In Switzerland, for example, there has been an 11 percent increase in hotel transactions.
How to sell your product online on Valentine’s Day
Many entrepreneurs initially think, “Valentine’s Day… that’s not for me.” But watch out! With just a few steps and measures, you can create exciting product bundles for customers.
The right customers, the right offers – Be relevant!
As mentioned, Valentine’s Day is more than just flowers and chocolate. Be creative and consider suitable product bundles or discounts that might be of interest to your customers. Is there something special “for him” or “for her”? Gift vouchers are also popular. Display them prominently as a Valentine’s Day offer. You can use the “Gift-up” app in our app market, for example.
When customers see that it’s a gift specifically for Valentine’s Day, it can increase their willingness to buy. Play with the message, for example:
- Gifts to Fall in Love with
- Order now and avoid heartbreak
- 10 Ways to Say “I Love You”
- What Are You Wearing This Valentine’s Day?
- Better Than Chocolate
- Etc.
Be on time!
Shopping activity steadily increases starting on February 8th, so do your best to be ready with your store before this date. Inform your customers about special Valentine’s Day offers via email. Various studies show that Tuesdays and Thursdays deliver the best results for shipping. This year, the following process might be worthwhile:
- Thursday, February 6: Send gift ideas to your customers.
- Tuesday, February 11: Send your top Valentine’s Day offer.
- Thursday, February 13: Send your last-minute offers.
Conclusion
Even if Valentine’s Day isn’t your primary source of income, implementing some measures can be interesting and profitable. A small promotion can work wonders, and you’ll learn something new. Play Cupid for your customers for a day.
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