Loved up couples bring blooming Valentines Day boost to business (From Daily Echo)
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Loved up couples bring blooming Valentines Day boost to business
7:41am Thursday 14th February 2013 in News
Dawn Sweetman, owner of Dawn’s Flower Box
WE may be still in the middle of economic gloom, but that has not stopped romantic Hampshire couples splashing the cash for Valentine’s Day.
Cupid’s arrow has sent cash tills ringing across the region as the county gets all loved up.
And traders are just loving it too as the message of love gives them a welcome break from hard times.
For one Southampton woman Valentine’s Day will be blooming special – her other half has splashed out £500 on a huge bouquet of roses.
Whether it is dining in or out, flowers or even wedding bells it seems that people are still falling over themselves to show their loved ones what they mean to them.
Dawn Sweetman, owner of Dawn’s Flower Box, Southampton, has had to take on extra staff to cope with the shop’s busiest time of year.
“We have got a pile of orders here,”she said.
“It’s the most manic on the actual day because of men leaving it to the last minute.”
The shop in Deacon Road is even open late on Valentine’s for the lastminute panic buyers.
It has also been all hands on deck at The Flower Shop, Bitterne Road, Southampton, as staff expect to be kept busy throughout the day.
Shop worker Roxanne Wilson said: “It seems to be just as busy as it always has been.
“Last year we got a lot of orders over night on the Net.
“It looked like it was going to be a flop, but we didn’t know what we were preparing for.
“One of the girls has just done a bouquet with 100 red roses – it cost £500.”
Restaurants are also expected to be booked out as couples seek that romantic table for two.
The Grand Café in Oxford Street, Southampton is expecting one of its busiest Valentine’s days in years.
Bar manager, Shem Heluszka, said: “It’s looking pretty busy everywhere.
“This year for us is actually looking better than last year.”
In keeping with the romantic theme Southampton’s Register Office is all loved up too.
The office is fully booked with staff working flat out to help couples tie the knot throughout the day.
