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Jim Anderson, owner of Morgan’s Jewelers, estimates that 90 percent of his Valentine’s business would come Monday and today.
Anderson said he has seen a steady rise in Valentine’s Day business over the years.
“Guys wait till, like, the day before — for every holiday,” said Kyrah Larson, a salesperson at Holtan’s Jewelry.
Greg Ratajczyk, owner of Gregory’s Gifts and Greetings, said he was surprised by business Friday — and even extended his closing time by an hour and a half.
Joe Palbicki was at Flowers on Broadway picking up an order of flowers he called in Monday morning for his wife, Julie. Palbicki ordered a fresh bouquet — “Carnations, daisies and those astro-things I can’t pronounce.”
John Glenzinski went with the traditional dozen red roses for his girlfriend, as he has for the past three years.
“I always wait till the last minute,” he said. “At least I’m not waiting till tomorrow.”
“It’s a little nuts,” owner Sherry Russeau said Monday while trimming long-stemmed roses.
Russeau brought in extra staff over the weekend and through today and is receiving daily deliveries of roses, which are grown in Ecuador, Columbia and California.
She has taken two orders from soldiers overseas — one in Iraq.
Russeau said her customers are for the most part men.
“It’s all men,” she said. “They wait till the last minute. They’ll be here tomorrow.”
“They’ll buy the wallpaper,” one woman joked as she arranged a bouquet.
Anderson had not sold any engagement rings Monday but said he had sold two that he expected would be used in proposals today.
Gold roses were one of his popular items this year.
Three-stone pendants and rings have been popular this year at Holtan’s Jewelry, said Larson. The stones represent the past, present and future of the relationship, she said.
She said customers are typically spending $200 to $2,000.
Ratajczyk said he is selling more small gifts this year. Popular gifts include $5.99 Beanie Baby stuffed animals, heart-shaped suckers and four-packs of chocolate truffles, as well as charm bracelets and “naughty fortune cookies.”
“They want to get more bang for their buck,” Ratajczyk said.
