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What To Sell On Valentine’s Day [Best Valentine’s Day Gifts Ideas 2023]

13 min read
gifts on valentines day products
What to sell on Valentine’s Day?

February is upon us, and there is a lot to expect this month. It is not just the Chinese New Year when almost everyone is preparing for the three-week-long Chinese Holidays. There is one more thing that people are preparing for (particularly for those who are in love, who are young, and those who are young at heart). It is st. Valentine’s Day! And most drop shippers will take much pain to analyze the items they can sell this Valentine’s. Luckily for you, we prepared this list of Valentines Day stuff to sell – Valentine’s Day gifts, Valentine day presents, and other products to make your own Valentines Day sale!

With 53 percent of Americans going to celebrate Valentine’s Day, according to the National Retail Federation (NRF), it is a lucrative occasion for the U.S. economy. However, let us proceed with it step-by-step šŸ™‚

Your February Revenue Is All About The ValentineĀ“s Day Sale

Believe it or not but February brings people to spend and they are ready for it. ValentineĀ“s Day is the biggest retail holiday in the eCommerce holiday calendar for February. The month is an opportunity to start generating growth after January, which is characterized by a drop in sales volume. It’s time to bring back the activity to your store, become more active on social media (work on generating organic growth there as well), and bring them sales.

Love can move mountains and indeed love can boost your sales this month of hearts. Here are some cold facts.

Valentine’s Day revenue was influenced the most by COVID-19. Unfortunately, it brought a negative impact. In the US, overall Valentineā€™s Day spending decreased from $27.4 billion in 2020 to $21.8 billion in 2021, with consumers spending an average of $164.76 per person in 2021 compared to $196.31 in 2020. However, it boosted online shopping on this day! 38% of all Valentineā€™s Day gifts were purchased online in 2021. For comparison, in the previous years, this number was 32%.

gifts on valentines day products statistics
Statistics for the Valentine’s Day gifts 2022. Source: NRF.

Over time, the consequences of the epidemic started to fade out, and we can see an increase in Valentineā€™s Day spending to 23.9 billion in 2022, with consumers spending $175.41 on average.

According to the Valentine’s Day sales statistics, millennials have a special place in their heart for Valentineā€™s day, with the data showing they held the highest percentage of those who planned to celebrate. Also, millennials were among those who chose to spend the most for it, where their average expected spending in 2022 was $280. At the same time, Baby Boomers were among those who decided to spend the least for Valentine’s Day, where the average expected spending in 2022 was $87.

Valentine’s Day average expected spending. Source: Giftwrapper.

Here are the key takeaways of why you should sell Valentine’s Day gifts:

  • In 2022, 53% of Americans planned to celebrate Valentineā€™s day with their significant other, family, or themselves.
  • According to data, over the last two Valentine’s Days, searches for “Valentine’s Day gifts for him” were twice as high as “Valentine’s Day gifts for her.”
  • Valentine’s day 2022 saw $23.9B spent on gifts for partners, friends, pets, and more.
  • More than half (52%) of buyers plan to engage on this special day.
  • While having a 3% lower likelihood of wanting to celebrate Valentine’s Day than women, men spend nearly twice as much on this holiday.

Taking this tendency into the account, Saint Valentines 2023 presents an opportunity for eCommerce sellers to boost sales.  Of course, with the right strategy and best-selling items for ValentineĀ“s Day!

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The Most Popular Valentine’s Day Gifts As Per Record

So what should you sell on Valentine’s day? Letā€™s take a look at the most popular Valentineā€™s Day gifts in the United States that you should consider selling in your store.

Statista came up with an infographic that features the most popular gifts and San Valentines’s Day spending. This information will help to decide what to sell on Valentine’s Day in 2023:

what to sell on Valentine's Day statistics
The most popular Valentine day presents. Source: Statista.

Top Spending on Valentine’s Gifts in 2022

The National Retail Federation (NRF) has prepared the key consumer spending trends for Valentine day presents in 2022. Based on their research, the top spending Valentines Day products were:

  • jewelry ($6.2 billion of all spending) tops the list of the most spent by category for Valentineā€™s day gifts;
  • an evening out ($4.3 billion);
  • clothing ($2.9 billion);
  • flowers ($2.3 billion);
  • candy ($2.3 billion);
  • gift cards ($2.3 billion);
  • greeting cards ($1 billion).

Despite the popularity of candies, jewelry takes the lead due to the difference in its price where one piece of jewelry could be equivalent to 10 (or more) candies.

top valentines day presents
Statistics for the most popular Valentine’s Day gifts in 2022. Source: NRF.

What Are The Other Ideas For Valentines Day Sale?

You would be surprised! Only 53% of people buy a present for their “special” person for this holiday.  According to giftideasunwrapped, the rest spent money on their family members, friends, their children’s classmates ad teachers, coworkers, and even pets.

Since 2010, spending on Valentineā€™s Day gifts for friends has nearly tripled, from $737 million to $2.1 billion (NRF, February 2020). Retailers used it to include more products for “casual or non-romantic gift giving”. Follow this tendency too!

For example, 27% of people said they would buy a gift for Valentine’s day for their pets (for a total of 1.7 billion) – That are great news! Even if you have a pet niche store, you still have chances to get sales on Valentine’s Day!

Tip

On top of the most selling Valentines Day products, you need to have something in your eCommerce store for almost everyone. And if you come up with the right message, effective title, and marketing technique, you can sell almost anything!

So start to prepare for this big retail holiday beforehand.

Top Valentine Ideas to Sell Online and Dropship

1. Candies and Chocolates

Yes, you can dropship candies and chocolates. In fact, there are several dropship suppliers in this category. Wholesale Discounters is among a few of those who provide a great list of chocolate and confectionary dropshippers. In fact, Google is a great place to look for the best suppliers of chocolate and confectionary items.

2. Greeting Cards

There are many greeting card resources that you can sell online. With Print-on-demand systems high on the rise, you can find a reliable source to send out great artistic greeting cards (even greeting card designs you created yourself).

There are plenty of free Valentines Day card templates available online. Wondering where to start?

Ideas for Valentines Day dropshipping products
Greeting cards Valentines Day products. Source: Amazon.

3. Flowers

What’s Valentine’s day without flowers? There are a number of people ordering flowers to be delivered right to their preferred address. And yes it’s like dropshipping for flowers and you too can jump in and offer flowers for sale, readily delivered to the customer’s preferred address. You’ll probably be surprised that Alibaba offers fresh flower dropshipping.

Besides, soap roses look pretty natural and were quite demanding during the last few years. Plus, they are great for making gift boxes or corporate gift hampers.

dropship Valentine gifts ideas
Dropship Valentine gifts from AliExpress.

4. Jewelry

Many men are making Valentine’s day extra special for their loved ones. And yes, jewelry gifts are on the rise this month. So go ahead and add some jewelry to your online retail store. Wondering where to get jewelry suppliers for your online dropshipping business? Research has its perks and here’s a good place to start – Dropship Jewelry for your Online Store.

what to sell on Valentine Day ideas
Ideas of what to sell on Valentine’s Day. Source: Amazon.
Tip

You can add special banners to get more conversions. Check how the best Shopify jewelry stores do it.

5. Gift Cards

Coming up with an idea of what to give someone on Valentine’s day with such a wide range of options to choose from can be really confusing. Thus, many people opt to give gift cards. According to Innowavemarketing gift cards ranks as the #1 choice that people want as a gift. It’s a wise choice for dropshippers too. Gift cards are definitely great Valentines Day products to add to your store.

6.  Valentineā€™s Day Inflatables

Along with Valentine’s gifts sell also the decorations for the holiday. They can be used for the date and for the party. Besides, you can sell different varieties to increase your chances to get sales.

Valentine's Day dropshipping ideas from Walmart
Valentine’s Day dropshipping ideas. Source: Walmart.

7. Sell Valentine’s Day gift boxes

Offer different gift sets for him and for her. It can be Valentine’s care package with sweets, and hearts, a spa gift box for her, a gift set with romantic decorations for a special night, etc. By the way, you can continue selling it after the holiday as an anniversary gift.

valentines day products
Gift set examples of Valentine day presents. Source: Amazon.

8. Customized Led Lamp

Itā€™s an idea for a unique Valentineā€™s Day gift for her or for him. Customers can provide you with a photo and your suppliers make an unforgettable present. Yes, thatā€™s very nice and can trigger your customers. But take into account that your suppliers should be really good at it and super reliable. 

Valentine's Day gifts to sell online
Custom Valentine’s Day gifts to sell online. Source: Aliexpress.

In addition, you can sell online different led lamps in the form of hearts, the “love” word, etc.

9. Artificial Rose Petals

It’s another Valentine’s day dropshipping idea. People would want to present a romantic unique moment for their beloved. The rose petals are perfect for that! Add different to your store as well.

Valentine’s Day dropshipping product to sell online. Source: AliExpress.

10. Valentine’s Day Candles

Another essential product to sell on Valentine’s Day will help to create a perfect romantic dinner. You can even sell it in bundles with inflatables, rose petals, or soap roses. Make sure to add different types: real or led candles, with the heart form, red and other colors.

Valentine day presents ideas
Valentine day presents ideas. Source: Amazon.

11. Romantic games for couples

It’s another product to sell on Valentine’s. It can be games to reconnect or to spice the evening. Offer different options in your online store and make sure to add Valentine’s Day in their title, so shoppers will find them easier in your store.

Ideas for selling Valentine’s day gifts. Source: Amazon.

12. Lingerie

Especially if you have an eCommerce clothing store, offer more lingerie before this big retail holiday. For her and for him.

13. Valentines Day Stuff For Pets

Right. You don’t need to restrict the products of your eCommerce store only to the gifts for her or for him. Try to target other shoppers as well. For example, pet owners. Offer them Valentine’s Day pet costumes, bandanas, heart-strapped rope, headbands, etc. Besides, The NRF notes that more than one in four people (27%) will treat their pets to a Valentineā€™s Day gift this year.

gift ideas to sell online or dropship
Valentine gift ideas to sell online or dropship. Source: Amazon.
Tip

The pet industry has long been considered recession-resistant, and the coronavirus pandemic has proven that pet owners are a highly engaged customer base that navigates the internet in search of the best pet products.

14. Products to treat yourself

Encourage your customers to show themselves some love and present themselves a well-deserved treat. You can offer different custom products, your most selling items, red lipsticks, nice dresses, health-care items, beauty products, etc. in a frame of such a marketing campaign. Make sure to announce it in your newsletter or social media, and prepare nice banners.

15. Tech gifts for him

Except for adding a range of tech gifts and gaming products to your e-store

Consider creating Valentine’s gift guide across different categories. For example, “For Him”, “For Her”, Tech Gifts, Beauty gifts, Gifts under $25, $50, $100, etc. It can be in your eCommerce blog or as a landing page on your website. Such gift guides usually help customers to decide on what to buy for Valentine’s day, pick faster, and stay longer in your online or dropshipping store. You can get inspiration on the sites of big retailers already in January or earlier.

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Final Lines

The bottom line is that people are ready to spend on Valentine Day presents. And it’s among the most lucrative times of the year. As a dropshipper or eCommerce store owner, you should prepare your online store beforehand. Add as many different Valentines Day products and gift items as possible, and optimize your old listings so that will sell during this holiday too. Announce it in your social networks in advance and make sure your supplier will be available at this time of the month to process your orders.

Happy Selling!

Written by Diana Velyka

Diana joined DSM Tool in 2019 as a Customer Success Manager and helped thousands of e-commerce owners to run their online shops. Today, she is a part of the content team of Dropship Academy where she focuses mainly on the drop shipping research to help the global entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses. In her free time, she enjoys traveling the world, playing the guitar and learning languages.

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