For many years, February 14th was just another day. Then around the 1700s, it started becoming an actual celebration of romance marked with the exchange of small tokens, love letters, and little gifts. And today, it is an extremely commercialized, giant celebration for lovers everywhere to share their affections and buy lavish presents. As the holiday has become bigger and grander, companies and retailers have clamored to keep up with the trends. Whether you're a big fan of the day or you'd prefer to skip it altogether, you can't ignore the fact that Valentine's Day seems to be all over during the first two months of the year. 

Just because you see memorabilia and trinkets everywhere in the local stores, doesn't necessarily mean Valentine's Day is having a great impact on the economy. You may be wondering, particularly if you are a business owner, about the real impact of this holiday on the business world. Does Cupid really affect your company and the world of retail? Short answer — yes! Valentine's day retail and entertainment is a billion-dollar industry and businesses would be silly to not try to get in on the action. From candy to flowers to jewelry to restaurants, there are so many areas that can profit off of this day of romance and celebration of love. Let's take a look at just a few ways the business world is affected by this auspicious day.

The Valentine's Day industry is huge and wide-reaching

Just like Christmas or birthday celebrations, Valentine's Day doesn't only affect one industry. The holiday includes a wide array of areas. Everyone chooses to celebrate a little differently. Maybe you are one to invest in teddy bears and chocolates which affects the toy industry and Hershey sales. Or maybe you try to plan a romantic, candlelight dinner to help the restaurant industry. Or maybe you want to invest in the nicest diamonds money can buy.

The whole sales process revolves around predicting favorite orders and the best place people will go for standard gifts for their Valentine's. Another big industry that is affected is the rose bush and floral industry. Finding the best place to buy roses is key to bring your beloved the perfect bouquet of a dozen roses. Anything less than the best won't be suitable for your sweetheart. Businesses that sell these vases and red roses already know and value how much business these sales bring to their organization.

Yes, this was a calculated move for the economy

While Valentine's Day is a celebration of love and romance, not everyone is excited to get into the spirit. The naysayers where proclaim that the holiday merely came about as a way for Hallmark to sell cards and chocolate companies to make more money. And in a way, that is kinda true.

 The companies that gain a lot from the holiday are at the forefront of promoting it. With all the cliches and traditions behind the holiday, you can expect sales teams at chocolate stores, the rose garden, and greeting card shops to hammer in the idea that you need these items to show your person you care. But with so much extra income during the month of February, can you blame them for trying to capitalize?

How companies can prepare

With extra sales processes during the month of February for these specific companies, they need to be ready to prepare for the influx of customers. Whether that means starting new subscriptions, growing more beautiful roses, publicizing added discounts, or hiring more salespeople, you can bet these companies are ready to go the extra mile.

One way to do so is with integration on online platforms. With people turning to online shopping, your modules need to be top-notch to help your customers on their sales journey. With the best Salesforce CPQ, you can configure custom products and prices in no time. Give an accurate quote and take the guesswork out of your sales with CPQ solutions. This will allow your selling process to go off seamlessly so you can make more of a personal connection with each customer.

Getting creative with their Valentine's Day merchandise

Not only are retailers taking advantage of the Valentine's Day market, but they're getting creative with what they're selling. Now it seems every company is finding ways to get in on the action. Groceries start to sell food and cakes in a heart-shaped manner. Clothing stores offer a discount to find that perfect dress for your evening out with your partner. And hardware stores market new tools as a way to give that gift that is romantic because it is practical.

Creativity doesn't start and end with love either. Some people truly hate Valentine's Day. And admittedly, it can be a rough holiday if you are single or feeling lonely. But even if you are single and prefer to celebrate an "anti-Valentine's Day," there are companies there for you too. Pizza places offering a single special, cards that celebrate singleness, or movie deals when you're going alone. These are just a few examples of ways companies are creatively celebrating, especially for people who may not feel as drawn to the holiday. 

Valentine's Day starts coming up earlier and earlier

If you need an answer to whether or not Valentine's Day is affecting businesses, just walk into any store a few days after the New Year. There is probably already a section lined with red and pink heart-shaped objects, teddy bears, and chocolate bars. The world of retail wastes no time getting ready for the next season. The second holiday season is over, they're on to the next. So be ready to start seeing Valentine's Day swag in early January and be ready to start planning early as well. 

The trends look to continue

The upward trend of Valentine's Day industry and sales organizations don't look to be going away anytime soon. Every year, people are spending more and more on holiday and more companies are joining the fray of people competing for your money. Just be prepared to see this industry continue to increase for years to come.