Although the gifts of lingerie, jewelry, and chocolates are likely to remain unchanged, the method in which these gifts are purchased is quickly shifting. Consistent with U.S. commerce trends, Valentine?s Day is increasingly becoming an online-shopping holiday for U.S. lovebirds.
With approximately 29% of couples purchasing gifts online, Valentine?s Day (and the weeks leading up to it) has become an important event for online retailers. Even individuals shopping offline are using online sources to complement their off-line buying, with the most popular reasons being: 1) price comparison; 2) product reviews; and 3) finding coupons. Given the last minute nature of many Valentine?s Day?s purchases, we have seen Amazon try to grab share by offering Free One-Day Shipping on select items.
However, one of the more interesting stats of the holiday is the high concentration of purchases that are taking place on the Desktop / Laptop - 75% Valentine?s Day highlights the key role that the desktop continues to play in U.S. e-commerce.
