Businesses prepare for Valentine's Day

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - Tanner Thurman visits Poplar Flower Shop to start on his Valentine's Day shopping.

"I'm getting a rose each day, and I'm attaching sort of a special message to it," Thurman said.

This will be Thurman and his girlfriend's first Valentine's Day, and he says it's never too early to begin making plans.

"When you got a great idea, I just run with it," she said.

However, long before customers like Thurman begin even thinking red, local businesses like Poplar Flower Shop are working hard to be ready.

"Busiest three days we have in a row all year long," Poplar Flower Shop Owner Jim Sitarski said.

Sitarski says their business skyrockets around Valentine's Day, more so than Christmas or even Mother's Day.

They expect to deliver as many as 800 bouquets, which is why they're preparing now.

They're prepared with shelves full of vases to hold all the flowers they started ordering in January,

"Red roses, everybody loves red roses," Sitarski said.

Extra employees and delivery trucks are also on staff.

Across town, Hallmark says Valentine's Day doubles their business.

As soon as Christmas comes to a close, Valentine's day cards, chocolates, purses, and stuffed animals line the shelves.

"We start getting ready in January and some people start early, but then of course you have their last minute shopping usually the week before or the weekend before is really a busy time," Hallmark employee Angie Maehler said.

So, as customers like Thurman make big plans, shops will be working full time leading up to the big day.

Poplar Flower shop expects to be extra busy this year, since the economy is turning around.

They say orders are already piling up. So, if you want to make sure to get a bouquet delivered by Valentine's Day, it's best to order sooner than later.

For more information about Poplar Flower Shop, call (812) 232-3319.

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