Local businesses prep for Valentines

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - Walk into Heinl's Flower Shop in Terre Haute between now and Thursday and you'll see roses being snipped, calls being answered, and orders being filled.

"It's a huge team effort and it takes everyone pulling together," said owner Vonda Monts, "it's like a domino effect."
     
Thirty miles up the road in Dana, Donna Thompson and her daughter Brooke are just as active at Brooke's Candy Company.

"Some want fudge, some want truffles, some want carmel apples with lots of chocolate; mostly chocolate," said Donna Thompson.
     
For these two places, this is one of the busiest weeks of the year, and one they start preparing for as far back as Christmas.

Valentines Day has become an $18 billion a year holiday. This year alone, the average person will spend over $130.

Surprisingly, the date of the holiday actually determines how many chocolates and flowers fly out the door.
"When Valentines is on a Monday or Tuesday, it's usually not as busy as when it's more towards the end of the week, more towards date night," said Vonda. "We have people that come in and have specifics, and then we have people that come in a go 'I don't know, that's why I'm in here, I need your help.'"
     
However, Vonda and Donna don't mind the rush.
     
In fact, for them, it's one of the happiest times of the year as well.

"We just have a good time with it," said Donna, "waiting on the customers, enjoy talking to them, everybody that walks in the door is in a good mood usually because they know they're going to get their chocolate right away."