Valentine’s Day Logistics

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, you must already be making arrangements to show your significant other just how much he/she means to you. While some may think of it as a Hallmark holiday, others bask in the spirit of gift-giving and love. Now these may come in many different forms, but there’s one that seems to be more common than any other - flowers.

Estimates show that Americans spend nearly $2 billion on flowers each Valentine’s Day. But while California is the US’ main domestic floral producer, most of the flowers sold in the US on the 14th of February actually come from abroad. In fact, in 2016, 71% of Valentine’s Day flowers came from Colombia, and 19% from Ecuador.

Given the ease at which technology has pervaded our lives, buying flowers these days is as easy as a few mouse clicks and entering your credit card details. But if you’ve ever stopped to consider the logistics that go on behind the process, you’ll be amazed at just how much planning goes into the sale of flowers on Feb 14th.

And a lot of is has to do with timing. Want the flowers to be at the work desk before your loved one gets there? Or just as he/she leaves the house for work? These flowers don’t only have to arrive on the 14th, they have to arrive at exactly the right moment. According to a survey conducted by Statistic Brain, 53% of women would break up if they didn’t receive anything for Valentine’s Day. That said, imagine all the negative reviews a florist would receive if a delivery were to go wrong!

But all these careful calculation actually begins way before Valentine’s Day itself. Much planning is involved when it comes to the logistics of this special day. And here’s an infographic to illustrate the entire logistical process of getting this day right for all the lovers out there.