Valentine’s shoppers throng gift stores
KATHMANDU, FEB 10 -
Customers have been thronging gift shops in the Kathmandu valley to buy presents to give their sweethearts on Valentine’s Day which falls on Feb 14. Small stores and large emporiums situated in different parts of the valley including New Road, Durbar Marg and Kamaladi have rolled out new products targeting the lovers.“We are receiving orders for red flowers, decorated bouquets and other gift items for Valentine’s Day,” said Shilpa Shrestha, proprietor of Moon Light Flower and Gift Shop at Kathmandu Plaza, Kamaladi. According to her, they have been receiving home delivery orders in addition to walk-in customers.
Red roses, decorative bouquet and candles, showpieces, wind chimes, cards, statues of couples and stuffed toys, among others, are the popular gifts people give their beloved. In addition, key rings featuring images of couples, cup sets marked with adoring expressions and photo albums are other fast selling gift items.
“Apart from the traditional gift items, buyers have been picking up heart shaped soft toys and key rings,” said Shrestha. “Celebrations marking Valentine’s Day have already started, and lovers have been enjoying chocolate celebration, teddy celebration and rose celebration since a week ago,” she added.
Moon Light, which also maintains an outlet in Pokhara, has targeted selling 2,500 red flowers during the festival. Prices of flowers start at Rs 50 while soft toys cost from Rs 400 to Rs 4,500.
Demand for red roses has surged with the special day for lovers approaching. Traders said that buyers preferred Indian roses as they have uniform shapes and sizes and do not wither fast. “Imported Dutch roses are the most popular,” said Nikita Pradhan, executive director of Clover Wif at Kamaladi. According to her, local flowers account for 20 percent of sales during the Valentine’s Day celebration.
Clover Wif also sells cards from Archies, Hallmark and Signature in addition to those made of Nepali Lokta. Pradhan said that card sales would soar a day or two before the big day. Cards at Clover Wif cost Rs 80 to Rs 600 while statuettes cost Rs 200 to Rs 3,000. The shop is offering discounts of up to 15 percent on its products to celebrate the occasion.
“Valentine’s Day is now not just limited among teenagers, it is also attracting people from other age groups,” said Anita Karki, proprietor of Bagmati Flora.
She added that the trend of presenting gifts to close friends and colleagues on Valentine’s Day was growing.
Posted on: 2013-02-11 09:42
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