UK Valentine’s Day Market Report 2024
Valentine's Day 2025 promises optimism. Retailers should spotlight gifts that amplify the emotional significance of the event and tap into celebrating different forms of love.
Valentine's Day 2025 promises optimism. Retailers should spotlight gifts that amplify the emotional significance of the event and tap into celebrating different forms of love.
Spending on Valentine’s Day grew strongly in 2024, recovering from a poor 2023. An uptick in spending was driven by younger consumers and higher-income households, with improved confidence in this latter group allowing for more discretionary spending. This was supported by continued value-led behaviours, with consumers looking to save by celebrating at home creating strong demand for in-home dining.
Just as initiatives like Green Friday have sparked creativity and are slowly reshaping how consumers view events like Black Friday, anti-Valentine’s Day movements, such as Galentine’s Day and Single’s Awareness Day, celebrated a day after, are gaining momentum and influencing how people celebrate the day.
Retailers should also extend this inclusive approach to to single-person households. Retailers like Boots have integrated self-care messaging into their Valentine’s Day campaigns, recognising the growing trend towards self-love and personal wellbeing. By showcasing products that promote pampering and self-indulgence, retailers can tap into a broader consumer desire for holistic celebration beyond traditional romantic gestures.
Emily Viberg is an experienced Retail analyst specialising in writing Mintel’s seasonal shopping and gifting reports.
Valentine’s Day 2025 promises optimism. Retailers should spotlight gifts that amplify the emotional significance of the event and tap into celebrating different forms of love.
Emily Viberg
Retail analyst