Flowers, jewelry, candy dominate Valentine\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s gifts
\nRepublic<\/p>\n
Valentine\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Day comes at a good time for consumers and retailers.<\/p>\n
Consumers have the mid-winter, can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t-wait-for-spring blues, and retailers are enduring their annual post-Christmas sales slump.<\/p>\n
What better way to perk everyone up than flowers, chocolates, diamonds, greeting cards and an assortment of whimsical Valentine\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Day gifts?<\/p>\n
For those who can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t afford the higher-ticket items, smaller gifts are available in abundance at any grocery, department, craft or drug store.<\/p>\n
The ideas are endless, from the traditional to the one-of-a-kind.<\/p>\n
Chocolate galore<\/p>\n
Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory is preparing for one of its busiest seasons of the year.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153It kind of builds up slowly,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d said manager James Ellis, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153then we get a lot of last-minute shoppers.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
The shop at Edinburgh Premium Outlets offers a large selection of handmade chocolates, truffles, fudge, gourmet apples and cookies.<\/p>\n
For $29, shoppers can buy a cut-glass vase filled with candy and holiday decorations.<\/p>\n
Gourmet apples also are a popular treat that can be decoratively packaged to go or sliced to be eaten from a bowl.<\/p>\n
The large Granny Smith apples, which cost less than $6, include ones dipped in chocolate, peanut butter, caramel, nuts and sprinkles.<\/p>\n
Also available are chocolate-dipped cherries, raspberries and strawberries and heart-shaped cookies with custom messages.<\/p>\n
Truffles come in an assortment of flavors, and dog bones covered in a confectionary coating are available for beloved family pets. Gifts also can be shipped.<\/p>\n
Bling buys
\nJewelry is a traditional favorite for Valentine\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Day gifts, although styles and trends change year to year.<\/p>\n
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Tim Banta, manager of Ultra Diamonds at Edinburgh Premium Outlets, said three-stone rings, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153O\u00e2\u20ac\u009d diamond necklaces (made popular by Oprah Winfrey) and jewelry with tanzanite (a blue to purple stone) are popular this year.<\/p>\n
Red rubies sell well at Valentine\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Day, as do heart pendants and engagement rings.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Flowers, jewelry, candy dominate Valentine\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s gifts Republic Valentine\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Day comes at a good time for consumers and retailers. Consumers have the mid-winter, can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t-wait-for-spring blues, and retailers are enduring their annual post-Christmas sales slump. What better way to perk everyone up than flowers, chocolates, diamonds, greeting cards and an assortment of whimsical Valentine\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Day gifts? For […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[411],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n