Many Valentine's Day shoppers will opt to buy gifts online

RYE BROOK, N.Y. — A new quarterly index developed by eBillme found that 19% of shoppers will spend more on Valentine's Day this year.

The index polled 1,200 consumers to measure projected online spending for the quarter and the influencing factors, eBillme said. Of the consumers polled, the index revealed, 32% of shoppers will purchase Valentine's Day gifts online.

This quarter, respondents also were asked what they planned to purchase for Valentine's Day. Findings included:

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  60% planned to purchase something other than chocolates or flowers this year;

  
  


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  10% planned to purchase a gift card for their Valentine; and

  
  


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  47% of shoppers remained uncertain about what to purchase for Valentine's Day, representing an opportunity for retailers to win these sales.

  
  

"There will be a lot of retail love this Valentine's season," said Marwan Forzley, president and CEO of eBillme. "Retailers are coming off one of the best holiday shopping seasons in several years, and it looks like the spending will continue for another quarter. Our index paints a very optimistic picture for the e-commerce sector with increases in shoppers and sales projected for the quarter."