Valentine’s Day is close and is celebrated across most (but not all) of the world on the 14th February every year. There’s a good chance you’ll either be buying, selling or receiving something for Valentines… let’s hope it’s selling and making a healthy profit.
The cost
According to data from Rakuten, online sales in the UK and US have continued to rise year-on-year in the run up to Valentine’s Day, with a significant spike in the week immediately preceding the 14th February each year.
Rakuten also found that in the UK jewellery sales peak on the 8th February, while shoppers in the US like to plan their purchases a little further in advance, with jewellery sales peaking on 3rd February. If you’re wondering just how much you should spend, the average in the UK is £119. Germans spend the least at £59, whilst lovers in Asia spend around £173.
The unshippable
While you’re busy selling don’t forget Royal Mail recently tightened up rules for prohibited and restricted items. Whilst many will be buying perfume and aftershave for their loved one this Valentines, you won’t be too pleased if Royal Mail destroy your shipments because they’re either not allowed or are not packaged correctly with an ID8000 label attached. You can’t ship perfume outside the UK regardless of packaging and labeling via Royal Mail.
Royal Mail have a Prohibitions and restrictions in the domestic and international post pdf booklet with full details of what you can and can’t ship. Royal Mail are likely to simply destroy non-compliant packages than return them. They’ve already stepped up scans to catch illegal shipments.
The ideas
If you’re stuck for ideas of what to buy, eBay as ever have a set of in a range of price brackets. A few of the gift ideas are perfumes… If you’re a perfume seller what changes have you had to make to your delivery arrangements?
