Ready for a whole lotta lovin’

By Alison Noonan and Rebecca Fraser
LOVE is in the air and Casey businesses are reaping the rewards.
With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, thousands of romantics across the city are forking out the big bucks to win the hearts of their loved ones.
Flowers, jewellery, soft toys and chocolates are again proving to be this year’s top gift ideas for 14 February.
Pamper packages and photographic sessions are also growing in popularity.
Owner of Cranbourne’s Woops’a’Daisy florist Pauline Cargill said red roses were a tried and true tradition to snare that special someone.
“Ninety per cent of people want red roses, then mixed,” she said.
“Oriental lilies are proving to be a popular second choice for something different.
“But I think the women are sending the men down because they have no idea what Oriental lilies are!”
Ms Cargill said teddy bears were a cute and cuddly present for both men and women, with the store’s 5”4 bear ‘Ernie’ selling for a whopping $450.
“We have bears that range from $5 to $450.
“We have a great selection of singing teddies, singing balloons and chocolates.
“We have already taken a lot of orders. Valentine’s Day is definitely the busiest and craziest day of the year for us but it’s also a lot of fun,” she said.
“One of the most romantic orders we’ve had was a guy who had us deliver a red rose to his sweetheart on the hour every hour for the whole day. He then topped it off with a big bouquet at the end of the day.”
Manager of Starshots Glamour Photography in Fountain Gate Neil Foster said Valentine’s Day was one of their busiest times of the year.
“Glamour photography is something really unique and I think many people are looking to do something different for the special person in their life on Valentine’s Day.
“Some people come in before Valentine’s Day and get the photos taken and then give them as a present.
“Others come in and buy a voucher and come back together to have the photos taken.
“That is really popular,” he said.
Mr Foster said it was not just young couples coming in to capture their romance.
“A whole host of people come in.
“We get young couples coming in with the first sweetheart in their life and then we have people coming in who have been married for 40 or 50 years.
“It is just a very individual and personal gift,” he said.