Overview
With consumers projected to spend $27.5B this year, a nearly 50% jump in the last decade, the competition for market share is fierce¹. This significant spending surge creates a massive revenue opportunity across CPG, Retail, Restaurants, and more.
Whether you’re driving in-store visits, increased brand awareness, or amplified product sales, this guide helps you convert holiday intent into full-funnel results by highlighting the 3 pillars of a successful campaign.
The When: Key Timing Windows
Valentine's Day is a multi-billion dollar retail event spanning two weekends, creating distinct marketing opportunities for all categories.
- Long Lead: Jewelry stores see activity the weekend before and the day after
- Impulse/Last Minute: Retail stores like Walgreens see traffic surge on the Day Of for last-minute gifting opportunities.
- Extended Planning: Chocolatier categories like Edible Arrangements see purchase seeks ahead, up through the Day Of. Weekend before and day after: Jewelry stores
The Where: Critical Purchase Locations
Nearly 40% of consumers shop at brick-and-mortar stores for Valentine's Day, confirming the critical relevance of physical locations in the final purchase cycle2. Leverage GroundTruth’s Proximity Targeting to influence consumers as they shop, dine, and seek experiences in the real world.
- Top Visited Jewelry Stores: Pandora, Kay Jewelers, Zales
- Top Visited Retail Stores: Walgreens, Target, CVS Pharmacy
- Top Visited Chocolatiers: Edible Arrangements, Ghiradelli, Russell Stever
- Top Visited Grocery Stores: Publix, Stop & Shop, Trader Joe’s
The Who: High-Value Audiences
Spending is driven by high-intent segments that extend well beyond traditional couples. With 60% of adults celebrating both romantic and platonic relationships3, precision targeting is key to unlocking full revenue potential.
- Men purchasing luxury gifts, dining experiences, and impulse items
- Younger Millennials prioritizing experiences and unique gifts
- “Galentine’s” Group shopping across restaurants, experiential gifts, and self-care
- Families celebrating with children, siblings, and parents
Strategic Tactics & Channel Approach
Recommended Valentine’s Day Strategies
| Strategy | Description |
|---|---|
| Retail Block Targeting | Drive demand for your featured products when shoppers are physically in your store or within a specified retail area. This reinforces your products top-of-mind and at crucial moment of purchase. |
| High-Value Categories | While candy, flowers, and cards remain popular, focus on high-value categories like jewelry and experiences, as well as niche spending in the proposal economy and the pet-focused shopper. |
| Behavioral Audiences Targeting | Reach proprietary, high-intent shopper segments like Jewelry Shoppers, Nail Salon Visitors, and Floral Shoppers to drive real business results this Valentine's season. |
| Online Engagement | Drive and measure online traffic, cart clicks, and website conversions by using GroundTruth’s Pixel (web engagement). This connects your digital engagement with real-business results, providing a full view of the hybrid shopping experience. |
An Omnichannel Approach
Maximize real business results by combining GroundTruth’s channel offerings—campaigns running on multiple channels yield greater amplification.
- Mobile: Reach shoppers while they’re on-the-go and near your store with On-Premise Mobile targeting.
- Digital Out-of-Home (DOOH): Advertise in strategic physical locations where there may be a large influx of Valentine’s Day shoppers.
- CTV | OTT: Leverage content-level targeting to reach households with specific interests, such as entertainment or reality TV.
- Audio: Reach gift-givers while they are listening to their favorite podcasts, streaming radio, and more on-the-go.
- Direct Mail: Personalize your messaging and offers around Valentine’s Day to capture consumer attention.
- Desktop | Tablet: Stay top-of-mind throughout the buyer’s journey with reinforced messaging.
Interested in learning more?
Download our full 2026 Valentine’s Day Strategy Guide HERE, featuring case studies on a premium chocolate brand (1.4X ROAS) and a household-name card brand (2.34X ROAS).
For more support, reach out to your GroundTruth representative or selfservehelp@groundtruth.com.
Sources: 1NRF, 2Moosend, 3eMarketer
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