Based on estimates from the National Retail Federation, 1.5 million Tampa Bay consumers will be participating in the holiday this year. This is 20% fewer than ten years ago.
There is good news, however, for Tampa area business owners. Although there are will be fewer customers, local Valentine's Day spending is expected to grow to $248-million. This is 28% higher than a decade ago.
So, how does a Tampa Bay retailer or restaurant win the battle for the hearts and wallets of romantic consumers? Advertising is a necessary weapon to win this war.
No weapon is as potent as advertising on Tampa radio.
According to The Small Business Guide For Advertising Success, reach is critical to mounting an effective campaign. In Tampa, radio reaches more consumers than all other media.
Every week, almost 90% of adult consumers tune-in to a Tampa radio station. This is significantly more than are reached by local television, newspaper, social media sites, or streaming audio platforms.
Among these younger consumers, Tampa radio's reach is even more dominant than it is among the general population.
Here is how much Tampa Bay consumers are expected to spend in each of the traditional Valentine's Day categories.
Regardless of the category, though, if a Tampa Bay business owner wants to win the battle for Valentine's Day celebrants, advertising needs to start right after the first of the year. By mid-January, almost 17% of all holiday dollars will have been spent.
It is crucial for every Tampa Bay business owners to pay attention to Valentine's Day. Consumers now spend more for this holiday than on Father's Day, The Super Bowl, Halloween, and the Fourth of July. Within the next year or two, Valentine's Day will generate more sales than Easter, making it the third biggest consumer holiday on the calendar.