Valentine's Day....A Day dedicated to Love Or a Business Opportunity

Who says love doesn't cost a thing?Atleast media effected youth will not say that.The so called valentine's Day-- the Day of love,can mercilessly burn a deep hole in your pocket and when it comes to this year's annual celebration of love - the Valentine's Week - it's a jaw-dropping amount of business!Yes Business.Is not thats amazing that our youth is so easily distracted with this sweet wraped startegy of business.A day to show your love and affection to some one significant....I doubt that!Does love needs a specific day to show itself?I am a firm beleiver of love nothing has ever been more precious and beautiful than the True Love.But does that mean that you have to go out on most expensive Food Outlets or have to buy expensive gifts,and let me mention the red flowers...does love need red flowers bought on triple prices just because it is 14th of Feb??

A survey Report shows that right from the roadside florist to the telecom operator, the luxurious restaurant to the upscale gift shop, everyone will get a generous piece of the rich love pie this year thanks to the youth that is so easily deceived and driven by the Word Love.

The two-month long study, which was conducted in 10 major cities from December 2010 to January 2011, ascertained the extent of over-spending among the young lovers to make their partners feel special.

 Valentine's Week, a love carnival of different sorts,traditionally ofcourse in the west it begins on February 7 with Rose Day, followed by Proposal Day on February 8, Chocolate Day on February 9, Teddy Day on February 10, Promise Day on February 11, Kiss Day on Febraury 12, Hug Day on February 13, and finally the ceremonious Valentine's Day on February 14.

Past ten years statistics in Pakistan show that the spending on Valentine's Week this year will be 120 per cent higher than last year.

Owing to the improved economic situation in our beloved country this year and increased spending power of individuals, youths and eligible bachelors are gung-ho about breaking all previous records as they are likely to spend almost over 120 per cent as compared to the previous year.

The biggest chunk of the earnings come from the staple greeting cards, followed by flowers, chocolates, toys, and moves on to more exorbitant stuff like diamond rings, bracelets, necklaces, readymade garments, cell phones and electronic gadgets.

The head of a renowned card making company , says that between February 7 and Febraury 14 every year, our company makes a turnover of 16 per cent and the sales zoom up to 10 times the normal figure.Other card Companies claim some what the same figures

Card Companies especially design new greeting cards designs exclusively for Valentine's Day and the price range is between Rs 50 and Rs 699. Moreover, they introduced about 220 special gifts like jewel boxes, heart-shaped soft toys, photo frames, mugs, quotation books, bags, vases, scented candles, metal candle-holders and crystal pieces.

Amazingly it is not just youngsters who shop, even those in the age group of 40-50 also shop for the occasion though the percentage of such people in Paksitan is luckily not much.

According to a study, an interaction with 1,200 people - including professionals and students in schools and colleges, people are ready to spend anywhere between Rs 5,000 and Rs 1,50,000 for Valentine's Day celebrations, depending upon their individual capacity to spend.

Farooq Ahmed, a second year commerce student, said: "I will purchase at least 15 greeting cards, love bands and an equal number of pink roses for all my friends. This is the day to express affection to your loved ones. So, spending a two or three thousand is not a big deal."

A girl from Karachi university  plans to gift his fiance "365 roses of different colours and a collection of 100 romantic  songs".

Ask any obscure florist on the roadside, and he will tell you how the red flowers and heart-shaped bouquets ranging from Rs 400 to Rs 10,000 sell like hot cakes during the week.

"We Have already Ordered extra flowers and we are confident that we will do good business on this week end and on Monday" said a florist at Gulshan e Iqbal

Today valentine is supported and celebrated all over the world by media not for the sake of Christianity or the love;It pays them a lot, a real lot. It has become a booming commercial success. According to the Greeting Card Association USA, 25% of all cards sent each year are "Valentines". Imagine 25% of the total sale only in one day,They won't mind spending some money to propagate it on media.

Statistics from over the World shows that millions of Valentine's Day cards are exchanged each year, making Valentine's Day the second-most popular greeting-card-giving occasion (First being the Christmas).50 percent of all Valentine's Day cards are purchased in the six days prior to the 14th February.Many multinational Chocolate and confectionery Companies design special production and publicity campaigns.According to surveys profit margins for such firms producing chocolate and cocoa products worth billions.

In the second half of the 20th century, the practice of exchanging cards was extended to all manner of gifts .It remains a question who were behind these extensions,Media,commercialism,advertisements or TRUE LOVE. In the 1980s, the diamond industry began to promote Valentine's Day as an occasion for giving jewelry.

In this era of commercialism why would others not adopt such an opportunity of expanding their business.Today Eastern Media too is favoring this occasion.Ten years back youth was not even aware what valentine is and most of the people exchanging flowers and cards today on Valentine are still unaware of these facts.

True Love is always valuable,nothing compares that,but that love does not need a specific day,We will not say any thing against celebrating this day just THINK once whom you are following and why?