Valentine’s Day is the perfect opportunity for garden centres to tap into a growing trend of gifting houseplants.

With their long-lasting nature and sustainability, houseplants make thoughtful and unique gifts, offering an alternative to the traditional bouquet.

With a little creative merchandising and considered product selection, you can turn this season into a thriving sales opportunity.

Here are some tips for transforming your store into a Valentine’s destination store.

Emphasise Longevity: Unlike cut flowers, houseplants offer lasting beauty and a more sustainable option that can thrive for months or even years, with proper care. Highlight flowering houseplants that offer longevity and are easy to care for, such as Orchids, Anthurium and Peace Lilies.

Shop Orchid collection here. 

Shop Flowering collection here. 

Green plants that have a pink or red variegation can also make a more contemporary gift option – for example, some varieties of Calathea feature a velvety purple tone which have a premium feel.

Shop Calathea here.

Sustainable Messaging: Many customers are seeking a more sustainable gift option. Position houseplants as a more environmentally friendly choice that aligns with the growing trend of conscious gifting and greener living.  

Themed Arrangements: Set up dedicated Valentine’s displays with an eye-catching, romantic theme, featuring plant and pot displays to inspire customers. For example, arrange lush green plants in heart themed pots or use red and pink blooms and planters to tie the theme together.

Cross Merchandising: This is also a great opportunity to cross merchandise with other categories to encourage additional sales - use soft lighting, candles, and greenery to create an inviting atmosphere that draws in shoppers.

Point-of-sale: Place plants in strategic locations where they are easy to locate and pick up, ensuring customers have the opportunity to consider them as Valentine’s gifts. 

Decorative Pots & Planters: Curate a range of Valentine’s Day themed pots featuring nods to the season with a palette of pinks, reds and whites.

Accessories: Think outside the box by offering accessories such as small heart shaped tags for personalisation or ribbons for that special touch. Any small and thoughtful details will add value for the customer and increase your sales opportunities.

4. Engage with Gift Buyers

Gift Wrapping: Offer gift wrapping services or pre-made gift sets to make the shopping process easier for customers, especially those who may be purchasing on the go.

Personalisation: Offer personalised labels or cards that can be included with their gift for a personal touch.

Plant Care: Many customers lack the knowledge and confidence to properly care for their new plants. Consider creating easy-to-follow plant care point of sale alongside the gift displays, to ensure the plant continues to thrive and customers have the confidence to come back for repeat purchases.

Summary
By reimagining Valentine’s Day with houseplants, garden centres have a unique opportunity to offer customers a thoughtful, sustainable, and long-lasting alternative to traditional flowers. Through strategic merchandising, creating themed displays, and offering complementary products, you can capture the essence of the season while boosting sales.

Shop our collections here.