This Valentine’s Day, we’re drawing back the curtain on the connections between the products and people behind your bouquet.

The logistics of love 

From decadent chocolates to smart tech products, or gifts of experience ranging from a romantic night out to weekend getaways, people across the globe will be buying gifts of love or friendship for their loved ones, family and friends this Valentine’s Day. As the first major consumer celebration of 2020, February the 14^th will see 62% of customers reach for their wallets, contributing to an estimated R180 billion spend.

The complex journey from supplier to end user

From having to consider the possibility of inventory damage to getting the right products to the right place at the right time, the logistics behind Valentine's Day require smart orchestration of multiple suppliers, vendors and retailers at every point along the supply chain. Understanding the numerous critical activities within this chain enables each organisation involved to assess and make smart decisions on how to manage complexity. Barloworld Logistics believes in the art of the smart enabling seamless connections, daily. The supply chain not only connects people with products, it forms the very backbone of economies worldwide, by enabling the flow of products to the right place at the right time.

Whether a last minute card on your way home or a beautiful bouquet of flowers, supply chain teams around the world have been working smart to ensure that those meaningful products are readily available this Valentine’s Day.

The Valentine's Day Logistics behind your rose 

South Africa loves love: interesting Valentine's Day statistics

74% of South Africans celebrate Valentine’s Day, and on average spend R744 on a Valentine’s Day gift.

The majority prepare surprises mainly for their significant others, however, coming in second and third are surprises prepared for friends or relatives. 

Valentine's Day activity in South Africa

Interestingly, more than half (58%) of South Africans don’t think about Valentine’s Day gifts until the actual month of love. 4% of South Africans leave shopping for the occasion until the last moment – on 13th and even on the 14th of February. According to the Picodi Analysis Team, an incline in shopping activity two weeks before Valentine’s Day is always apparent.

So, what type of gifts to South Africans love?

Most women (57%) find material and non-material gifts to be of equal importance. 

Pertaining to material gifts, women view flowers (65%), jewellery (51%), perfume (46%), sweets (38%) and gift vouchers (32%) to be great gifts, in contrast to home appliances, plush toys, and money. 

Valentine’s Day has always been seen as a day that women only love, however, contrary to popular belief, men do also express affinity for the occasion. 16% expect a material gift from their partner, while 28% do not want any gifts and would rather like to spend time with their significant other; interestingly, 56% have expressed wanting to have both. 

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