According to Fundivo.com, 54.8 percent of the U.S. population celebrated Valentine’s Day in 2016, which led to $19.7 billion in spending for the day. Having this in mind, I wanted to share some ideas for those who may be thinking about doing something different for their significant other this year. While jewelry, flowers, or store-bought chocolates are good – and often well appreciated – there are numerous options available for those who want to change it up. The following are examples of new ways to help make occasions such as Valentine’s Day uniquely special.
Brothers Tariq and Kamran Farid moved to the U.S. in 1981. In 1986 while still in high school Tariq bought a struggling flower shop in East Haven, Connecticut and grew the business to four locations. Tariq began experimenting with a new idea of arranging fruit instead of flowers and realized that there was a market for the product. Lenders did not share Tariq’s vision or see the potential of his idea, so without a loan the brothers launched Edible Arrangements from the original shop in 1999. Today Edible Arrangements, a worldwide company with over 1,300 stores in 11 countries, creates fresh fruit arrangements and gourmet chocolate dipped fruit that one can either pick-up or have delivered.
For the men in our lives who love fashion but do not want to shop for clothing, a subscription service for men called SprezzaBox provides stylist-picked items such as ties, socks, pocket squares, and grooming products. For a monthly fee the products are stylist-selected, boxed and shipped – all ready to wear. SprezzaBox was founded by Philip Sblendorio, a former insurance writer for hedge funds who shared daily selfies of his stylish outfits on Instagram. As more men sought Phillip’s advice on guys’ fashion, he became the firm’s unofficial men’s fashion consultant. Phillip soon realized that he was onto something so along with two friends developed the idea for SprezzaBox to fill a gap in men’s corporate fashion.
A great idea for the tea lovers out there is a tea subscription, such as the one offered by Handmade Tea. The subscription includes the month’s tea, which is a small batch tea blend, (about 3 ounces – enough for about 30 to 35 cups), brewing suggestions and tasting notes. Handmade Tea was founded by Caleb Brown, who states that he became bored with the existing loose leaf tea blends and wanted to improve the packaging and experience. So in 2011 Caleb started Handmade Tea, which uses fresh quality fruit, vegetables, herbs, and spices to create their tea blends and works with artists to create unique labels for their products.
To me, an important aspect of any business is how much it gives back. Aside from being the right thing to do, giving back is important because it distinguishes a company from its competitors and leads to loyal customers and happier employees. I’m not alone in thinking that companies should give back. In fact, according to a recent study, more than 90 percent of shoppers worldwide would likely switch to brands of similar price and quality if they support good causes. Additionally, more than 90 percent of consumers are more likely to trust and be loyal to socially responsible businesses.
Some companies that consumers may use during the Valentine’s season that “give back” include, PlantOGram.com, which gives 20 percent of the purchase price of their Madam Francis Mango Tree to help educate Haitian women so they can better provide for their families; CuffLinks.com, which donates 10 percent of the sales of their Moustache Tie Bar to fund prostate cancer research; Violet Wears, which sells woman’s T-shirts that have empowerment messages that promote such things as importance, worthiness, self-worth, and self-love and acceptance. For each T-shirt purchased, another is donated to women in homeless shelters; Health 2 Humanity, which uses its profits to establish soap businesses in third-world countries through its charitable arm, H2H Global; and Heifer International, an organization that supports farmers throughout the world, sells dark chocolate sea salt caramels to help Ecuadorian farmers get out of poverty.
Valentine’s Day – as with any other time that involves buying gifts for others – can be when we go outside the norm and purchase items that are different, and in the process we may also help others.
Raymond, New Hampshire native and former Manchester resident Brian Chicoine is co-founder of UrbanRebel 1636™, a Rhode Island-based art and design way of life start-up. A 1990 graduate of West High School, Brian attended college in the city before moving to Rhode Island to complete his undergraduate degree. Brian’s original plan was to “learn and leave” but fell in love with both his now wife, Jackie, and the state so decided to stay beyond graduation.
After they were married, Brian and Jackie lived in New Hampshire for about five and a half years, during which time their two boys were born. Brian and Jackie then returned to Rhode Island with their two boys and eventually started UrbanRebel 1636™. Brian and Jackie have recently realigned the company’s strategy and are developing an exciting new product line that will be introduced in time for the 2017 re-launch.
Brian has merged his passion for entrepreneurship and innovation with his love of new and bold ideas to bring the reader a fresh perspective on the people and products helping drive the economy. Brian and Jackie live in Providence with their two boys and their cat.
