WSET.com - ABC13Billions Spent on Valentine's

Reporter: Dhomonique Ricks l Videographer: Jemon Haskins

Lynchburg, VA - The National Retail Federation expects we will drop more than $17.6 billion this Valentine's Day. That is up 8.5% over last year.

Tuesday was a busy, stressful and chaotic day for many businesses who cater to Valentine's Day. It's a day that is not without its obstacles.

"We had a whole shipment come in of strawberries that were smashed and we had to stop and regroup and wait for the new shipment to come in," said Sharon Bryant with Edible Arrangements.

The day started out a bit rocky for Edible Arrangements.

"Just stacks of flats," Bryant said.

But they rolled with the punches and got new strawberries delivered around 7:30 a.m., which is when the work began.

"I've got to go to RS Payne Elementary School, and then I'm going to Oak Ridge Blvd," Bryant said. "This is just a portion for the area around Boonsboro."

Taste Selects Confectionary was slammed.

"There's chocolate everywhere. We're dipping chocolate covered strawberries, we're icing cupcakes, we're doing cookies." said Beth Baxter, owner of Taste Selects Confectionary. "1,500 strawberries, so I've seen at least that many today."

They started preps at 6:30 a.m. to meet the high demand. They say the economy has not had a negative impact on business.

"I haven't noticed a drop this year at all, in fact we were really surprised in January that sweets continued to be popular," Baxter said.

As for spending trends, according to the National Retail Federation consumers will spend about $4.50 on their pets, $25 on children or parents and close to $7 on friends. Men are also expected to drop twice as much cash as women.