Valentine's Day on 14th February is a fantastic sales opportunity for fancy dress retailers that often gets overlooked. Beyond traditional gifts like flowers and chocolates, there is a thriving market for Valentine's themed fancy dress, party accessories, and romantic novelties — especially for hen parties, themed events, and couples' celebrations that fall around this date.
Valentine's Day as a Sales Opportunity
Valentine's Day is not just about romantic dinners. Across the UK, pubs and clubs host themed Valentine's parties, groups of friends organise anti-Valentine's and Galentine's Day events, and hen parties frequently land on the Valentine's weekend. All of these events drive demand for themed costumes and accessories that retailers can fulfil at strong margins.
Must-Stock Items for Valentine's Day
Cupid Costumes and Wings
Cupid is the quintessential Valentine's character. Stock adult cupid costumes, angel wings in white and pink, and bow-and-arrow prop sets. These items sell well for both fancy dress parties and Valentine's photo opportunities on social media.
Heart-Themed Accessories
Heart-shaped sunglasses, heart deely boppers, heart garlands, and heart-printed accessories are low-cost, high-margin items that sell in volume. Stock in red, pink, and rose gold to cover all preferences.
Romantic and Sexy Costumes
Valentine's themed fancy dress often leans towards glamorous and romantic styles. Devil costumes in red, nurse and maid outfits, and burlesque-inspired pieces are popular choices for Valentine's parties and themed nights out.
Red and Pink Wigs
Coloured wigs in Valentine's shades — red, hot pink, pastel pink, and rose — are an easy way for customers to create a themed look without buying a full costume. Wholesale wigs in these colours see a noticeable sales uplift in late January and early February.
Love-Themed Props and Novelties
Inflatable lips, love letter props, kiss-print accessories, and novelty gifts all appeal to Valentine's shoppers. These impulse-buy items are perfect for point-of-sale displays and online add-ons.
Timing Your Valentine's Stock
The window for Valentine's Day sales is short but intense:
- Late December - early January: Place your wholesale orders so stock arrives in the first week of January
- January: List Valentine's products online and begin marketing through email and social media
- 1st-13th February: Peak sales period — most purchases happen in the two weeks before Valentine's Day
- 14th February onwards: Sales drop off sharply, so avoid over-ordering
Cross-Selling with Hen Party Supplies
Valentine's weekend is one of the most popular times for hen parties, which means there is a natural cross-selling opportunity. Customers buying Valentine's accessories are often also looking for hen party supplies like sashes, veils, and novelty items. Display these categories together and suggest related products in your online listings to increase average order value.
Stock Up for Valentine's Day
Browse our range of wholesale accessories, wigs, and themed fancy dress to build your Valentine's Day offering. Wicked Nights offers same-day dispatch on orders before 2pm, so you can top up stock quickly as the date approaches.
New to wholesale? Apply for a trade account today and start ordering at competitive trade prices.