Your retail work does not end just because the Valentine’s Day 2026 rush is over. While the roses have wilted, effective post-holiday analysis is critical for maximising future profits. While the February 16 rush is over, some customers are still purchasing what remains. Control your instinct to pack away the displays and immediately shift your focus to Easter. Also, you need to determine what went right and what went wrong for Valentine’s Day.
Here is how to effectively measure your Valentine’s Day 2026 performance.
1. The “Hangover” Period: Don’t Pack Up Yet
First, a tactical reminder: keep your displays up. Many Valentine's Day purchases are impulsive or made at the last minute. We often see a “long tail” of sales from people who forgot the date or are celebrating a bit later.
Action: Maintain a condensed Valentine’s display for another week.
Opportunity: This is the prime time for bargain hunters. Use this period to clear leftover stock immediately rather than storing it. Cash in the till today is better than dead stock in a box for 12 months.
While you clear the physical floor, it is time to turn your attention to the digital footprint left by yesterday’s shoppers.
Once the physical floor is sorted, you must shift focus to the hard data sitting in your POS system.
2. Year-on-Year: The 2026 Reality Check
You cannot improve what you do not measure. Go to your POS system and run a comparison report for February 14, 2026, versus February 14, 2025.
Do not look at the total revenue figure alone. Drill down into specific departments that drive our local traffic, specifically Cards, Gifts, and Books.
Did you beat last year? If so, was it driven by higher transaction counts (more people) or by what many reported as a higher average transaction value?
3. Strategic Metrics: Moving Beyond Revenue
The following KPI metrics tell you how well you sold it.
Gross Profit (GP) Contribution vs. Floor Space
Did your Valentine’s display earn its rent? First, measure the length of your seasonal display. Next, compare the GP dollars generated by that space against your standard mix, such as stationery. If the love hearts didn’t outperform the ballpoints, that space was wasted. You might need to condense the footprint next year to maximise return on investment.
Revenue Per Rostered Hour
Review your roster for February 13th and 14th. Calculate your total revenue divided by the total labour hours paid.
If your revenue per hour was too low, you may have over-rostered. If it was too high, you likely burnt out your team and missed sales due to long queues. Sustainable labour costs are key to long-term viability.
4. Inventory Forensics: Audit Your Valentine’s Stock
Every item left on your shelf tells a story.
The “Sold Out” Items
These are your most expensive mistakes. If you ran out of specific card captions (e.g., “Wife” or “Husband”) by 2 PM, you capped your own revenue. Plan to increase these specific lines next year.
The Leftovers
These items highlight what did not resonate. Was it the price point? The design? Make a note now. If you are left with too many red candles, do not repeat the order in 2027.
Dead Stock Audit
Use this post-event lull to run a store-wide dead stock report. Identify items that haven’t moved in six months. Clear this inventory to free up cash flow for higher-margin categories like gifts or new book releases.
5. Staff Performance: The Human Element
Did your team handle the pressure? Review your employee. Identify who did well on that day and who struggled. Use this data to plan your Easter rostering.
Summary
The difference between a “busy day” and a “profitable day” is data. By moving away from habit-based buying and using evidence to guide your decisions, you ensure your business remains valuable and relevant.
Key Takeaways for Next Year:
- Measure: Compare specific dates (Feb 14) and departments (Cards/Gifts).
- Analyse: Look at GP per square meter and labour efficiency.
- Act: Clear dead stock now and document “sold out” items for future ordering.
Checklist Contents:
7 Comprehensive Sections:
- The Hangover Period – Display maintenance and clearance priorities
- Year-on-Year Comparison – POS data tracking for 2025 vs. 2026
- Strategic Metrics – GP per sq. meter and labour efficiency calculations
- Inventory Forensics – Sold-out items, leftovers, and dead stock audit
- Staff Performance – Review how your employee behaved
Written by:
Bernard Zimmermann is the founding director of POS Solutions, a leading point-of-sale system company with 45 years of industry experience, now retired and seeking new opportunities. He consults with various organisations, from small businesses to large retailers and government institutions. Bernard is passionate about helping companies optimise their operations through innovative POS technology and enabling seamless customer experiences through effective software solutions.
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