Valentine's Day is more than a week away but already it's looking sweet for the city. According to the National Retail Federation spending will increase 13 percent or about a hundred dollars per person on gifts. Which is good news for local companies and the city.
"We have lots of orders right now which is almost unheard of so I think things are coming back and I hope," says Gwenn Whisenhunt, Mrs. Dehaven's employee.
Whisenhunt has been working at Mrs. Dehaven's for the last 50 years and she can tell you anything you need to know about floral arrangements but with the slower economy the floral industry has at times wilted.
"Flowers are something it's always a nice touch but its not a necessity in life," says owner, Amy Adkins.
Adkins says coming off the Christmas holiday this year is looking good and the city of Tulsa is already seeing the benefits of a good holiday season.
"It's been really nice the last few months the revenues have been higher than expected month after month. So if we can keep that up that's really going to help the city to do some things that we have had to cut back on the last couple of years," says City Councilor, Blake Ewing.
The city spends the sales tax revenue on police, fire and streets and other essential services to keep our city running. So the increase is helping both the city and the local business owners. Those owners say its all about staying competitive with the growth of Internet shopping.
"Everyone has to be thinking ahead reinventing themselves. Everybody gets to that point as a business owner particularly small local business owners you always have to be thinking ahead. You can't just keep going with what has worked the past few years," says Adkins.
Staying competitive is one thing that should lead more people in the doors of local businesses because it's a win-win for the city and the local owners.
"It shows a little more thought when you hit up the local merchants and buy something unique it's a great opportunity to take care of the people in your life that you really care by shopping local," says Ewing.
