Love has been in the air this week (much to some people’s annoyance), but Valentine’s Day isn’t the only reason that people, and brands, have been sharing the love.

Valentine’s Day is an occasion that notoriously divides opinions, regardless of whether you’re single or happily in a relationship. Some people jump at the opportunity to celebrate their love with a romantic candle-lit meal and flowers, whilst others will avoid card shops and restaurants in the days leading up to the event.

Whether you are a fan of the occasion or not, there is no denying that Valentine’s Day is a big event on the calendar, with Worldpay predicting beforehand that consumers would spend an enormous £128 million this year. With consumers spending more and more each year, you can see why it is a key event for brands.

One of our favourite campaigns this week came from Snickers, who created a giant poster filled with 3,000 Valentine’s cards for commuters at Waterloo station. People who had forgotten to pick up a Valentines card could peel one off the poster and take away to use. The tongue in cheek campaign also saw another 3,000 cards at the station this morning, for those people who forgot completely!

But have you heard of Galentine’s Day? We will be honest with you, until this week we had never heard of it, but we certainly didn’t miss it all over social media this week.

Galentine’s Day, which is on 13th February, originated from a TV show, and is a day to celebrate your female friends, according to The Independent. What may have started off as a fad is quickly becoming a social media phenomenon, with The Drum revealing that Pinterest searches for ‘Galentine’s Day Ideas’ has seen an enormous 1,780 percent year-on year increase.

Brands have taken notice of the Galentine’s hype this year, with the likes as M&S, Malibu and Remington getting involved on social media. Brands key messages for Galentine’s Day have heavily focussed on friendship, empowering women and taking time out to relax.

We’re intrigued to see how brands will get creative with Galentine’s next day, as the trend continues to grow!

Posted: 15/02/2017