The business of romance igniting Valentine's Day

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01:56

In this year's Valentine's Day, couples in China prefer custom-made and creative gifts than traditional ones, while binding online shopping accounts with loved one becomes the new romance to express love.

Chinese e-commerce giant, Alibaba, reports that more than 12 million couples have bundled their online shopping accounts with each other since last Valentine's Day.

They did so to express their love for each other as the combined accounts allow each of the lovebirds to shop and pay for the other on Alibaba's Taobao and T-Mall shopping sites. Those accounts will give each couple an exclusive page to talk, shop and surprise each other. The campaign by Alibaba aims to create a new shopping spree after the Singles' day and the Chinese New Year to drive revenues.

Meanwhile, couples in China want custom-made Valentine's Day gifts. That's why many fragrance brands now provide personalized tags on perfume and cologne bottles, candles and gifts.

Shoppers can request their loved ones' names be written on those tags. Some also put Valentine's Day blessings or sweet talk on the tags. Many cosmetics, skincare and even dental care brands are also on board with the move.

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Flowers and diamonds are the top two favorites when it comes to Valentine's Day gifts, based on Alibaba. But there are rather creative gifts, too.

Cherries and strawberries come in third and fourth. Cherry sales jumped up 65 percent on the year this Valentine's Day season, while strawberry sales more than doubled. Premium cherries have the highest profit margin on the market right now, so giving cherries to your loved ones is a symbol of achieving financial goals together. As for strawberries, it also means hickey or love bites in Chinese.

Following on the heel, not surprisingly - sex toys, and surprisingly - aesthetic dermatology therapy, sewing machines and dog food. Women make 58 percent of the purchases of those Valentine's Day favorites.