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Mr Tito, 31, learned a few select phrases in Japanese so he was able to ask her father's permission in the family's native language. "It felt like forever before he said yes. He made me sweat a little." Miss Kitora was expecting their day to be far
The country singer, 28, wore a Reem Acra gown that was slashed to the thigh and carried a large bouquet of white flowers. The groom, 37, who appeared to wipe away tears as they said 'I do', opted for black trousers, a white tuxedo jacket and
Valentine's Day sales don't measure up to Christmas, but for some businesses ...
Paul Murdoch, co-owner of the meat smoker, says a "couldn't hurt" philosophy was the key ingredient to his burgeoning Valentine's Day operation. A former employee suggested the idea of making seasonal bouquets using Gary West's jerky in 2007. Though skeptical at first, Murdoch says the marketing ploy proved to be a boon for the business. Christmas still reigns supreme in seasonal sales, but Valentine's Day is a close second -- accounting for about 5 percent of annual sales, which totaled $2 million last year. "Valentine's Day has become really significant," Murdoch says. "When we introduced this jerky bouquet, I didn't think it would do nearly as well as it has."
Many people might not consider a gift of beef jerky very romantic. But the quirkiness is part of the appeal. Fox News, Cosmopolitan and other media snapped up the story, and orders surged, Murdoch says. The company's targeted use of Facebook advertising has been especially effective. After the Cosmo piece, Murdoch realized that his core customer is women in relationships with men. "We'll use Facebook primarily because you can target that demographic so accurately," he says.
