The Hughes-Trigg Student Center is hosting the annual Valentine’s Day Vendor Fair today from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. in the Hughes-Trigg Commons. It will feature Valentine’s gifts including jewelry, handbags, cosmetics, scrapbooking and cards made by students as well outside companies.
 

Valentine’s Day is a long-standing tradition to acknowledge the holiday with a simple card for a significant other, friend or family member.
 

According to the Hallmark Web site, Valentine’s Day has become the second largest holiday for giving greeting cards. However, the gifts people exchange on Valentine’s Day have increasingly become more romantic or extravagant and often include jewelry and candlelit dinners.
 

This year, SMU’s Valentine’s Day Vendor Fair will offer a variety of options, whether you want to find romantic jewelry or you only need something simple and sweet, such as flowers or a box of chocolates.
 

Mariana Sullivan, marketing manager at Hughes-Trigg, said she believed they had been sponsoring some kind of Valentine’s Day fair for the past ten years. These would range from craft fairs selling products made by students and student organizations to vendor fairs similar to this year’s, involving companies alongside student products.
 

“Every year, we invite local vendors and SMU students and staff to come and sell their products or promote their companies during our Valentine’s Day Vendor Fair,” Sullivan said. “Some people buy for their loved ones, just for themselves or for the office.”
 

Sullivan is very excited about this event and hopes a large number of people will come and find their Valentine’s Day gifts at SMU. Those who attend the fair can purchase their gifts with Pony Express, cash, check or credit card.
 

While most Valentine’s Day gifts are geared toward men buying for women, this vendor fair will provide options for girls searching for a gift for their Valentine as well. At least 11 companies are participating in the fair this year including Mary Kay Cosmetics, Creative Memories, H20 Swimwear, Ambrea Collections, Hail Merry, Park Cities Limousine, Homemade Gourmet and Cookie Lee Jewelry.
 

Attendees can also purchase chocolate covered strawberries from SMU’s Delta Sigma Theta, or roses from LULAC among other possible students products.
 

The goal of the Hughes-Trigg Valentine’s Day fair is to encourage people to support SMU organizations. Sullivan hopes that among the brand name products and wide range of options, people will find their perfect gift this year in the Hughes-Trigg Commons.