The new year is just hours away, Christmas displays are carefully being packed away, and your neighborhood florist is already up their ears in Valentine's day. Some of us have already placed our rose orders with growers or wholesalers. Lists of stock flowers needed are being fine tuned prior to ordering, most of us have our Valentine specials designed in our heads, containers, wrap and gift items are ready. And we're all scrambling to find that extra holiday help.
For the consumer, Valentine's day isn't even on their radar yet. That's O.K., it gives us a little more time to get ready.
Preparing for my 18th Valentine's day as a shop owner, I'd like to share a few thoughts.
1. To the men - you don't have to buy roses for Valentine's day!! So often throughout the year women will say to us "I wish my husband/boyfriend/partner would buy me something other than roses for Valentine's day" It's true, I don't lie. The secret to making Valentine's day special is finding out what flowers she likes and sending her those. Lillies, Gerbera Daisies, Iris, Alstromeria, Hydrangea - any of these are beautiful flowers in and of themselves. Try something different this year, you may be surprised by the reaction.
2. To the men - if you feel you have to buy flowers, don't. We stand at the counter all day long on Valentine's day and here things like "If I don't bring flowers home, I'm dead", "She'll never speak to me again if I forget Valentine's day." Wow, where's the love in that?? We want to be the florist for people that want to give flowers, not those that have to.
3. To the women - who ever said that Valentine's day is all about us? Again, when waiting on male customers we often ask them, "So what do you think your wife/girlfriend/partner is going to do for you today?" Most often they reply "Nothing, she never does anything". Ladies we need to share the love here! Why not surprise your man this year with a beautiful bouquet of fresh flowers? Think he'll be embarrassed? Sure! Think the guys will make fun of him? Maybe, but they'll also be jealous that they didn't get some as well. Afraid to take such a drastic step with a big bouquet?, start out small. Let us wrap one or two stems of something special for you man, then let us know how he reacts. I know if he's one of our regular customers, he'll be thrilled!!
