If youB次元官网网址檙e wondering why the price of flowers jumps in time for ValentineB次元官网网址檚 Day, look no further than the fact that Feb. 14 is the biggest day of the year for flower sales.
And, while the red rose is still the No. 1 flower sought after on that day, the demand for all flowers goes through the roof on North AmericaB次元官网网址檚 annual day of romance.
That means competition, and competition in a capitalist market means the prices go up.
But thereB次元官网网址檚 good reason, and itB次元官网网址檚 not necessarily the retailer taking advantage, said Wendy Cornock, owner of Oak Bay Flower Shop.
The demand for scented lilies, which have grown in popularity, for instance, is up to $15 a stem from the supplier. Roses, as has been well documented, will also cost a pretty penny on Feb. 14.
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Most independent retail florists in the province rely on the United Flower Growers outlet in Burnaby, a Dutch-style flower auction supplied by a co-operative of 80 B.C. flower growers.
Local growers can not make a profit running extra greenhouses solely for ValentineB次元官网网址檚 Day. And so, retailers will outbid each other.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 an auction, [fuelled by] the madness and logistics of making sure we have fresh flowers in stock for our customers,B次元官网网址� Cornock said.
Cornock can access the auction online but also relies on her local suppliers to bring back what she wants.
B次元官网网址淢ost florists rely on suppliers, and suppliers, who are often local growers, will head to Vancouver not only to unload Island-grown flowers but return [with a truck full of] mainland-grown and imported flowers,B次元官网网址� Cornock said. B次元官网网址淪o much goes into it, itB次元官网网址檚 not just two days of the year. This week some suppliers are making multiple trips per day.B次元官网网址�
Locally, two of the bigger suppliers are Eurosa Farms and Mount Newton Floral, both on the Saanich Peninsula.
One thing that stands out about ValentineB次元官网网址檚 Day is the distinct profile of the customer, she says. While MotherB次元官网网址檚 Day is a close second as the two biggest days in the calendar of a flower business, the purchase of MotherB次元官网网址檚 Day flowers also has a high number of women involved in the buying. ValentineB次元官网网址檚 Day is generally one half of the relationship buying for the other. It means there is less of a need for a surprise, and for these reasons, pre-orders are far more common.
B次元官网网址淲ith MotherB次元官网网址檚 Day we get a much better idea of how much flowers to have in stock,B次元官网网址� Cornock said. B次元官网网址淲ith ValentineB次元官网网址檚 Day, itB次元官网网址檚 mostly men, and we love them. But they want to keep it a surprise, so they donB次元官网网址檛 want to buy them early.B次元官网网址�
It means that some men are out of luck when it comes to getting their partnerB次元官网网址檚 favourites.
B次元官网网址淭he answer is to pre-order if you want to make sure youB次元官网网址檒l get what you want,B次元官网网址� Cornock said. B次元官网网址淎nd it helps us, so we can get a better idea of how much to buy.B次元官网网址�
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That said, demands are changing. It used to be straight roses. And while roses are still the most sought after, itB次元官网网址檚 become more common to pair roses with the sweetheartB次元官网网址檚 favourite flowers, or to purchase other flowers altogether.
B次元官网网址淛ust look how full we are, thereB次元官网网址檚 no room,B次元官网网址� Cornock said.
Working long days this week are Cornock, her partner, three staff and three more high school students on the night shift.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檒l have to send the students upstairs to our storage to prepare flowers, thereB次元官网网址檚 no room down here.B次元官网网址�
After 10 years in business on Oak Bay Avenue, Cornock still gets a tingly feeling of excitement when she sees a fresh arrangement. B次元官网网址淚 still love it, the colours still make me say, B次元官网网址榃ow.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�
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