It goes without saying, Valentine's Day is one of the busiest times for florists. More than that, it is a very stressful time. Valentine's Day puts the importance of love on a pedestal. And the notion of "saying it with flowers" puts us in the hot seat to deliver messages of love and devotion!
I can't knock Valentine's – this jubilant expression of love, or even lust, and flirtation. It's been scientifically proven: love (and dopamine) creates feelings of euphoria. We're told love conquers all, love triumphs over evil, love is in the air, and of course all you need is love! One of our very human desires – it’s something we all crave and should celebrate.
But the journey to deliver love is not without its hurdles!
Global demand for flowers surges in the weeks leading up to February 14th. Prices spike and the supply of sought-after blooms, especially the iconic red varieties, decrease with demand. We grapple with the unpredictability of pre-booking flowers months in advance of sales. Who thinks of Valentine's flowers right after Christmas? Well, florists do! It's a delicate dance of foresight and spontaneity.
Come game day, florists dive into overdrive! With extra staff and hired drivers to help ensure timely deliveries, we're working flat out. Despite meticulous planning, weather and wrong addresses can add unpredictability to the logistics. Every Romeo or Juliette wants their delivery to arrive early. But someone will be first, and someone will be last with ten times the volume! Our phone starts ringing around noon with "when will it get there?" as we're trying to deal with walk-in customers and last-minute orders. Yet, amid the chaos, florists bask in the infectious joy of Valentine's Day. Our regulars order on-line or by phone in advance. They choose from our lovely palettes, they get our aesthetic, and trust our designers! The journey, though challenging, remains a labour of love – echoing the sentiment that love, in all its chaos and vibrancy, is truly worth the effort.
