Florists: Business better this year

For most florists, this Valentine's Day was less challenging than last year's. In February 2008, just a few days after a major ice storm, florists were out trying to deliver expressions of love in less-than-favorable road conditions and cold weather that makes fresh flowers and plants vulnerable.

Having the holiday fall on a weekend also gave florists a break. If they don't have to work the following day, some couples choose to go out for a romantic night rather than purchase flowers.

"Typically when it's in the middle of the week, flower sales are pretty high," said Jeanne Friedrich of Delta, Mo., longtime floral designer at Arrangements by Joyce in Cape Girardeau. "On weekends there are other options like movies and dinner."

"A lot of people placed orders already," Friedrich said Saturday. They had not stopped to take time to count the number of orders they filled, but she said, "I think it's going to be good."

Sonny Bodenstein, co-owner of Toni's Flower House in Cape Girardeau, has worked past 10 p.m. since Thursday. He said his shop planned on closing around 5 p.m. yesterday, but more likely they'd close when customers stopped coming through the door.

KIT DOYLE ~ kdoyle@semissourian.comJoyce Kuntze prepares a large Valentine's Day order as others wait to be delivered Saturday morning, February 14, 2009, at Arrangements by Joyce in Cape Girardeau.

"So many wanted [flowers delivered] Friday. Today it's foot traffic," Sonny said.

Both florists agreed that red roses were the top seller and that extra drivers, vans and staff were necessary to fill and deliver Valentine's Day orders.

"Yesterday was a killer day, with deliveries going everywhere," Sonny said. "We had some gigantic arrangements, one was $150."

Sharon Bodenstein said this Valentine's Day has been one of the calmer ones in comparison to those she's seen in the 10 years she's owned Toni's. She believed it was because the orders started coming in Thursday and Valentine's Day business was spread out over three days.

Country Mart's floral department was getting down to odds and ends by late Saturday. Their biggest seller was a roses, not all red but a variety of colors in a bunch. Business at the floral department is mostly made in foot sales, but they do offer delivery.

"I'm tickled to death," said Betty Hampton, floral department manager. "Blooming plants we're completely out of. Last year we had hardly any walk-in business because of the storm. Business was a bomb."

"We've had one tenth of the deliveries we normally have. I think people are saving that money and putting it on something else," Hampton said.

The demand for flowers and Valentine's Day gifts started Thursday and has been steady over the last three days since 7 a.m., according to Hampton. The floral department stayed open till 7 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

"We do a lot of mixed arrangements," Hampton said. "We were surprised -- thinking that people might buy less -- but everybody is still buying, but maybe not as much add-ons. We have stuffed animals, candy, balloons [and] picture frames that you can add on."

cpagano@semissourian.com

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