Valentine's Day Information... please read before placing your order online!

Yesterday, we started our call outs to all the people that ordered Valentine's Day flowers last year. We do this every year, and have such great luck at getting lots of repeat orders, but more importantly, maintain some calm. By getting our orders lined up early, we partially eliminate some of the mayhem at the end, and take care of our regulars! Unfortunately for all of the demand, it pressures our system, the supply, and our ability to fill every last order. Prices MUST go up from February 11th to the 14th. It is the only way for us to make sure that you get what you are used to, abundance, quality, freshness, the best!!

Initially we start with a price schedule that is most expensive for delivery on Thursday the 14th of February, and is less costly each day prior to the 14th. It is always better to send the flowers a couple of days earlier anyway, because things are so out of control as we get closer. Plus the deliveries are more timely and the flowers are enjoyed and envied longer. As we get booked up, and the early birds are taken care of, we raise the prices again. So you are rewarded for planning ahead. The price MINIMUMS listed are good for a couple of more days.

Monday February 11th,2008- $65 plus tax and delivery
Tuesday February 12th,2008- $75 plus tax and delivery
Wednesday February 13th,2008- $85 plus tax and delivery
Thursday February 14th,2008- $100 plus tax and delivery
Roses in Red or White(one dozen mixed with other flowers), anyday February 11th-14th- $125 plus tax and delivery
Roses in all other colors(one dozen mixed with orther flowers), anyday February 11th-14th- $110 plus tax and delivery
Pick up orders February 11th-13th- $65 plus tax
Pick up orders February 14th- $75 plus tax

Valentine's Day is Looming...

Less than three weeks away, Valentine's Day is upon us. Last year for the first time ever, I cut off order taking the day before the 14th. Topped that by putting a sign in the door, that we were not accepting walkins. Please order early, and now is the time.

Next week, we will call out to anyone that ordered last year, and give them a reminder to order. The best pricing is between now and the 31st. Once we roll into February, prices start to go up. I am still trying to decide how to price for this year. Seems last year our prices were right on, but due to the huge demand, and the higher costs of doing business this year, I think we will have to raise the prices a bit.

Please know, despite what the holiday appears to be to the outsider, Valentine's Day is not the huge money maker that you might think. Ask any flower person in the business, and they will tell you that when it is all said and done, it is a spin your wheels faster week. We usually end up realizing we just worked really really hard for not to much more. The upside is that this is the one time a year that there are so many flower arrangements out there all on the same day. People get to see our work against all the others, and the difference is very clear. So, I like to say that it is the best marketing day of the year. We always get lots of spin off business from what we send out on Valentine's Day.

I will be posting pricing here on the blog over the next few days. Please don't wait, call your order in now! Oh, and this is the one time you will hear me say it.... Happy Valentine's Day!!

Rough & Tough

Broken flower stems, mixed up emotions and feelings, reality sets in. What more can I say. This has been one awful month and a half. Nothing to give Thanks for, no one to light candles with, lost lust for flowers, lack of concentration, dreary Christmas, lonely New Years. What the hell, lucky I have time's healing on my side. Smiling for January. Oh, no, the flower business was fine. Sales may be down a tad, but profit was up, oddly enough. And pleased to see some Spring Anemones and Ranunculus. Tulips are just around the corner too. Ugh to Valentine's Day, but if you know me, you know I dread the madness of this outrageous hallmark holiday. Ok, yeah, there is a shot in the arm of cash flow, just enough to make up for the January quiet times. But really, this year, you better get your order in early, and it best be more than $100. I am trying to keep my self busy doing some year end organizing and some early spring cleaning. Throwing out the old crap and trying to neat and tidy the good stuff. Definitely going to try to keep up the bloggery, since I have been super bad at that. Repot the Orchid plants and continue to imagine that I can get them to bloom. Stop using ginger jar vases, more squatty cylinders. Lost yet another local cut flower grower! Maybe paint some more? I don't know about that. How about get some exercise? Nah! A new iMac would be good! Ok, well, I am still not quite there yet. Give me a little more time. I think I will try to write a nice entry next week.