DRACUT -- Like many other area florists, Joanne Daly is happily gearing up for Monday, Valentine's Day, the busiest single day for florists, she says.
Floral orders at Christmas and Mother's Day are typically spread out over several days, but when it comes to the holiday for romance, Feb. 14 is the day to remember that special someone.
Daly, who runs the three-generation Charming Petals on Broadway Road, will rely on assistance from her mother, Mae Zannini, her daughter, Devan Daly, and at least three drivers to make sure those special deliveries of red roses, colorful tulips and other fragrant arrangements hit the mark on Cupid's holiday.
A 38-year veteran of the floral business, Daly takes the frenzy of the romantic holiday in stride, simply aiming to do her usual creative work using the freshest of florals.
In a shop brimming with hearts, roses, Valentine-themed gift baskets and other romantic trinkets, Daly shared her thoughts on Valentine's Day and saying "I love you" with flowers.
Q; Is the red rose still the most popular choice, or are there trendier choices now?
A: The red rose is still the most popular choice, absolutely. When it comes to the traditional way of showing love or affection, a red rose is what comes to mind first, no matter the age of the person. Pink and white roses come next, and we also now have the Latyn Lady, which is a red rose with a touch of pink.
Q: What is the most offbeat request you have received?
A: We have a customer who wanted a dozen roses delivered to his wife every half hour. That was great, except it was in Billerica, so I had my driver park someplace between deliveries. It was a total of four dozen roses delivered to the bank where she works. Everyone was telling her, "he's wonderful!" and "you're so lucky!" We ended up having to do that the day before Valentine's Day, as I could never tie up a driver that long on Valentine's Day.
Q: Do you think the still-sluggish economy will affect saying "I love you" with flowers?
A: I don't really think so. Flower people are flower people, and they will do it anyway. The day of the week that Valentine's falls on actually has more of an impact than the economy. Monday through Friday is a better holiday for us, because many flowers are delivered to the workplace. If it falls on a weekend, like last year, often they might go to dinner and a movie instead. A popular and less expensive choice than roses is the tulip in red and white, and they give that touch of spring. There's not a huge difference in the price, but they are a little less expensive.
Q: Will most of the flowers be ordered by phone, in person or online?
A: Most will be walk-ins or by telephone, with a few by e-mail and some online. Most people want to talk directly to you and confirm the information. Many like to just drop in to order. We have a nice big parking lot and easy parking, so it's not a problem.
Q: If someone calls or drops in at 2 p.m. on Monday, what are the chances of getting a dozen roses?
A: Chances of getting them are very good, but delivery might be a little harder to pull off. As long as they don't have a time constraint, we'll do the best we can. Most people do order early enough, and some have already called up to two weeks in advance. But this is really a "guy's holiday"; they are the ones that order the flowers, and that makes a big difference in the preplanning. We'll have walk-ins all day, right up until closing. And the next day, we even have a few stragglers.
Source:
No comments:
Post a Comment