Did you know?
In the US, Valentine’s Day is the biggest floral holiday of the year
About of one third of gifts purchased are flowers
We polled our community of florists online to find out the best way to get great flowers and service this Valentine’s Day. Here are their top tips…
1. Pre-Order
1-2 weeks before Valentine’s Day is the best time to pre-order your flowers. Many florists even offer discounted pricing if flowers are ordered in January. Ordering ahead ensures they’ll have exactly what you want on-hand as well as giving you access to preferred delivery times.
2. Do Your Research
If you don’t have a relationship with a trusted florist or you're buying for someone in another city, do your research. Look for a florist with a physical address. When searching online, scroll past the ads first. Check their online portfolio for items that match the style you are going for.
3. Avoid Wire Services
If you see a shop that boasts the name of a wire service like Teleflora or 1-800-Flowers be wary. Wire services take profits away from local shops via fees and put them under other constraints to create arrangements that compromise quality.
Skip the middle man! Florists agree that when customers order outside of these wire services, everyone wins: more flowers and better quality.
4. Be Open to Something New
It’s possible you’ve been sending your love a dozen red roses for the last 20 years, but even that can get tired. Mix it up! Let your florist share their talents. Their job is to make you look good!
Tell them that you’re open to “designers choice” and ask what they recommend. If you do your research (see above) chances are you’ll be pleasantly surprised and so will your Valentine.
5. Tell a Story
This is a holiday about love after all. Tell the person taking your order a bit more about who it is for and what that person is like. If you're taking the time to send someone flowers, share the essence of who that person is, what they love and their style. This will allow the designer to be more creative and give you confidence that what they receive matches their personality.
6. Choose an Alternate Date
Many florists we spoke with recommended ordering 1-2 days before the holiday when your florist has more energy and more availability to deliver to businesses and public buildings at your preferred time.
Designer Trisha said she tells customers to write “I just couldn’t wait to show you how much I love you” on the card and it’s always a success.
7. Be Kind, Understanding, and Flexible
This is the biggest floral day of the year, so set your expectations accordingly. A great shop will be friendly and helpful even in times of stress.
Flower prices are elevated for V-Day because of the huge demand placed on growers in the dead of winter. Florists still have to compete with grocery stores, online sellers, and other florists to win your business, and their goal is to keep you coming back even after February 14th has passed.
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