Weekend Valentine's Day keeps Manatee florists open Sunday
MANATEE -- Florists are looking for love this Valentine's Day -- largely because the romantic holiday lands on a Sunday this year.
To make up for fewer deliveries to offices and to make sure they are there for those last minute Valentines Day emergencies -- aka procrastinating boyfriends and husbands -- local florists are adjusting their Sunday hours and delivery schedules.
It seems to be working. Jamie Wilson, owner of The Secret Garden Florist and Boutique at 735 Seventh St. W. in Palmetto, said he's twice as busy for Valentine's Day this year as compared with last year when the holiday fell on a Saturday.
"I think people have more money to spend," Wilson said. "The economy is better or something."
Wilson's floral shop will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.
He lowers his prices for big flower holidays such as Valentine's Day and Mother's Day because he knows other florists who raise prices.
"I don't believe in price-gouging my customers," Wilson said. He buys flowers in bulk before the big holidays so he can pass the savings on to customers.
A lot of Wilson's Sunday orders came in on Thursday and Friday. Susan Clark, who co-owns Flowers by Edie, 4607 Cortez Road W., with her husband, Mark, said they've received a lot of last-minute orders, as well.
"It's very typical and very busy," Clark said. "We have a lot of last-minute orders. Guys are procrastinators. Nothing about that ever seems to change and they need help at the last minute."
Flowers by Edie isn't usually open Sunday, but this they have deliveries scheduled and will be open from 9 a.m. to at least 2 p.m. this Sunday, Clark estimates, though the shop could close earlier or later depending on when they run out of flowers.
If Valentine's Day lands on the weekend, Clark said it changes the holiday traffic.
"When it falls on Sunday it never is going to be as
good a holiday as it is during the week," she said.
But because some customers like to make a show out of sending flowers to their valentine, Josey's Poseys at 6100 Manatee Ave. W. saw lots of orders come in earlier in the week.
"I think people started real early this year," said Louise Josey, owner of Josey's Poseys. "Especially businesses; they're having them delivered Wednesday and Thursday. Usually they want them in businesses the day before Valentine's Day so everyone can see them."
Josey's Poseys will be open and delivering flowers Sunday this year, as well.
Almost 50 percent of respondents to the Society of American Florists' post-holiday survey said they saw a drop in sales for the 2015 holiday, while 37 percent said sales were higher compared with Valentine's Day in 2014.
Janelle O'Dea, business reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7095 or follow her on Twitter @jayohday.
This story was originally published February 12, 2016 at 11:49 PM with the headline "Weekend Valentine's Day keeps Manatee florists open Sunday ."