“If you hang out here long enough, we’re liable to put you to work,” Jamie Rumple called from the work room at Village Florist around lunchtime.
About two tables’ worth of arrangements and balloons were yet to be delivered, but in the back room, Rumple and Judy Games kept putting more together.
Valentine’s Day is the second-busiest day of the year at Village Florist, after Mother’s Day, Games said. The other big ones are prom and Easter. “We still have a lot of traditional customers who want corsages for church,” she said.
Having Valentine’s Day fall on a Tuesday is a great thing for florists, said owner Wendy Schrimper. When the holiday falls on a weekend, people may tend to skip the flowers and go out to dinner instead. But on a weekday, there’s a better chance of being able to “show off” a flower arrangement at work.
Schrimper said the store had to estimate how many and what types of flowers it would need three months ago because they have to be shipped in from warmer climates, and the cost to florists triples around the holiday.
Valentine’s Day accounts for 10 to 15 percent of annual sales, she said. With the increased costs of doing the holiday business, including paying four delivery drivers, “We’re not making any money,” she said. “We’re just trying to keep our customers happy.'”
But that is something they’re happy to do.
Schrimper said she hadn’t cut off orders yet, but might have to think about limiting them only to local customers. “We might be here ’til 7 tonight, but that’s OK,” she said.
“We like to be able to take care of our local folks.”
