| IT'S meant to be a celebration of love - but Valentine's Day has turned into a war of the roses between florists and wholesalers. "The price goes up not because we want to make heaps of money but because everyone is putting their prices up, from the growers to the wholesalers and we need to make our mark-up as well. "We will give them a dozen at $69," Ms Boueihi said. "We give a gift bouquet wrapped with fillers, cello and the works. " STORIES about betrayal in war, a young florist with a talking cabbage for a friend and a memoir of muso Paul Kelly are all vying to be named the perfect in Australian literature. Plus we need to hire more people and more people means more money from us," Mr Phan said. "When you go to a wholesaler, you have to strip all of the roses yourself and make it into a bouquet and wrap it up. "When coming to a florist you can get gift wrapping, we do the roses in glass vases, they appear spectacular and we are able to offer delivery - the whole package really," she said "We can do them with chocolates and champagne, you name it, we offer it. Sydney florist Patricia D'Amico, who owns the Floral Desire Studio, said florists also offered a range of extra services when putting together a bouquet. "Although we have had adverse weather here in NSW, with the technology and the know-how crops are in a pristine state and everything is ready to go," he said. " But bargain hunters can save a wad of cash if they buy from wholesalers and some are even chucking in the cellophane and ribbon for free. Thelma Boueihi from Floral City, who sells to supermarkets, convenience stores and florists, said wholesalers were increasingly selling direct to the public as clients sought a cheaper option. That would take a non-florist a couple of hours to do. " Flower grower and wholesaler Rob Giansante, who sells his blooms at the Sydney Flower Markets, said a huge amount of work went into producing an abundance of roses for Valentine's Day but they are roaring and ready to go. "You get that extra touch at a florist," Flowers and Bowers owner J. "We package it up very nicely and use black paper with beautiful rope. "I recommend that people should shop around - your big chains are going to rip you off. |
Sunday 12 February 2012
Valentine's Day is a war of the roses between florists and wholesalers
