KELLER — Roses are red, business is crazy—the week prior to Valentine’s Day.
Employees at Edible Arrangements will dip more than 10,000 strawberries. Instead of 25 to 30 fruit arrangements, they will likely make 400 to 500.Tiny Cake Shop will bake about 300 cupcakes instead of 150. Besides pies, Texas Harvest Pie Company is offering chocolate covered strawberries.Flower designers at My Bloomin' Shop will quadruple their work and employees will not likely go home on the 13th.“Last year we arrived at 7:30 a.m. and stayed all night long,” said Kimberly Bullock, designer.Instead selling 200 to 400 roses, employees at Kathy's Floral & Event are preparing for sales of more than 3,000 for the big day.Owner Kathy Zander said despite the sales, Valentine’s Day is not a florist’s favorite holiday.Spiked flower cost from growers, long hours using additional hired help and renting a refrigerated truck for extra storage all adds up to less profit.“A lot of florists dread the Valentine holiday,” Zander said. “We’re not making what we usually make, but we are here for our customers. We take as many orders as we can, we want to make our customers happy.”Zander said unfortunately, higher prices from growers trickle down to the customer.“Everyone gets mad at the florist,” she said. “It’s not us, we’re actually taking a cut. The growers are to blame for the high prices. Not only do they go up on the roses but they go up on the filler flower. It’s awful.”Zander said trying to compete with grocery store prices adds to the hardship.“The big chains, they buy in such bulk,” she said. “I can’t compete with $20.”Zander said money isn’t everything, her love of the business is what keeps her going.“Most people in this business love working with flowers and love working with people,” she said. “I have thought of doing something else that would make more money but I wouldn’t be happy.”Zander said after closing time on the big day, she will not be out celebrating.“If you come to a florist on Valentines Day, we’ll have bags under our eyes and no makeup on,” she said with a chuckle. “We’re tired. We’re just so exhausted, all I’ll want to do is sit down.”Sarah McGiney, owner of Edible Arrangements, said luckily , fruit growers do not raise prices because of Valentine’s Day.“Ours is weather driven. If berries are in short demand, the prices go up,” McGiney said. “We are completely at the mercy of Mother Nature.”McGiney said if the cost of fruit goes up, the business owner takes the loss in profit.“We don’t go up on our prices,” she said. “We’ve only gone up on pricing twice in seven years.”McGiney said behind the scenes at Edible Arrangements the week before a big holiday also includes hiring extra employees, renting a refrigerated truck and working 10 to 12 hours per day.Like Zander, McGiney’s love of the business stems from the customers.“People get really excited,” McGiney said. “Being a delivery driver is a fun job. Nobody yells at you, people are just happy.”Tiny Cake Shop opened in June so owner Randi Tatsch doesn’t have numbers from last year to compare but she is preparing double the amount of cupcakes for the big day.Valentine favorites include milk chocolate with fresh strawberry frosting, original strawberry made with fresh organic fruit and the ever-popular red velvet.Have more to add? News tip? Tell us
