Flower sales ‘flat’

FLOWER vendors see flat sales this week despite today’s Valentine’s Day celebration. They blame increase in prices of flowers.

Although she reported good sales last Monday, Shiela Bontilao, 24, of Florimel Flower Shop (FFS) in Freedom Park, Carbon Market in Cebu City still hopes for buyers to flock today. She said prices of flowers, especially roses, double this week because of Valentine’s Day.

FFS sells roses from P230 to P400 per dozen. On regular days, roses are only P60 to P150 per dozen while other flowers like Malaysian Mums and Anthuriums range in prices from P15 to P150 per dozen.

Displays are also retailed at P50 apiece and those with elaborate designs cost P80 each.

FFS buys flowers from Busay in Cebu City, Dalaguete and Baguio.

Bontilao said December, January, May and June are peak months for their business
because of the holidays, Sinulog Festival, town fiestas and weddings.

Compared to 2011 when the business was doing really wellf, Bontilao said sales were low in 2012 because of tough competition.

She said their flower business, which her family operated for over 20 years, was hit when many customers shifted to imported flowers available from competitors.

Bebe Arcayan, 53, owner of a fresh flower stall in Freedom Park, also increased her prices for this week, with roses, anthuriums, orchids sold at P350 to P800 per dozen compared to the regular price of around P150 per dozen.

Arcayan buys her flowers direct from Baguio. With flower shows sprouting outside Carbon Market, Arcayan is banking on walk-in customers and online orders for today’s Valentines Day.

She said department stores and sidewalk outlets within the city are becoming more accessible to buyers.

She said clients she has been receiving minimal orders as of Wednesday.

“Valentines is only for a day. If you’re lucky then it’s a “one-time-big-time” for you,” she said.

For flower seller Jun Cañete, Valentine’s Day is not something he focuses on. The 42-year-old florist has been in flower arrangement for 15 years already. He agreed that there is low demand for flowers in Freedom Park this week.

Cañete said buyers nowadays are attracted to the comfort of air-conditioned flower shops such as mall outlets although their prices differ by about P500 are those sold in Carbon Market.

Cañete specializes in wedding flowers. He expects to do well on Valentine’s Day because he was asked to provide flowers for a mass wedding of 200 couoles in Mandaue City today.