As our eastern neighbors prepared for record-breaking snowfall this past weekend, local florists were bracing for a different kind of storm: Valentine's Day.
Jason Rearick / The Citizen
McEvoy Florist owner Chris McEvoy assembles an arrangement for the display cases in the front of the store.
McEvoy Florist owner Chris McEvoy assembles an arrangement for the display cases in the front of the store.
Whether organizing shipments, preparing vases or cutting ribbon, area florists were getting ready for the 2006 war of the roses. Today marks one of the busiest days for floral shops, as they put in extra hours to meet the onslaught of pre-orders and deliveries, as well as the pleas of those forgetful, desperate souls who come begging at their doors around 5 p.m.
“You get the last-minute crowd,” said Regina Carnicelli, a seasonal employee at Guido's Town and Country Florist in Owasco. “It's usually repeat offenders, the same guys.”
Carnicelli is one of several people owner Linda Guido recruits to help with the added business that comes with Valentine's Day, a day that earns Guido's shop roughly 5 percent of its yearly revenues. Guido also wrangles her husband and sons to assist with all of the preparation and with some delivery.
Last year, Guido estimated, she sold a couple thousand roses.
“You definitely need extra help for that,” she said.
Though marketed as a romantic time, the added pressures of the day can lead some florists to have a love-hate relationship with Feb. 14. Unlike other popular flower-giving holidays such as Mother's Day and Christmas, where orders are prepared and delivered throughout an entire week or month, Valentine's is generally a one-day only, organized chaos affair.
“It's a terrible holiday because it comes all at once,” said Mike Carnicelli, co-owner of Preston's Florist in Auburn. “It's like doing a week or two of business in one day. It just comes so fast and furious.”
Carnicelli has been in the business for 46 years, so he's accustomed to the high-pressure atmosphere that comes with Cupid.
He recalled one employee who, after experiencing her first
Valentine's Day, sat down and cried. Carnicelli mused that
sometimes he feels like doing the same.
Part of the frustration can stem from the unpredictability of how many roses to order.
“It's always a gamble,” Carnicelli said. “You never know how much you're going to need.”
And to further complicate matters, this year florists don't have the luxury of having Valentine's fall on a weekend. Carnicelli estimated that 90 to 95 percent of his orders will be deliveries that must be perfectly timed so that a wife or girlfriend is still at work when the flowers arrive.
And what are those flowers?
According to Chris McEvoy, owner of McEvoy Florist in Auburn, things haven't changed all that much in the 48 years he's been in business.
Though some people like to order a variety of different colors, red roses are still the most popular.
He estimated Valentine's Day can generate as much as a quarter of his yearly revenue.
But in exchange for the financial gain, he must employ some extra help and put in extended hours.
“You have to just keep putting time until you get everything done,” said McEvoy, who encourages people to come in and “buy their love insurance.”
McEvoy said he enjoys the season in general, a sentiment echoed by Sandra Schmidt, owner of Fleur-De-Lis Florist in Skaneateles.
But Schmidt also noted it
can be a very stressful experience, particularly when you
factor in the snowy central
New York weather and the increasing need to compete with grocery stores that sell roses in bulk.
As her shop's second biggest holiday (the first is Mother's Day), she doesn't employ extra help but maintains that her “staff just works a little harder and a little longer.”
They won't get a chance to relax Wednesday either.
The period after Valentine's Day tends to be a pretty busy one for all those who find themselves in the doghouse after forgetting what day it was.
“Men don't think in advance, you know,” Schmidt quipped. “It's really amazing. We have a lot of orders for that day.”
Meaning of rose colors
Red: love, passion, respect, beauty
Pink: happiness, appreciation, admiration, friendship, sympathy
Light pink: grace, joy, gentility, admiration
Dark pink: thankfulness
Lavender: love at first sight, enchantment
White: spiritual love, purity, secrecy, reverence, humility, innocence, charm
Yellow: friendship, joy, gladness, freedom
Peach: modesty
Orange: enthusiasm, desire,
fascination
White and red mixed together: unity
Red and yellow mix:
congratulations
Source: www.rosefarm.com
Staff writer Linda Ober can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 237 or linda.ober@lee.net
“You get the last-minute crowd,” said Regina Carnicelli, a seasonal employee at Guido's Town and Country Florist in Owasco. “It's usually repeat offenders, the same guys.”
Carnicelli is one of several people owner Linda Guido recruits to help with the added business that comes with Valentine's Day, a day that earns Guido's shop roughly 5 percent of its yearly revenues. Guido also wrangles her husband and sons to assist with all of the preparation and with some delivery.
Last year, Guido estimated, she sold a couple thousand roses.
“You definitely need extra help for that,” she said.
Though marketed as a romantic time, the added pressures of the day can lead some florists to have a love-hate relationship with Feb. 14. Unlike other popular flower-giving holidays such as Mother's Day and Christmas, where orders are prepared and delivered throughout an entire week or month, Valentine's is generally a one-day only, organized chaos affair.
“It's a terrible holiday because it comes all at once,” said Mike Carnicelli, co-owner of Preston's Florist in Auburn. “It's like doing a week or two of business in one day. It just comes so fast and furious.”
Carnicelli has been in the business for 46 years, so he's accustomed to the high-pressure atmosphere that comes with Cupid.
He recalled one employee who, after experiencing her first
Valentine's Day, sat down and cried. Carnicelli mused that
sometimes he feels like doing the same.
Part of the frustration can stem from the unpredictability of how many roses to order.
“It's always a gamble,” Carnicelli said. “You never know how much you're going to need.”
And to further complicate matters, this year florists don't have the luxury of having Valentine's fall on a weekend. Carnicelli estimated that 90 to 95 percent of his orders will be deliveries that must be perfectly timed so that a wife or girlfriend is still at work when the flowers arrive.
And what are those flowers?
According to Chris McEvoy, owner of McEvoy Florist in Auburn, things haven't changed all that much in the 48 years he's been in business.
Though some people like to order a variety of different colors, red roses are still the most popular.
He estimated Valentine's Day can generate as much as a quarter of his yearly revenue.
But in exchange for the financial gain, he must employ some extra help and put in extended hours.
“You have to just keep putting time until you get everything done,” said McEvoy, who encourages people to come in and “buy their love insurance.”
McEvoy said he enjoys the season in general, a sentiment echoed by Sandra Schmidt, owner of Fleur-De-Lis Florist in Skaneateles.
But Schmidt also noted it
can be a very stressful experience, particularly when you
factor in the snowy central
New York weather and the increasing need to compete with grocery stores that sell roses in bulk.
As her shop's second biggest holiday (the first is Mother's Day), she doesn't employ extra help but maintains that her “staff just works a little harder and a little longer.”
They won't get a chance to relax Wednesday either.
The period after Valentine's Day tends to be a pretty busy one for all those who find themselves in the doghouse after forgetting what day it was.
“Men don't think in advance, you know,” Schmidt quipped. “It's really amazing. We have a lot of orders for that day.”
Meaning of rose colors
Red: love, passion, respect, beauty
Pink: happiness, appreciation, admiration, friendship, sympathy
Light pink: grace, joy, gentility, admiration
Dark pink: thankfulness
Lavender: love at first sight, enchantment
White: spiritual love, purity, secrecy, reverence, humility, innocence, charm
Yellow: friendship, joy, gladness, freedom
Peach: modesty
Orange: enthusiasm, desire,
fascination
White and red mixed together: unity
Red and yellow mix:
congratulations
Source: www.rosefarm.com
Staff writer Linda Ober can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 237 or linda.ober@lee.net
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