2009-02-05T10:26:00.000-08:00

Every Valentine's Day, we read about how expensive roses are. We agree!!! There are SO many other options that will give you a more dramatic look for your money. Although there are the traditionalists who will always order the same old dozen red roses, forward thinking flower buyers are starting to appreciate the idea of standing out.

In this more conservative enonomy, we are tyring to offer some more value driven Valentine flower designs along with some cautionary tales.

~Mix it up! Why not send mixed garden flowers with a few roses.
This way you get the romance of roses along with the assorted
fragrance and fullness of mixed flowers.

~Think spring! Tulips, daffodils and hyacinth are a great way to capture the joy of spring while not breaking the bank.

~Small but mighty! Pave’ designs are all the rage right now. Especially at Valentines Day, taller roses cost more…you can get a better value with a more compact design.

~It’s all about the styling! Less can be more if it’s styled right. Fewer high end flowers in a striking design can make more impact than a larger traditional arrangement.

~ Taste of the tropics! Exotic tropical flowers can also make a bold statement, especially when coupled with a creative card… “Since we couldn’t sneak off to the tropics, I thought I’d send them to you”

~ It’s all about the sentiment! Even the most inexpensive bouquet can be made romantic with a creative card. If you’re struggling, ask your florist…we are always glad to help.

The early bird gets the …

Many florists are offering discounts and perks for orders that are delivered on Thursday (2/12) or Friday (2/13). This gives you the opportunity to make all her coworkers jealous while saving a little money. There are also some opportunities for you to win too. A handful of independent florists, including Wildflowers, have gotten together to create the Blooms in HI-DEF sweepstakes where the grand prize is a 42” LCD TV.

Online Buyer Beware

With Valentines Day being the busiest online flower holiday there are a few guidelines that will help make you look like a hero. We all know the adage ‘you get what you pay for’, well not always. This is especially true when ordering flowers online. Although most local florists have ecommerce websites they often get buried beneath the paid advertisers in the search engines. Many of the larger online companies have call centers who then forward your order to a local florist…but only after they take a 25% ~ 30% commission. To get the best value for your money, make sure the florist you are ordering from is a real brick and mortar florist (you should look for a street address and a local phone number). This will ensure 100% of your money goes into your flowers.

The other thing you should look for when ordering online are flowers that are “direct shipped” or “farm direct”. This means that the loose flowers will be shipped in a cardboard box, without water. They arrive exactly as they left the warehouse, thorns and all. Although this may be less expensive, it is the romantic equivalent of sending someone a bag of groceries and expecting them to make dinner. Additionally, since these flowers are shipped rather than delivered, you run the risk of having them left on your doorstep if you are not home. This may be ok in milder climates, but here in Chicago, it’s pretty risky.

Wildflower Press