If you haven’t bought flowers for Valentine’s Day yet, you’re likely not alone. Florists in Stonington, Mystic and Pawcatuck say last-minute shoppers are their biggest customers, and they're hoping those procrastinators will mean big sales.
“It’s hard to tell, it’s early still,” said Judy Mann of . “It looks like it could be good.”
The old-fashioned flower shop on South Broad Street in Pawcatuck sells a mix of products, takes orders and does deliveries.
They’re promoting their Valentine’s Day specials online through Facebook and their website. Steve Mann of Pot of Green said the Internet has become incredibly important to their 38-year plus business.
“We’re not just selling a product but also the service,” Steve said.
That product and service is something many local florists and the are trying to sell this Valentine’s Day.
“SBMA has been promoting the local events and Valentine's Day specials on our Facebook page as a draw to the borough,” SBMA's said. “We have also been running an ad in The Westerly Sun promoting the borough being open year round, seven days a week.”
With Valentine’s Day just a day away the florists are hoping they will get busier.
“I’d like to think this year is better,” said Susan Adam of While Susan doesn’t do many retail flowers since she's not a traditional flower shop, she did say she was busy this year because of a contract for roses.
Even with Facebook, the SBMA, and the shop local mentality many people in the area share, florists face tough competition from online and big box florists.
Ed Adam of said they haven’t been as busy as they were last year, but that again it was early still.
He said places like 1-800-Flowers have hurt his business.
“Gentleman don’t have to worry about it,” Ed said of online and phone flower places. “They just call up, give them their credit card, and the flowers are delivered.”
Ed and the Manns point out it’s the personal touch that is lost with those places.
When you’ve been in business as long as the Manns have you get to know the customers and what they like. Just the other day Judy said she received an order from someone in Thailand who wanted to send flowers to a friend in Stonington. Judy knew the woman and was able to put together an arrangement specifically for her.
“We hand pick all our flowers,” Judy said.
