Flower shops across the Hub City find themselves swamped with calls and walk-in customers who are looking for a last minute gift idea for their valentine.
With more than 200 orders, the staff over at House of Flowers doubled up and even started working on orders in the wee hours of Tuesday morning. Florist, Wayne Dubose has been arranging flowers for the past 48 years, he started his senior year at Brownville High School in 1969.
“I guess when you’ve done it as long as I have, I could probably do it in my sleep but I do feel like it’s a God given talent,” Dubose said. “You can learn to do it, but when people genuinely love it… it’s because it’s God given.”
Due to such a surplus of orders, House of Flowers had a $100 order minimum, with a $25 delivery fee. Employee Blaire Stonehem said they aren’t guaranteeing delivery times for last minute orders, but they have extra people on board to get as many done as possible.
“We have to increase our prices because we have so much extra help that we have to pay to be here.” said Stonehem.
Seldom to popular belief, Store Manager Kassie Baker said Valentines Day is not necessarily a big money maker for flower shops. But that the shop loves the holiday because of the pure joy it brings, despite the chaos.
“We get most of our stuff from Ecuador and South America and the import costs go up and it rises and its back to supply and demand,” Baker said.