Valentine’s Day less than a week away, local florists gear up for holiday rush

SALISBURY, Md.- It’s the time of year again where flower arrangements take center stage. Local florists are preparing to make sure your Valentine’s Day blossoms. “Phones are ringing off the hook, internet orders are rolling through, and you can see loads of people coming into the store who are trying to take something with them,” Messer said.

That’s what a typical Valentine’s Day looks like for Kitty’s Flowers in Salisbury. Sales Manager Shai Messer said prices increase slightly for the season’s staple due to demand. “We do have to order all our flowers in advance, so getting those early orders really help us out a lot. It also makes sure that you get your first selections, and you don’t have to settle on a second or third choice.”

Messer added that they guarantee a fresh product thanks to their tried-and-true processing system. “That ensures that they’re stored at optimal conditions, hydrated, and are being kept at temperatures that are going to guarantee they last as long as possible,” Messer said.

Sonya’s Floral Boutique told 47ABC that they started seeing orders rolling in as early as mid-January. To fill those, Florist Stacie Cathell says it will take all hands-on deck. “We have extra people come in and help cut flowers, answer the phones, take orders, and deliver. Normally we have one or two drivers during the week, and we’ll have three or four plus trucks on the road,” Cathell said. “What you wanted to get we couldn’t get last year. We were trying to get what we could get. This year, that isn’t much of a problem.”

Sonya’s Floral Boutique also prides themselves on having a fresh product.

Cathell advised customers to get orders in early, but said they’ll be sure to keep their coolers stocked for the late bloomers. They’re adding a little razzle dazzle to their creations to make them extra special. “This year we’ve brought in different flowers than we have normally. We add like a special lily, or a different flower to not look so standard,” she said. “People are looking for that extra spice to add to it.”

Now headed into their 74th Valentines Day, Kitty’s Flowers credited their secret to blossoming to a community that ‘rose’ to the occasion. “We just want to thank everyone for shopping small. We are a small business, and the support of our community means a lot,” Messer said.

Despite not dealing with supply issues or inflation hiccups this year, Kitty’s Flowers told us they have experienced difficulty with getting retail trucks.

Kitty’s Flowers will be open Valentine’s Day from 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. at all four locations.

Sonya’s Floral Boutique is celebrating 35 years of business this year.