Valentine’s on a Sunday creates a busy week for florists

Valentine’s Day is traditionally busy for florists, but when the 14th falls on a Sunday, the whole week is hectic.

Many people buy flowers, candy and balloons for their significant other ahead of the actual day.

“A lot of people want it delivered to work,” said Jim Alice, co-owner of Liberty Park Florist and Greenhouse on Spokane’s South Hill.

Orders were steady all week and peaked Friday, he said.

The benefit for his workers: When Valentine’s Day is on a weekend, “it’s nowhere near as busy” on the holiday itself, Alice said. Liberty Park will be open on Valentine’s Day from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Kara Ereaux, manager of the Rose & Blossom shop on North Ruby Street, said she dislikes it when the holiday falls on the weekend. It lengthens the number of days her store has to bring in extra staff.

“Everything just gets stretched out,” she said. “My favorite day for Valentine’s would be Thursday or Friday.”

The worst day of the week to celebrate Valentine’s Day? Monday. No one buys ahead and everyone wants flowers delivered or picked up on that day, Ereaux said.

“If you miss it, that’s it,” she said of a Monday holiday. “You can’t make up Valentine’s Day.”

One man who came into Liberty Park Florist on Saturday knew just what he wanted. “I want something big and huge with 24 roses,” he said.

A bouquet that large costs $160 near Valentine’s Day. Alice said his suppliers all raise their prices significantly around the February holiday. He dislikes that practice because he wants to encourage people to think of buying flowers for birthdays, anniversaries and other special occasions, and big Valentine’s Day prices can be a turnoff.

“That part really bugs me,” he said. “I want customers year-round.”

His biggest seller is usually red roses, the traditional gift.

Ereaux said people seem to like the “Perfect Dozen Plus” that she sells – a dozen roses mixed with stargazer lilies and hydrangea.

“They can be really huge,” she said of the bouquets.

But Kevin Smith was in Liberty Park Florist with a simpler request: a bouquet of white daisy mums with a single red rose nestled in the center, for his wife.

“That’s what I was getting her when we first started dating and that was 40 years ago,” he said. “It’s tradition now. If I don’t come home with daisies, I’m in trouble.”