Should we say it with flowers?

Florists in Lahore and Karachi gauge viability of roses on Valentine’s Day

LAHORE/ KARACHI:

A word of warning for all Valentine’s Day enthusiasts: shopping for roses today may cause your heart to skip a beat or two. And unfortunately, this probably won’t be due to a surge of the warm fuzzies for your significant other. Perhaps you will understand what we mean when you hit the florist later because you will, almost definitely, get ripped off.

For as long as memory serves us, Valentine’s Day has been the ideal excuse for the prices of roses to skyrocket. In fact, our research indicates that local vendors begin to sell them for nearly double the usual amount well before the day even approaches. It is basic economics; when demand rises, there’s an inevitable spike in prices. This year, The Express Tribune decided to look into the matter first-hand, thanks to some prominent flower shops in Lahore and Karachi. Do roses still serve as the modus operandi to profess one’s love or are local florists looking at the world through rose-tinted glasses?



Most flowers shops are rife with activity, busy preparing for what happens to be the busiest time of the year for them. Inside Blossoms — one of the leading flower outlets at Lahore’s Mini Market Roundabout — owner Irfan Nazir was seen preparing a vase of the day’s most-wanted flowers. “Gladiolas and mixed bouquets are also quite popular. There is only a 30% difference on roses,” he shared, while making the arrangement.

Considering the ever-increasing competition, these businesses are receiving from online stores. Further research found that apart from the roses, other flower varieties are sold at regular prices but people usually buy them at any price, for they know wholesale costs increase a month in advance.

In this light, Haroon, owner of Lahore’s The Florist, shared that customers purchase the flowers after examining both quality and quantity. “We raise our prices by 50% but people still buy them because everyone’s quality and quantity is different,” he explained. The level of inflation is not just limited to Lahore but mirrored by florists in Karachi as well, as was seen at the Simple Flowers outlet. According to Sher Alam, an assistant at the shop, the price of a single rose soars from Rs150 on a normal day to Rs250 on Valentine’s Day, generating a much higher profit. “All flowers have a different feel to them. For Valentine’s, people prefer red ones and combine them with baby’s breath or white lilies.”



Interestingly, shops in Lahore, owned by Nazir and Haroon, each reflected varying prices; both blamed the different qualities of the flowers and backend costs. When asked if he feels threatened by small-scale vendors, Haroon said, “They don’t have variety or quality so even if we charge more, it is justified.” He also added that over the past few years, more and more people in Pakistan have started to accept Valentine’s Day, which was once the preserve of the West.

But in an increasingly materialistic world, where many would prefer non-perishable gifts such as jewellery or clothing, do roses — or any flower, for that matter — really hold much significance? Saira Saigal, owner of Karachi-based Zerritta Flowers believes so. “They are the gateway to our emotions,” she claimed when asked to comment on their relevance to Valentine’s Day. “People spend a lot on flowers on Valentine’s Day but that shouldn’t be the case. The trend should continue throughout the year!”

Saigal’s sentiments were echoed by Saeed Khan of Centra Flora, a flower boutique located in Karachi’s Zamzama. For him, the concept of expressing one’s emotions via flowers is but a new trend. “The business is catching up at a fast pace. I have been in the flower business for seven years now and know that people love to express themselves via flowers,” shared Khan. “As of now, the demand for roses is growing on a daily basis,” he added.

But we suppose every rose has its thorns. Saigal, for instance, stated that the flower business is flourishing in general and roses have more of a seasonal market. She cited the example of street vendors to indicate the popularity. “You see so many flower sellers, standing by traffic signals and selling flowers from the footpaths,” she said. “Daisies and lilies, for instance, are the most sought-after varieties in Karachi. Daisies are cheap and come in a range of types and colours while lilies have a potent fragrance. Roses are all the rage around Valentine’s Day but other flowers have a stable demand throughout.”

Published in The Express Tribune, February 14^th, 2016.

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