On V-Day: Keep extra cash in stash on your trip to flower market

Florists in Islamabad say they earn up to eight times of what they make rest of the year.

ISLAMABAD: Flowers say it all on Valentine’s Day and banking on this opportunity, florists earn up to eight times the amount that they make rest of the year. With special arrangements and wrapping papers, flower markets in Islamabad are set to make an ample sales bonus.

While talking to The Express Tribune, florist Mohammad Shahzan Ayub at the capital’s F-6 flower market said, “We wait all year round for this time.” He said that prices start fluctuating a week before Valentine’s Day, however on February 14, prices double or even triple according to the quality of the flower. “If a flower is fresh, then its price will be higher,” Ayub continued.

The florist said that a local rose bud which costs Rs40 to Rs50 becomes as expensive as Rs200 on Valentine’s Day. He added that gladiolus which is normally sold at Rs20 to Rs25 is sold for Rs40 each and the price for a red gladiolus goes up to Rs50.

Flowers and buds are especially imported for the V-Day in large amounts, while local roses are brought in from Karachi. “To fulfill the demand for good quality, flowers are imported from Kenya and India via Dubai,” informed Ahmed Khan from F-7’s flower market. Khan said that the prices of these flowers vary and such soaring prices lead to higher profits at this time of the year. “We earn up to eight times more on this one day,” he said.

Imported flowers such as lilies which can be bought for Rs300 are available for Rs350; chrysanthemum, which is priced at Rs100 on a normal day, is sold between Rs120 to Rs150. Dicot which costs Rs150 is sold for Rs200, while jabra which is sold for Rs70 or Rs80 is sold for Rs100.

Despite the neck to neck competition, florists refuse to reduce prices on Valentine’s Day. “If the customer goes from my shop to the next, he will get the same price,” said Ayub.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 14^th, 2013.            

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