14/01/2023
Good morning all.
Just wanted to give you a quick flowery update.
Flower prices are absolutely crazy at the moment.
Somebody called the current situation "Chrysanth-Gate" yesterday, a brilliant term for what's a really tricky problem. The vast majority of the chrysanths we buy in the UK are grown in the Netherlands. This winter, growers there have been subject to the same drastic increase in energy costs as the rest of us, and as a result 55% of chrysanth growers have decided not to heat their greenhouses this winter, and have ceased production until the spring. Obviously this leads to a shortage of supply (more demand = higher prices) and the growers are faced with much higher production costs as well - resulting in even higher prices. I can honestly say the chrysanth prices this week took our breath away..😞
Just a few years ago, even a few months ago, we were selling chrysanths to you for less than we are now paying to buy them.
Unfortunately it's not only chrysanths that have rocketed up in price - lisianthus is another flower where many growers in the Netherlands have ceased production due to the high energy costs. We're currently paying double, almost triple the price for lisianthus compared to just a few years ago. It's a crazy situation BUT we are florists and we will cope!
However, we may need your help too.... With flower prices at an all-time high (and I say this with 30 years experience!), can I please ask you to take note:-
1. Please plan ahead and order in advance. With flower prices so high, we cannot afford to keep extra stock (for example, if a customer needs 24 red roses we will need a few days notice to order in)
We will always have a selection of florist’s choice flowers and bouquets for same day orders
2. Please understand - when we put our prices up, we are NOT profiteering or trying to rip anyone off, we are just trying to cover our costs. Like everyone else, we are paying so much more for diesel, electricity, etc., in addition to the flowers
3. If you are accustomed to paying a certain amount for your flowers, and have been doing so for several years, please do expect to have to increase your spend this year in order to receive a similar result. 🙁
Times are so very strange
We love serving whickham and surrounding areas and hope to continue to do so
Thank you all Helen Gail and the team