Flower Shop Flowers VS. Grocery Store Flowers

Welcome to our blog, and our first blog posting! We are so excited to share a variety of topics with you, about flowers, plants, and more! Our first topic is Flower Shop flowers vs. Grocery Store flowers, what are the differences, and what are the similarities?

To a flower shop, the grocery store flowers can be a bit of frustration in regards to price and accesibility. The ease of picking up an inexpensive bouquet of cut flowers while shopping for groceries is undisputable. There really is no way a flower shop can compete with corporations. Most shops are still easily accessible, not too far from most commercial areas, but for some consumers, with their busy lifestyle, it’s just another stop they’d have to make.

So what advantages does our flower shop have? It starts with when the flowers are ordered. Flower shops place their flower orders with the wholesalers, with whom they’ve created a great work relationship with. In most cases flowers can be ordered and received in the same week. So if a customer is looking for something specific, like an exotic flower, we can order them in within a week, if our wholesaler does not have it, they can order and we can have it in two weeks.  A convenient service that we offer – customer service, freedom and flexibility.

Then the flowers are delivered. Flowers are shipped by the wholesaler to the shops. Wholesalers order their flowers from all over the world, such as Ecuador and Peru. Once they arrive at the shop, they have been shipped dry, without a water source for days. We need to breath life back into these flower, so we follow a 2 step process once the flowers arrive. First, we prepare clean buckets with flower-food treated water. Only the best quality flowers are kept. If there are any concerns with quality, the flowers are not kept as they could lead to the demise of many other flowers due to their production of ethaline gas. The bottom foliage is also removed before placing the buckets to help reduce the production of botritus, which is created by the decay of leaves and petals in the water. The stems are then properly cut and dipped in a solution that improves the flow of liquids through the flower stems. The flowers are then placed in a temperature controlled fridge. All these steps increase the quality of the flowers and enhanced their longevity for our customers.

Quality products are further used when the design process happens. Treated water and quality floral foam is used for all arrangements that are created for longevity. We then spray the flowers with another special solution that aids in holding in moisture which keeps the flowers vibrant, longer.

All of this so far comes down to quality, freedom to design and create, ability to order new products and décor on the market, and no corporate holds. So what else are you paying for when you order your special flowers from a flower shop? What sets us apart from a supermarket is knowledge, creativity and passion for flowers.

Designers are very creative, and floral designers have a specific passion for the beauty of flowers. Creativity, and inspiration are their driving force to create something beautiful, while expanding their knowledge on industry trends and new products.  They have a keen eye for the elements and principals of design such line, balance and colour, knowing and utilizing the latest design techniques and staying on top of latest fashion and design trends.

We hope this was informative, and you enjoyed the read! So don’t feel guilty for buying the grocery flowers in a pinch, and remember we are available for all our creative, quality and designer needs.

Written by Jennifer Merritt, Floral Designer and Manager and edited by Sandra Miller, owner of Sandra Miller Floral Designs. Jen joined SMFD in 2012, with a passion to be creative every day. Flowers have become a wonderful and beautiful passion in her life. Come in a visit our wonderful, customer-focused team!