The HIVE is in full glory heading into the weekend before Valentines Day. Color, fragrance and fabulousness in every corner! Florals have begun to arrive and we have lots of processing to do! So much beauty, so much busywork. We have stocked up on wraps, ribbon, snips and supplies. There’s a nice stack of pre-orders growing each day for which we are thankful beyond measure! Pre-orders make things go so smoothly for us. When the crazy day hits and guys and gals are frantically calling last minute, the pre-orders are already made fresh and out the door on delivery.
Here’s the truth about the oh so romantic holiday. I’m an anxious wreck. It would be a total fib to say I’m sleeping soundly at night as the most stressful holiday in the floristry year approaches. So many folks have no idea just how much goes into offering Valentines Day as a flower shop. Back in the beginning of December our full flower order list for the February holiday came due. When I want to be wrapping gifts for solstice and decorating our December tree, I have to pour over last years Vday notes and create flower recipes, plan specials and think up an advertising schedule. The jacked stem prices alone are enough to give me a stomach ulcer. Add onto that having absolutely no idea if even one order will be placed and you may as well dig my young grave. Will I order enough, will I order too much? Can we afford staff? How is our weather wrap inventory? Does the typewriter need new ink? Who will drive? My head spins! The investment for the day of love is a huge gamble every single year. The giant order of flowers, the extra supplies and seasonal vases, the advertising, the extra staff and so many other little expenses compound onto us like a brick in the face.
With every minute of planning we do, there’s still just no way to be completely prepared for what actually happens next Tuesday. I will be the soul designer in the shop with two helpers to make sure I eat lunch and greet customers while I’m on the phone. Eric plus one other driver to accommodate delivery requests as best we can. The night before I’ve designed the pre-orders and tried my best to stock the shop. As people call, I’m the one with the knowledge so I have to step away from my design station and chat on the phone. Every 15 minutes I have to check the website for online orders, the Facebook page for messages, our Snapchat, our Instagram. The calls come in and more orders stack up demanding delivery by noon! I alone, am the one creating these orders and trying to keep it flowing so they can be ready for the next round delivery. The helpers make the cards and weather wrap, they consolidate buckets and sweep up my artist mess. Every 4th call is the delivery driver with a problem I have to fix. “This person isn’t home.” “I think we have the wrong address”. “This person isn’t even employed here”. So I send them to the next stop and track down the sender as quickly as I can. People stop in and peruse what I have made and guess what, there’s nothing they like. So again, I halt the list of orders to make an all yellow and pink bouquet with tulips, but NO ROSES, daisies and greens. Wrap it up for them and send them on their way so the next customer can do somewhat of the same. The day moves on with my heart racing the whole time. My “dogs are barking” and my literal dogs are also barking. I haven’t gone to the bathroom since 6 a.m. An upset sender I took an order from just one hour before calls and is asking why it isn’t delivered yet. A bride for 2024 calls mid-day when we have 5 customers waiting in the shop (it never fails) asking if I can adjust her proposal since one maid dropped out and send it over quick. Lol I’m not trying to manifest these insane situations, it’s really the truth! I’ve lived it years past and i’ll live again next week. The fact is, that I WILL indeed live through it. Say a prayer for me, if you can.
Things this week haven’t been all bad. One thing I adore about this holiday is getting a tiny peak into the love and joy in your lives. The card messages are sweet, our ride or die clients are excited to see us. The recipients are always shocked and giddy and our drivers can see their physical joy when they realize the grand bouquet is for them. It’s the best part of all of it, hands down! We’ve made some homestead moves this week amongst the holiday chaos. Eric has started the first wave of snapdragon seeds in our basement nursery and his new venture of growing mushrooms is going well! Craspedia seeds will be planted today and more varieties closely to follow! Spring excitement is in the air here no matter how much snow is on the ground.
Eric and I have actually set aside time to enjoy our first Valentines as husband and wife. We have a date night out of town this Friday to see a fun string band and have dinner. It’s important to take all the advice we’ve been giving couples leading up to this holiday and appreciate each other. We definitely do! Married life has been absolutely awesome. It is pretty insane to me that we will have 6 months of marriage in the books soon. We actually have an official honeymoon coming up in the end of February. After Vday and my figure skating season wraps up with a bow, we will hop a flight to Puerto Rico. You bet we have plans to explore the rainforest! Our stay is a tiny cabin in the mountains outside of San Juan. Eric wants to try surfing and I’ve also heard hints from him for zip lining and waterfall swims. Honestly just being away together is all that’s on my list so I’m along for the adventure!
So with 5 days left until Valentines Day, drop the hints to the guys that Green Bee is the place to go! I’ll be panic breathing and nail biting until we can total everything up and maybe have a cocktail after 8 p.m on Tuesday. Send us your well wishes and happiest energy! We sure love and appreciate you all!
XOXO