Florist prepares for Valentine’s Day rush in Selma and Camden

From the West Alabama Newsroom–

Valentine’s Day is this week — and florists all over have already put in long hours of work to make sure your bouquet of roses — gets to your sweetheart on time.

Valentine’s Day is the biggest holiday of the year — in the florist business.

“It’s the busiest single holiday for florists of the year. And it’s all packed into 2 or 3 days. It’s a huge economic boost in the florist business. We depend on it,” said florist Bill Albritton.

He says a lot of hard work goes on behind the scenes — to get everything ready for the big day.

“You got to plan on what products you’re going to have. And then we just start doing all those little things you can do ahead, making bows, taking inventory of vases.”

Albritton has been a florist for 40 years. He’s ordered about 1500 red roses for the Valentine’s Day holiday this year.

“A lot of people don’t realize that probably 90% of our product comes from South America. It’s all flown in to Miami and then it’s brought by trucks. When the product starts to come in it’s got to be unpacked, and processed.”

Albritton says organization is key — to making sure that Valentine’s Day bouquet — arrives on time.

“Floral designer are not real good organizers, we’re more creative. But I’ve got a team that’s very good at organizing. So, there’s a lot that goes into this when a dozen roses goes out the door.”

Albritton says he’ll load up about four vans — and start making deliveries first thing in the morning — on Valentine’s Day.