Do you know where your floral arrangement has come from?
Even the savviest purchasers might be surprised, especially if they’re ordering online.
Some online floral sites are adept at mimicking local florists, meaning you might think you’re calling a shop across town, when in fact you’re re-directed to a far-off call centre.
And because that call centre takes a percentage of the cost of the arrangement, the florist who’s preparing your flowers can actually receive an order valued at much less than you paid, meaning what you paid for is not what you get, explains Tracy Bell, owner of Surrey’s La Belle Fleur Floral Boutique.
“When you’re sending flowers to your mom, partner or anyone special, it’s really important to contact the florist directly,” Bell says. “Ask for their address – if they have a brick-and-mortar shop, they’ll be able to provide one.”
Other sites will ship days-old cold-stored flowers in a flat pack – not the professionally designed floral arrangement you might believe you’ve purchased.
With Mother’s Day coming up, the message is especially important. Unlike Valentine’s Day, when we typically give flowers in person, on Mother’s Day we’re often sending arrangements across the city, country or even around the world – an opportunity online marketers are savvy to.
Local supports local
That awareness underscores the importance of buying local, a core principle of La Belle Fleur since the award-winning shop opened in 1997.
“We know where all our flowers come from, and most are locally grown right here in the Lower Mainland,” Bell says.
Not only does that make for fresher, longer-lasting blooms, but you’re also supporting local farmers, growers and related businesses, meaning your environmental footprint is also significantly reduced!
Bell and her team take that principle even further by complementing their floral selection with a wide variety of local artisan pieces, from hand-made cards to stunning jewellery.
“We have a really great, local network of small businesses, artists and artisans who support each other,” Bell says. “We’re really proud of that – of being local and supporting local.”
Fabulous ideas in store: If you’re planning a custom arrangement in time for Mother’s Day, allow time to place and fill the order, suggests Bell, who will bring in lots of fresh flowers throughout week to meet demand. The talented team will also have a variety of beautiful arrangements ready to go.
“We’re chock-full of interesting planters, especially succulent planters, which are really long-lasting and on-trend. They’re also a little different and the price point is lower, so you can give to all the special ‘moms’ in your life!”
Stop by La Belle Fleur Floral Boutique in Boundary Park Plaza at 6350 120th St. in Surrey. Visit on Facebook or online at labellefleursurrey.com, or connect via Twitter and Instagram at @labellefleur97.