Mother's Day Flowers Are Not the Same Any More

Flowers at Mother's Day have a special meaning for me.

It was almost 14 years ago, but I remember it like it was yesterday.

You see my Mom used to live with us.

And every year, she got the leftover Mother's Day flowers at the end of day on Mother's Day.

Not that the flowers were bad.

Dale always made a very nice floral arrangement of flowers that didn't sell at our shop Simon Says Roses.

And not that Mom didn't appreciate the gesture...she was very thankful.

But 14 years ago, she took the time to point something out to me.

Every year we always arranged for my wife's Mother to receive a flower arrangement in Edmonton....BEFORE Mother's Day.

My Mom mentioned that one year....just one year...it would be nice to get fresh flowers a few days ahead.

The pick of the crop...the nicest blooms...with enough time to enjoy them THROUGH the special day.

So that year, I had my best floral designer make the most beautiful arrangement.

I took it home with me on the Wednesday before Mother's Day Sunday.

My Mom was speechless, thrilled, & exhilarated all in one!

I'll never forget it.

And I've never forgotten it since.

Because I took my Mom for granted.

She was the one raising my two daughters while Dale & I were working in the flower shop. She made the meals. Did the laundry.

And I never really thanked her...until that year.

I'm so glad I took the time.

Because later that year...14 years ago in November...my Mom passed away from cancer.

And that's why Mother's Day flowers are not the same any more.

What's with Secretary's Day?

It started in 1952.

It was a way to acknowledge the hard work done by secretaries worldwide, and was called National Secretaries Week.

Apparently that title wasn't good enough, so in 1981 it was changed to Professional Secretaries Week.

By 2000, this name was deemed politically incorrect, so the name was changed once again to Administrative Professionals Day, celebrated on the last Wednesday in April.

In my mind, this new name means absolutely nothing to most people.

I can see the results when customers are searching for flowers on the internet. There are far more people looking for Secretary's Day flowers then these other contrived phrases.

And what are we really celebrating any way?

As employers/bosses/managers, all we are trying to say thanks.

A simple "thank you" to everyone that works for us.

So why not simply call it Employee Appreciation Day?

At least most people would understand the name!

The Miracle of Same Day Flower Delivery in Canada

It seems easy enough, but it's actually a miracle.

FedEx can't do it. UPS can't do it. Not even Canada Post can do it.

Same day delivery across the country.

Let's say you are in Montreal, and you want to send a gift across the country.


You Google "flowers in Vancouver", hoping for same day flower delivery in Canada as you've ordered before noon Vancouver time.

Up pops a number of websites to choose from so you click on Simon Says Roses with a whole range of flower images.

You select a flower arrangement with red roses and stargazer lilies, knowing she will love the colour and scent of the display.

And that's where the miracle begins!

The arrangements are not simply sitting on a shelf.

Somebody has to take the order.

Somebody has to construct the arrangement.

Somebody has to deliver the flowers.

All within about a four hour window.

Here's what has to happen:

1. The staff member takes your order, including product order code, greeting card message, recipient's information, your information, and the payment method.
2. The order is printed, and an Order Confirmation Invoice is sent to you by email with full details (except credit card information) for your order.
3. A copy of this Invoice is given to the flower designer.
4. The recipient is called, to ensure someone will be at the residence to accept your gift. 
5. The designer then chooses the flowers, the vase, and then must construct the arrangement, coming as close as possible to the picture. As no two flowers are identical, no two arrangements are identical, but a close replication of your choice will be made.
6. Most delivery services have a morning and afternoon pick-up, usually at 10:00 and 2:00. Orders placed the previous day or before hit the morning run while orders received that day make the afternoon run. Each driver usually loads from 10 to15 orders on each run.
7. The delivery driver must plot his delivery run to ensure the most efficient route is taken in terms of time and mileage.
8. Voila! The delivery is made. When the drivers return, they provide their delivery logs. Your order is marked delivered, and you are emailed a Delivery Confirmation.

A custom manufactured product, ordered and delivered across the country on the same day.

Now that's a miracle!

Be Careful Where You Put Your Tu Lips!

Welcome to the season for spring flowers!

Tulips, iris, lilies, daffodils, hyacinths...it's truly nature's bounty for florists like Simon Says Roses.

Tulips however, pose a particular problem in an arrangement.

Have you ever noticed that tulips in your garden open during the day, and close at night?

It is because they are part of a group of flowers which are photosensitive, or responsive to light.

The same thing happens to tulips when they are used as cut flowers as well.

Put a vase of tulips in front of a window, and within a few hours the entire group bends towards the light source!

Not very attractive and especially frustrating, when designers have spent the time positioning the flowers for optimum viewing.

One other thing to note in this picture is how one tulip sticks out from the others. It didn't start out that way.

This is because tulips do NOT stop growing once they are cut!

The solution?

The proven method to ensure that tulips remain upright is to insert a pin through the stem of the tulip, just below the bloom.

This will stop "tulip bend", and ensure your flowers are displayed beautifully throughout there life.

And now you know!

Flower Taxes are Inevitable, but THIS is Ridiculous!

It leaves business owners shaking their heads, and staff screaming in frustration (well almost).

Try to explain to people why there are all those different tax rates on flower delivery in Canada.

It's a nightmare.

You can't make this stuff up. Well maybe accountants can...that's what keeps them employed.

Every day at Simon Says Roses, we arrange for flower delivery across the country.

From West to East here's the breakdown as to the different tax rates we have to charge on flowers:

• British Columbia - 12% HST
• Alberta - 5% GST
• Saskatchewan - 5% GST
• Manitoba - 5% GST
• Ontario - 13% HST
• Quebec - 5% GST
• New Brunswick - 13% HST
• Prince Edward Island - 5% GST
• Nova Scotia - 15% HST
• Newfoundland and Labrador - 13% HST
• Yukon Territory - 5% GST
• Northwest Territories - 5% GST

And soon B.C. will be rolling back their HST, going back to a combination of the PST & GST.

Confused yet?

Florists Say NO to Valentines flower deliveries

It's a weird feeling.

As florists, we normally say YES to customer requests.

But there's the key word.

Normally.

Valentine's Day for florists in Canada is the single busiest flower delivery day of the year.

We call it "crazy busy"...busier than Mother's Day or Christmas which are more spread out.

Valentine's Day is an 8 to 10 times normal delivery day for florists.

That means a shop that normally delivers 20 orders a day is now doing between 160 & 200 deliveries.

50 orders a day now becomes 400 to 500.

And that's where the problems begin. 

Staff, delivery people, and flowers...times 10!

To meet the volume, delivery vans are on the road by 8:00 on the morning of Valentine's Day. They may get back by 2:00 or 3:00 in the afternoon.

Then they have to stock their vans for the late afternoon run. But sometimes we run out of flowers. Sometimes the designers simply can't create any more flower arrangements.

So if your sweetheart leaves work at 4:00 and your order wasn't in at least a day early, guess what?

We have to say NO, because we can't guarantee delivery!

Delivery request for 10:00 sharp...no. Delivery request for morning delivery guaranteed...no.

Delivery after 6:00 at night....maybe...if there is still a driver around and the order comes in soon enough.

Here's a few guidelines to consider for delivery times, if the order is received before Valentines' Day:

• schools will be delivered before 3:00
• businesses before 4:00
• to a a residence, before 6:00, or until the drivers are finished.

There is a way to avoid all of this, however.

Why not have your flowers delivered the day before Valentine's Day?

Attach a card message that reads "I couldn't wait to say I love you."

Now that will leave an impression!

It shows you put some thought into it, and didn't leave it until the last minute.

And of course it will guarantee that your gift will be delivered on time!

To place your Valentine's Day flower order for delivery across Canada, check out our Valentine's roses
or call us at 1-800-705-ROSE(7673).

Happy Valentine's Day to all!

5 Great Ways to Save on Valentine's Day Flowers

It happens every year.

Every year in the 20 years I've been in the flower business.

Prices go up.

Big time.

Costs go up right from the farmer to the wholesaler to the retailer, and ultimately to our customers.

To help our customers, I've come up with 5 ways to save money on Valentine's Day flowers:

1. Avoid red roses. Go with pink roses or yellow roses instead. The price increase will not be nearly as high.
2. Avoid red "anything". Red roses, red carnations, red gerbera daisies...everything red goes up drastically.
3. Send a mixed flower arrangement. Maybe a couple of red roses, together with fragrant lilies, asters and greenery results in a stunning visual arrangement at a lower cost.
4. Order online. I encourage customers to order online, and even provide a price break on online flower orders of $5.00 to $10.00. It's much faster for us to process an online order compared to a phone order. We pass the labour savings on to you.
5. Order early. Valentine's Day flower deliveries are 5 to 6 times that of a regular business day.. There are only so many flowers, designers, and delivery drivers available. I've had last minute customers offer $50 for delivery if we could just get something delivered. But that's hard to do, when there are no flowers left.

For Canada wide savings on Valentine's Day flowers, please check out our Simon Says Roses Florists YouTube video below.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

For your Valentines Day flowers, order online at Simon Says Roses or call us at 1-800-705-ROSE(7673).