Venezuela: Flower merchants forced to buy domestic flowers
Little variety
A business that used to generate good income has now turned into an endeavor that brings only pain and frustration to flower merchants.
A flower seller with over 40 years of experience, who preferred to retain her anonymity, explained that roses, daisies and tulips have turned into the most sought-after flowers for families mourning their dead.
“One has to pay between 150 and 200 bolivares for just a small bouquet to lay at the cemetery,” said the flower merchant, while adding that she tries to give her customers good prices. The merchant with a stand next to hers, who also chose to remain anonymous, agreed.
Wreaths don't escape the pinch
Even the materials needed to put together wreaths, bouquets and arrangements are hard to find, said Elvis Albornoz, a flower seller with more than 20 years of experience. Even if one can find them, he added, one usually has to pay triple what they're really worth.
Only domestic flowers are sold, he added, now that Colombian imports have stopped arriving.
Floral arrangers worried
Milagros Torres, who has dabbled in floral arranging for several years, expressed concern that she receives the same amount of orders every week but has to deal with material cost increases of more than 30 percent.
She noted that just a few days ago she got a packet of bands for 3.50 Bs, and, in order to offer economical arrangements to her customers, she's been using floral tape to put together arrangements. She bought a ring for a wreath for 100 Bs, but because it was unlined, she had to wrap it in plastic. Even when she can find tape, she usually can't get purple tape, and the vendors who sell tape refuse to sell it by the pack, preferring to dole it out piecemeal, meters at a time.
They make do
Professional floral arrangers have said that what used to cost 500 Bs now costs 1,500 Bs, and sales have fallen by more than 60 percent as a result. But in spite of the constant price increases, they still try to provide arrangements for customers in every price range. On average, arrangements are between 1,000 Bs and 2,500 Bs, depending on the amount of roses. Though wreaths are generally more expensive, with prices around 3,500 Bs or 4,000 Bs.
But there are still people who, even with rising prices, continue to celebrate life's special occasions with flowers. People like Ronald Sierra, who, last Friday morning, after checking several flower stalls in search of an arrangement for his wife's birthday, found a seller who could accommodate his request within his budget.
Future uncertain
Flower merchants worry because the materials necessary to prepare arrangements continue to increase from week to week. This makes it almost impossible to satisfy their customers while staying in business.
Source: www.eldiariodeguayana.com