A letter has been sent to Gov. Whitmer by Great Lakes Floral Association EVP / CEO Rodney Crittenden, advocating for the reopening of flower shops before Memorial Day weekend. In the letter, it is stated:
"Michigan’s economy is driven in part by retail florists and we need to get them reopened and fully back to work. Curbside pickup and delivery are only temporary solutions for our industry. Simply put, Michigan’s brick and mortar retail florists need customers in their stores. Our members heavily rely on sales from Easter, Mother’s Day, and Memorial Day to sustain their spring business."
"Opening flower shops will alleviate the congestion at essential retailers, allowing for a more natural form of consumer social distancing. Several states similarly situated to Michigan have either already reopened flower shops or are on the verge of doing so. Michigan should be no different. Indiana and Wisconsin reopened on May 11 and Ohio reopened on May 12. Minnesota is set to reopen on May 18 and Kentucky is reopening on May 20. We have developed and tested best practices to keep shoppers safe. Those best practices, many of which you’ve included in Executive Orders, have prevented outbreaks and kept workers and customers healthy. They can be implemented in Michigan, just as our neighboring states have done."
For more information:
Great Lakes Floral Association
www.greatlakesfloralassociation.org