"Just when we thought Valentine's Day 2022 was a whirlwind, 2023 seems to be off to an unpredictable start. The economic outlook changes daily, and fear of a recession is believed to be holding back consumer spending. Poor weather is affecting production, as farmers poise to ship thousands of roses for the holiday", Jan Peterson, Director Of Marketing and Business Development at National Floral Supply, a US flower wholesaler, writes in her blog.
The predictions for Valentine's Day 2023 are mixed, but here are some trends:
- Production is always dependent upon weather. Weeks of rain and cloudy weather in both Colombia and Ecuador have made rose production difficult, and all supplies are expected to run short, especially 60 and 70-cm roses. The lack of sun affects the maturation of the rose and, ultimately, the length of the stem. A few sunny days can make all the difference - but the forecast is still calling for rain.
- Rose shipments are expected to run later than usual as farmers give the plants more time. This could create a domino effect from farm to florist. The next few days are crucial in determining where supply levels will be, and at this point, no one really knows. While some suppliers feel they will meet cut flower consumer demand, ultimately, Mother Nature decides the outcome. We have already been seeing products affected by weather (freezes in Florida, floods in California), so some greens and everyday flowers might be priced higher than expected over the holiday.
- Freight pricing is stabilizing as gas prices have decreased - but transportation prices will remain high.
- According to the National Retail Federation, spending on
- Valentine's Day last year was $23.9 billion - the second-highest spending year. The highest was $27.4 billion in 2020.
The holiday is expected to be flat for retailers; however, the - Tuesday holiday and no day off on February 13 might help sales for florists.
Read the complete article at www.nationalfloralsupply.us