Mother's Day is around the corner, and bouquets are beginning to hit store displays. This holiday, which falls on May 14 this year, continues to be a very important holiday across the US, and it already looks to be strong for 2023.
Click here for Colour Republic's 'Best Mother's Day Gift Ideas'
"The in-store data is starting to trickle in, but our retail customers are already ordering an average of 10% more than in 2022. When looking at our online sales of bouquets and bulk roses, which is real-time, we are seeing an average of 15% increase with rapid, earlier sales compared to last year," Colour Republic reports. Since 2004, this Ecuadorian farm has offered floral sales and services to mass-market clients, and in 2020 added direct-to-consumer delivery of farm-fresh flowers right to the consumers' doorstep.
In addition to growing and supplying flowers, they also share ideas about how to make holidays even more special for their customers. In their most recent blog, they shared some unique Mother's Day gifts and Mother's Day gift experiences, including the timeless classic of fresh flowers with a twist. Eager to learn more about what gifts and ideas they have? Click here.
And more companies are booming and blooming ahead of Mother's Day weekend. Like Florabundance, a certified American Grown wholesaler in Carpinteria. NewsChannel paid a visit last Monday, where they spoke to Joost Bongaerts, who told NewsChannel that they ship out approximately 900 boxes of Florabundance arrangements this busy week. Resorts, hotels, florists, and designers nationwide make up the bulk of Florabundance's clients and he added that the winter rains helped the blooms, meaning "there are plenty of beautiful floral choices this year to help celebrate mothers this holiday weekend." Click here to watch the news item on keyt.com.
And for shops, Mother's Day seems to be busy all week. The Flower Station at Traverse City told 9 and 10 News that while Valentine's Day is the busiest single day, Mother's Day is the busiest week. Click here to see the news item on www.9and10news.com
And many of the flowers in the US are imported, which means busy times at the airport. Over 90% of the imported flowers to the US come through Miami International Airport, and on Monday, CBS News Miami got a closer look at the UPS Latin America International Air Hub and how Miami International Airport officials will be checking flowers that come in from other countries. Click here to watch.
But before the flowers can enter the country, they are being inspected for any pests, and also for them, Mother's Day and Valentine's Day are the busiest times of the year, Sal Ingrassa of Customers and Border Protection tells Local 10 News. Last year alone, CBP officials processed some 930 million stem-cut flowers, with an average inspection time of 1 hour and 47 minutes. And they're hoping to inspect even more this year. Eager to get a look inside MIA's UPS cargo facility where inspectors with US Customers and Border Protection were receiving and inspecting every flower brought into the United States ahead of Mother's Day weekend? Local 10 News was there earlier this week. Click here to watch.