Mother's Day is nearly here, for the United Kingdom anyway..........the flower prices are set to rise as usual and the poor florists will be taking the usual stick; You must be making a fortune?? amongst many others......Well lets put the record straight.

I've been a florist for well over 20 years now and I am yet to see a florist who lives in a huge house, drives a Mercedes that they own and has several holidays a year so why, oh why do you all think we are minted. We don't dictate the flower prices, if we did believe me we would keep them at an affordable price for both you and us all year round. The growers and suppliers dictate the price we are lucky if we can make any profit on some items. Mother's Day and Valentine's Day for many florists is a peak period, huge outlay, huge wage bills to cover the extra work load and then when its all over you hope you've made enough people happy that you build your customer base a little.

See its these regular and loyal customers that we rely on, the ones who come in a few times a year, appreciate our work and skill and use us. If I relied on just my peak periods I would have gone under by now; its just depressing that we are the ones who catch all the flack. Believe me many people wouldn't do the hours we do, for the pay we get.....and pretty job??don't get me started, where did that idea come from. Up at silly o'clock to get stock, working for weeks on end without a break at some times during the year. Cleaning buckets, treating flowers, rough hands, grubby fingers....especially at Christmas but we are a happy bunch.

Then there is the notion that flowers from a supermarket are the same? really do you get the same customer service, gift wrapping , are you able to hand pick what you want and have them wrapped....do you get a card, do they deliver for you..........no I thought not

So please don't grumble when we have to ask for a little more money, you get what you pay for. Look into your florists face and try and appreciate the hours that they have spent creating all the lovely things in their shops. Don't jump in line to condemn us....trust me we are not making a fortune. And next time you dare buy a bunch from a supermarket, listen for that thud!!!! that the sound of another florist dying on the high street.......