The Gift of flowers has a long Tradition, which goes far beyond the Valentine’s day. Flowers speak a language of its own, which is today largely forgotten – much to the Regret of the florists.
Previously, we have bought on the way to my grandparents is always a bouquet of flowers. In the last of the flower shop in front of their small village in the Eifel. And every Time you have been happy, especially my grandma. She has sought out the right Vase, water-filled, and loving the flowers around, and plucked, until everything was arranged as it pleased. But sometime we don’t have to bring so ceased to flower, why, even I know that.
Perhaps it’s the fact that there are bunches of flowers now available in almost every supermarket and at almost every gas station out there: wrapped in plastic, loveless in buckets standing. So you lose a little of their charm. Because it is somehow always a special feeling to walk into a flower shop. The scent of flowers is in the air, the ground is always wet, the wrapping paper rustling. You choose the flowers that bound a favor and individually is the ostrich. How much nicer it is to access it as the weekly shopping after work quickly to a bouquet of tulips.
And also: the flowers in The supermarket are basically the Same. There are so many different varieties and you can be sure of more than just colorful. Here is a look into the past helps.
The Violets of patience
Blue Violets: a sign of love and patience
There are occasions, which include specific varieties of flowers. For example, it is common in Germany to use white lilies as a Symbol of remembrance and rebirth at funerals. Pink or red roses are often given on Valentine’s day to the loved ones. Other meanings are, however, fallen largely into oblivion. But it was different in the 18th century. Century. At that time, the flower was part of the daily non-verbal communication in Europe, says Business psychologist Britta Krahn of the University of applied Sciences Bonn-Rhein-Sieg. Many households would have possessed at the time a book about the so-called “Victorian language of Flowers”. In it you could read, which is the flower which meaning has been attributed. Also, the color played a role. For example, men sent prayed the blue Violets to her, as a sign of love and patience.
“But there were not only positive values, it has also expressed refusal by flowers, hence the expression dates back to give somebody a basket’,” said Britta Krahn. “If a woman gave a man a basket in which flowers were planted, then that was a clear sign of dismissal.” So the language of Flowers has also influenced our today’s verbal expression. Also, the phrase, “say something through the flower” back on you.
37 Euro for cut flowers
Even if many meanings are present: The flower as a gift in most cultures, a century-long Tradition. And although it is the flower shops these days have hard, is the actual of sales in the flower trade in the last years in Germany unchanged, says Britta Krahn. “This is about 37 euros per head for cut flowers a year. But shopping behavior has changed. In the supermarket today you can find tulips in any color at an affordable price. The way to thriving not most, then a beautiful individual bouquet for significantly more money will be bound to the people as often as I used to. The florists under pressure.”
The classic: Red roses as a sign of love
In fact, only 40 percent of the customers buy their flowers in the trade – is decreasing all the time. Because supermarkets import directly, without the wholesale market as an intermediary. That makes it cheaper. According to Britta Krahn large markets also sell propagated flowers, because this is for trading is a good business. The profit margins are still quite high, much higher than in the case of food.
Higher flower prices on Valentine’s day
This development gets to feel Barbara Zöller. You are a part of the small flowers Blumenpott load “” in a rural district of Bonn. “The competition is now very strong, due to the garden center, the supermarkets, the gas stations, they all sell flowers.” For 22 years she runs the Store and buys her flowers on the wholesale market, also, since you noted the change. It is less flourishing are most in search of the most beautiful flowers on the way, and there is also less supply. Because many nurseries have to be reoriented, because the demand is missing.
“The Valentine’s day has become in recent years more and more, earlier there was the even Yes really. This is for us florists is a good thing. But on the year as a whole, I notice also that less and less customers come in.” Also on the day of love all people are not forgiving on the road, many complain about high prices. “On such days, the prices are on the rise. It is, of course, because everyone wants to make his business. There’s also just the purchase price of the flowers is for us higher and therefore we need to adjust our prices. The people ranting and some turn away from this reason, from the flowers and give other things,” says Zoeller.
Valentine’s day – in Germany, a Tradition
“Nice job without a future”
In addition to the changes in the buying the main problem is that there is a lack of young talent. For young people seeking a training place, the profession is not attractive enough: He is poorly paid, physically demanding and requires working on weekends and holidays. In recent years, the number of trainees has been halved, therefore, from 5000 to 2500. In addition, there is a dropout rate of 40 to 45 percent. “I think it is not a profession with a future. This is a shame, because it’s actually a nice profession. But the young people no longer place so much value on flowers”, so the impression of Barbara Zöller. You can tell her that she is on this development is sad. But Stop is not even in question – it is Yes, your regular customers. “Customers who value beauty and quality, individually-tied bouquets, are still coming to us in the flower shops.”
And for these people, there are still a few flower shops, such as the “Blumenpott”. You just have to take the journey. The flower of the pure consumption good is yet again to something Else, something Special. And I think of my grandma, I bring the next Time a bouquet of white roses.