Valentine Countdown during COVID

Valentine’s Day on a Sunday and with COVID restrictions, best to keep cool and prepare so that floral sales are maximized.

It’s important to PROMOTE, PROMOTE & PREPARE.

Here is a survival countdown for Valentine’s Day that can help you optimize your flowers, staff and most importantly your cost & sales.

Week of January 25—29

• a) Prepare work schedules. Identify which non-floral associates will help in floral
• b) Decorate Floral Department
• c) Complete candy arrangements
• d) Fill water tubes with Chrysal Professional #2 or save money & time and use Arrive Alive.  Every stem gets hydrated!
• e) Indentify incremental display location(s)
• f)Send out a $5 off coupon to customers & remind them to order the flowers early in order to get the best flowers!
• g) Post “at a glance” instructions for prepping flowers

INSTRUCTIONS INCLUDE–Mix ALL solutions with COLD H2O
o Right solution for the job: Chyrsal Prof #2 for buckets. Pro #3 for vases.
o How deep to fill buckets (1/3—1/2)
o How much to cut off stems (1-2inches)
o How many bunches per bucket
o NOT to strip foliage from stems
o What cooler to store finished products

Week of January 30—Feb 5

• a) Make sure ALL floral supplies are in. No supply orders during VD week (glass, nutrients, wire, Arrive Alive, Transporters)
• b) Review VD work schedule / make changes. Staff heaviest for the 14th
• c) Balloon set-up
• d) Determine display area for impact items (orchids , tulip pots, etc)
• e) Upgrade potted. Dust off last year’s left over bows and pouffs
• SHINE & SELL…Use Leafshine or be sure to polish plants.

• Make floor stickers for social distancing inside the store.  This is beneficial for the design tables too.
• Stand two long stemmed roses apart!

Week of February 6—12

• a) Create balloon bouquets
• b) Begin fresh arrangement production
• c) Start pre-greening rose vases. Fill vases with Chrysal Professional #2 or Pro #3.
• d) Spray pre-green vases with Chrysal leafshine to avoid dehydration.
• e) Identify space allotments in dairy and produce coolers for arrangements
• f) Create a coupon for Mother’s Day & make sure it goes out the door with every flower!
• Be sure to amp up Instagram and Facebook posting and ads if you are running them.  Studies have shown that this is the perfect time for reminders.

February 9

• a) Communicate to receiving manager and GM how large your in-bound load will be
• b) Identify where it is to be stored
• c) Staff heavy to process entire load of dry-pack blooms. Leave NOTHING in boxes!
• 2 REASONS WHY: 1. So you can inspect the product. 2. Allow time for flowers to hydrate 100%
• d) Prepare processing buckets using cold water and Chrysal Professional #2
• e) Teach extra help how to wrap flowers & how to up-sale with Arrive Alive water wrap

February 11

• a) Mass-produce rose arrangements
• b) Build displays
• c) Create a special section for vase-less bouquets, use Arrive Alive to wrap the bouquets and get water out of the buckets! Wet floors are dangerous!
• Arrive Alive is a great way to have contact less bouquets on display.

February 12

• a) Arrange to have all displays completed by noon
• b) Expand ALL fresh cut displays—get every stem out on the floor

February 13

• a) Floral managers help customers, NOT run registers!
• b) Assign someone to refill arrangements with freshly-made Chrysal Pro #2 or Pro#3
• c) Set up Cupid check out lane at end of day. Prep location with floral wrapping paper & Arrive Alive
• d) Remind the register people that the holiday is UPC-driven!
• e) Buy lunch for the entire staff, it doesn’t have to be expensive but it should reflect appreciation and keep everyone in the store

FEBRUARY 14 !!!