Valentine’s Day 2024: Low sales bum out flower vendors

CEBU, Philippines — Is it the economic pinch or lovebirds are opting to express their hearts out in some other ways aside from giving flowers?

This question is what is bugging flower vendors at the Interim Market of Carbon Public Market, because even if flowers are priced lower this year compared to last year, which should be motivation enough, they are still experiencing lower sales even if today is Valentine’s Day.

“Sa akong nabantayan, first time nako diri naka-ingon ani (low flower sales)…. Last year, based lang sa ilang ingon, kusog daw ang panghalin. Before daw kay kusog; unlike karon nga mingaw,” said Maria Venus Flores, 22, a first-time flower vendor.

She said the other flower vendors have the same complaint—low sales, or that it is hard for them to make sales.

And flower prices this week is higher than last week’s, with Flores’ yellow chrysanthemum being sold at P100 per dozen, which was P80 last week. Her pink roses were at P350 per dozen, or almost double compared to the P200 last week.

“Lahi ang halin karon kaysa niaging tuig. Hinay karon unya mas barato sad siya,” flower vendor Joey Nable, 34, said.

“Ang rose lang gani sauna, mugbo, niabot gani to’g P300. Pero karon, mas niubos siya karon. Mingaw kaayo ang halin sad,” added the longtime vendor from Brgy. Sirao, Cebu City.

When interviewed by The Freeman yesterday, he was selling his fresh bouquet at P250 to P300, and the artificial bouquet at P150 to P200.

Nable said flower prices would go up on Valentine’s Day, but the prices are still lower compared how they priced their flowers last year.

He hoped that their luck would turn today, the very Valentine’s Day.

Nable’s lament was echoed by Marites Flores, 35, from from Tangub, Pinamungajan, Cebu.

“Hinay ra uy. Lahi ra sa una nga Valentine’s,” Marites said.

The situation has figuratively left her scratching her head, because flowers now are cheaper compared to those in 2023 people should have been more excited at buying.

“Mas barato karon kaysa sa una. Atong last year, mas mahal last year kaysa karon,” Marites said.

The Holland rose she displayed, which was at P600 per dozen in 2023, was at P400 to P500 when The Freeman asked yesterday.

University student Justine Faith Nemenzo, 23, said she does not look at the prices when she buys flowers, but admitted that what she is after is the thought of buying and giving flowers to the person she cares for.

“Flowers are a very lovely expression, even though, you know, flowers wither. Kay naa gyu' something like…just the thought mamili ka unsa nga type sa flower, unsay mas better mo-represent sa imong self and to the person nga imong hatagan,” she said.

For the vendors, however, it seemed Nemenzo was an exception, not the rule. — (FREEMAN)