Valentine's Day not quite a bed of roses for florists, gift shops

PANAJI/MARGAO/PONDA: While florists and gift-sellers complain that youth are losing the tendency to say it with presents and flowers, those who still believe in doing it, complained on Thursday that they had to pay dearly for the floral touch to their expression of love.
A few outlets in Panaji reported slightly higher sales on Valentine's day, as some chose to charm their lovers by presenting flowers.
"Roses sold anywhere from Rs 20 to Rs 40 per piece instead of the usual Rs 5 to Rs 10 per piece," a source said.
While florists in many places claimed that their sales and prices remained static, those who bought flowers in Panaji said they had to shell out more than usual. But many at the KTC bus terminus were seen taking the hiked rates in their stride. "Anything goes on Valentine's day," a youth commented smiling.
Agreed a florist in the city market. "We started at Rs 10, but increased to Rs 20 and more later, as this is one of the few days we can make profits." But a Margao-based florist, Prashant Naik, denied any hike in flower prices on the special occasion for lovers. "There has been an increase in the prices of flowers in Bangalore and Ooty and this happens during the festival times. We have retained that increase here," he said.
Naik insisted that there was no special hike to exploit 'the advantage' of doing this business on Valentine's day.
But, college students insisted that there was a huge jump in the prices of roses in Margao. "They were being sold for Rs 30 as compared to Rs 10-15 per piece normally," a student said. But a florist told them that there was an extra charge for the special packaging of the bouquet. The florists in smaller towns said they did business as usual. Ponda-based florist, N Shambhu, said the increase in sales was negligible. "We didn't sell significantly more flowers, as youth now prefer meeting their lovers in restaurants and other spots," he said.
A florist and a card dealer, Dilip Nanda Naik said the response was lukewarm this year. "We didn't buy extra stock as it turns out to be a dead investment," he said.
Another Ponda-based gift dealer, Ravindra Naik, said the youth are shying away from presenting gifts.
"They now don't send gifts, but prefer meeting secretly through use of social media," he said.
Sounding philosophical, he added "The importance of romanticism of yore is faded and now it is direct meetings on beaches and hotels."