There are a few businesses or jobs that offer some perks in addition to financial gains. Selling flowers is one of those professions that can combine pleasure with profit. Florists or flower sellers can be surrounded by nature’s beauty in the form of various kinds of flowers during their work, which can be satisfying as a career.
As a florist, one can share some of the most significant moments of people’s lives.
From a birthday to a wedding day, from Valentine’s Day to the arrival of young one in this world, from Mother’s Day to an affectionate gesture to brighten up someone’s stay at a hospital—flowers are every occasion.
Since it is a global cultural phenomenon to present flowers to one’s near and dear ones, Pakistanis also express their feelings through this fragrant practise.
In the past though there were not many flower shops in the country including the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Then people would rely on ganders in their neighbourhoods to arrange some flowers for them. Those gardeners then would make bouquets for every occasion.
The last decade, however, saw a sustained boom in the flower business and a number of florist shops opened in the twin cities as well.
The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has allocated certain points to florists in areas such as Super Market, Jinnah Super Market and F-10 Markaz.
A large number of people from different walks of life visit these shops daily and buy flowers and bouquets, because perhaps thousands words might not convey what a few flowers or even a single one could do.
Most of the flowers come from Punjab. They include roses, lilies, irises, tuberoses, daffodils and gladiolas. A few flowers are imported from Dubai and Holland and hence they are costlier than those locally produced.
A few years ago, very few people knew what Valentine’s Day was, but with a rapid growth of cable TV and information technology sectors it became a household term.
This is in deed the occasion for the florists who have a roaring business in the early days of February.
“This is the time of a year when most of us do really well and most of our customers are young boys and girls,” said a florist at the Jinnah Super Market.
He said with the increase in the number of flower shops, more and more people were learning to appreciate flowers and they did not mind paying an extra amount.
“In the past, we would meet customers who haggled over prices. They would complain that the same flowers were available for half of the price at another shop,” he recalled.
In Rawalpindi, the major flowers centre is at Banni, but there the florists mostly deal in garlands, rose petals and offer supplies to retail shops.
The cost of a bouquet ranges from Rs 150 to Rs 400, depending upon the customer’s desire and pocket, said a florist named Falak Sher.
