New year flower sales rise 30%, prices up 70%

KARACHI: Local retailers capitalized on a last minute shopping spree on the eve of New Year as sales of fresh-flower bouquets and baskets in the city went up around 30 percent while prices were pumped up by 60 percent to 100 percent.

Retailers said the supply of fresh flowers from Lahore, Gadap and from nurseries located in Hyderabad began late for New Year’s eve as suppliers were already over-booked on typically high demand for fresh flowers in December.

Local retailers said this year too fresh flower bouquets and baskets attracted customers, especially youngsters who used the occasion to convey their greetings by sending flowers. Traders said more than 55 percent of their customers were youths of ages between 16 to 30.

Nasreen Zia, a housewife said her two daughters, 20 and 23, wanted to buy bouquets for their friends and cousins. “I spent more money shopping for fresh flowers and bouquets this year than last year,” she said.

Sales of fresh flower bouquets at traders in Clifton, North Nazimabad, Tariq Road, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Gulistan-e-Jauher and old city areas registered an increase.

Hussain Quadri and Muhammad Farrukh, owners of Clifton Flowers, a major retailer in the area said the practice of sending fresh flower bouquets on new year is gaining popularity.

Flowers were available for sale till late in the night on December 31 and throughout the day on the first day of the New Year. “We earned more than 25 percent more compared to last season,” said Mr Farrukh. Dilawer Khan, owner of Flowers and Flowers near Khayaban-e-Roomi, Clifton, said most of the products are made of tea roses, tuberoses, gladioli, blades, tulip on such occasions.

“It depends on us in how many designs, shapes and sizes we present our products to attract customers. We wrap up products with fine cellophane paper, ribbons etc to make them attractive,” he said. He said sales this season increased around 30 percent, adding that most of his regular customers belonging to both the privileged and middle class spent 20 percent more than last time.

Javed Khan, an exporter of flowers, said the overall flower business is growing as people realize the importance exchanging of flowers, and said the government is also offering soft-term loans to the flower industry.

Mateen Ahmad, owner of Sana Flowers at Tariq Road, said sales of loose flowers and garlands registered an increase of around 25 percent compared to last year. Similarly, Muhammad Ali of Ali Flowers in the old city area, said he catered to more customers this season, and his sales of traditional garlands, bouquets and fresh flowers rose two-fold on Friday and Saturday compared to normal days. —Razi Syed

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