Some people in the Baltimore region had a roseless Valentine?s Day ? but not because their sweeties forgot.
“It used to be Valentine?s Day; now it?s Valentine?s week,” said John Hosfeld, owner of The Flower Box on Main Street in Westminster.
Many flower shops struggled to deliver flowers and chocolates to expectant girlfriends, boyfriends, husbands, wives and others Wednesday as icy slush and freezing rain made for treacherous driving conditions.
Hosfeld?s shop wasn?t guaranteeing delivery, and planned to deliver flowers through the week.
Most customers were understanding, but a few who wanted flowers delivered right away opted for another shop. But not enough made that choice for The Flower Box to lose money, Hosfeld said.
“Those that have to have them and have four-wheel drives are coming in to get them,” he said.
Raimondi?s, a florist with locations around the Baltimore area, had more than 1,500 deliveries planned, with only about half making it to their final destination because contract drivers weren?t showing up, said owner Paul Raimondi.
Many of the delivered arrangements were sent back because the recipients were snowed out of work.
Raimondi?s lost “thousands and thousands of dollars,” thanks to about one-quarter of people canceling orders and the bundles that were sent back and have to be remade with fresh ingredients for later delivery, Raimondi said.
Ken Maher, owner of the Dutch Connection flower shop in Baltimore, said he was calling ahead before making deliveries downtown, where many offices were closed.
At Wessel Florists & Weddings Inc. in Ellicott City, Manager David Briskie planned ahead. The shop rented sport utility vehicles rather than vans. By mid-day, they had three trucks out and back with minimal snags.
“You have to make it work,” Briskie said. “You have to when Valentine?s Day is that one day.”
Examiner Staff Writer Megan McIlroy contributed to this report.
