How is Christmas Going 2000?

Christmas seemed good for most shops we spoke with but the sample is really too small to make any broad conclusions. Some were way up, some were way down but the most common response we received to our call on December 19^th was short and to the point. "We don’t need anything for next week..thank you... Merry Christmas...click". Most folks were rather busy and did not want to talk.

Flower Boutique (Boise ID) "sold all our wire service promotionals, which is always good, and sales look good overall. Our most interesting order was a request that we go Christmas shopping for a 4 year old. They wanted us to buy all the presents, wrap them and deliver them."

Wild Iris (Molalla OR) has "sales up 22% so far over last year but I have no idea why. I certainly like it but is does not appear to be anything we have done that is causing it."

While we in the North were warm (?) on the 20^th (no snow in Boise, rain and 45 degrees in Portland and Seattle), down in Florida they had freezing weather and ice near Orlando in the leather fern fields. In DeLeon Springs 1-800-CUT-GREENS reported they were freeze protecting by sprinkling warm water on the fern fields. There did not appear to be any long term damage to the crops so it should not affect the Valentines crop.

Rose Boutique (Battleground WA) found "everything going along smoothly but I can’t say it is up or down from last year until its all over. No major trouble so that’s good anyway."

Anonymous (OR) reports that "sales are down 40% and the whole area around us is suffering. We have talked to a number of other non floral merchants in town and they all report the same. The "worst in memory" is what we hear from most."

Staker (Idaho Falls ID) is "doing well with plenty of everything still in stock but very busy. Seems about the same as last year except for more December weddings than usual- had 11 so far."

Magic Floral (Twin Falls ID) is a new shop but "its not as busy as I expected," said Sandy. "Even though this is our first Christmas I do think business is down compared to what it should be based on our last 9 months. I’m the only designer in the shop and I am busy but I could do a lot more."

Cluff (Boise ID) says things are going well. "No major problems and we actually expect to be able to go home by 9 or 10 PM on Saturday the 23^rd."

Anonymous (ID) is not doing as well. "We will be closing for good on the 23^rd. It was quite a shock to us, the crew, when we were told yesterday."

Here at Hungerford Farms things are as usual in December- SLOW. This is our vacation time as most of our retail floral customers switch from Florida grown foliages to Northwest Christmas evergreens. That’s OK with us though, as it gives us a good breather before Valentines both here in Oregon and in Florida at our partners Quality Growers. This December we needed the extra time as our son was in a major car crash on the 7^th, spent time in 3 hospitals and will be in a neck brace for the next 3 months because of it.

Gateway (Portland OR) says they are "plugging along with sales even with last year- no big ups or downs- so we sure can’t complain."

Jary’s (Salem OR) said that "so far everything is going along well. We are averaging about $40 for arrangements which is normal for us and we should sell out of poinsettias which we were worried about earlier."

Reed and Cross (Eugene OR) reports being "well pleased. Everything is going along great and it looks to be the same as last year."