File:Florists' review (microform) (1912) (16511177268).jpg

Title: Florists' review (microform)
Identifier: 5205536_40_1 (find matches)
Year: 1912 (1910s)
Authors:
Subjects: Floriculture
Publisher: Chicago : Florists' Pub. Co
Contributing Library: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Digitizing Sponsor: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

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WHAT HAPPENED IN CANADA. No Need for Worry. "We think that in the United States, judging from the experience of the florists in Canada, you will have little need to worry in regard to business in the florists' line." Thus does George M. Geraghty, man- ager of Dunlop's, Toronto, Ont., sum- marize his opinion of what will be the effect of the war on the florists' busi- ness in the United States. Canadian florists have been facing war conditions for nearly three years. So that American florists could get a line on what may happen to their busi- nesses while the United States is at war, The Eeview asked prominent re- tailers in the neighboring country to write of their experiences since August 4, 1914, the date Great Britain entered the conflict, for the benefit of their brothers in tlie trade across the border. The declaration of war nearly three years ago was sudden and its effect on business in those countries involved was great. Time, however, brouglit readjustment to meet the conditions. Thus, when the United States entered the conflict, the action of this country brought little change for the simple reason that business was used to it and knew the war would not have tlie disastrous effect that was expected three years ago. Panic When War Started. The panic which the Canadian mem- bers of the trade experienced at the outset of the war did not hit the florists in the United States. Neither will it. There are bound to be some readjust- ments, but on the whole, judging from the experience of the Canadian florists, business will continue as before Aj)ril 6 of the present year. The history of the war's effects in Canada, as told by members of the trade there, follows: After the declaration of war, the florists' business throughout the coun- try was seized with severe panic, on the theory that everything was going to the dogs. Help in all lines was laid off and those retained had their wages cut anywhere from ten to thirty per cent, people thinking that business would cease entirely. A scheme of retrenchment set in that, for a month or two, practically paralyzed the busi- ness. However, things soon took a turn for the better; wages were re- stored, and business, considering all things, looked promising. Big Call for Hospitals. "As a great number of wealthy people, and tliat means the flower buyers, sent their sons, brothers and husbands to the war, there arose a feel- ing against anything that would seem to be of too much gayety and, there- fore, the florists suffered. Dinners and receptions were cut off and it left only the individual and hospital, not to mention funeral orders, to help the florist out. Where a few people used to send to the hospitals, it is now quite the thing, especially as almost everybody, who is in the least indisposed and who can afford it, immediately goes to a private hospital and friends respond by sending quantities of flowers. "Again, owing to the large number of casualties in hospitals in France and England and through our extensive ad- vertising of the fact that we can have flowers sent to these hospitals by our foreign correspondents, we have con- siderable of this work to attend to. "In the matter of funerals, people are sending more flowers than formerly. There is plenty of money in Canada at the present time, and it is in this way that • the people are expressing them- selves. More Funeral Orders. In the matter of weddings, these are carried out quietly and few of tliem have any elaborate decoration. Tlie bouquets themselves and the at- tendants' flowers are just as elaborate as ever. "We think that in the United States, judging from the experience of the florists in Canada, you will liave little need to worry in regard to l)usi- ness in the florists' line. "It is, of coiirse, known that every- thing has gone up in ))rice with the exception of flowers, but, so far as we are concerned, we think it inadvisable to j)lace flowers at too high a price, as it would tend to frighten the pros- pective buyer and the money would then be sjient for fruit, books or candy. "The war will not last forever, and it is well to keep one's customers and have them satisfied. This, we can safely say uj) to the present time, we liave done, although it has been at a cost of profit.—George M. (ieraghty, manager, l)unloj)'s, Toronto, Ont. "War was declared August 4, 1014, and at that time business was, so to speak, booming. The first part of the year was the best we had ever had. JBy October sales began to drop off and continued to do so until the spring of 1915, when they picked up to about eighty per cent of normal. In 1916 sales again improved, but during the winter and spring of 1917 business has shown a decided falling off. The fall- ing off in sales is not the worst feature. The cost of production and selling cost have so increased without a corre- sponding increase in selling price that profits for the time are eliminated. Training Camps Bring Business. "An indication that we were more favorably situated than in some other cities and towns is shown by the fall- ing off in business since the large num- ber of troops, from 5,000 to 12,000, which were in training here during 1915 and 1916, have gone overseas. Both officers and men were liberal buyers of flowers and, since their departure, the decrease in demand for the better quality is noticeable. The demand for funeral work has not diminished to any extent, while that for weddings is almost a thing of the past. The wealthy people, who before the war were regular buyers of flowers, now seldom indulge. On the other hand, munition workers and others, who are earning a good wage, have become the flower buyers. But with them it is not a matter of quality so much as price. Therefore we found it necessary to change our methods of merchandising." — J. G. Gamnuoge, secretary-treasurer, J. Gammage & Sons, Limited, London, Out. It will he understood from these letters that the uses to which flowers are put in Canada have been consid- erably changed, but business is good. Florists in the Ignited States need have little fear of the war's effect on their business. THIS DISPLAY SOLD ITSELF. A tinielv and striking patriotic win- ildvv of tile .1. W. Stokes Floral Co., Sj)riiigfield, Mo., created such an im- j)ressi()n that the entire display was sold the second dav after it had been in-
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Patriotic Window that Was Winner for J. W. Stokes Floral Co., Springfield, Mo.

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