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For law enforcement, blue and white are the traditional flower colors.
Sun Valley Group. “For emergencies, most likely a retailer will call a DSD wholesaler. Since we are growers and bouquet makers we are able to pivot and adjust,” explains Prescott. Sun Valley, with production loca- tions in Oxnard and Arcata, has a fleet of trucks serving its wholesale floral distributor customers. When necessary, the grower can usually tap inventory or adjust a harvesting schedule in order to accommodate a pallet add-on request. Or in some situations, such as sending flowers to Las Vegas after the Octo- ber 2017 mass shooting, a truck of flowers can be expedited.
As a fourth generation florist, Schwanke says it’s important for vendors to monitor the local news in their customer areas as a way to check in to see if anything special is needed in the affected area. “Being proactive is help- ful and much appreciated,” notes Schwanke.
KNOW THE TRADITIONS AND COLORS
Before her 2017 retirement, Floral Business interviewed Rita Peters, assistant vice president of floral operations for Hy-Vee of West Des Moines, IA. She shared these comments about preparing for a so-called, typical work week: “Things can change so quickly no matter how involved you are into your planning. An example of this is when two police officers were killed in the line of duty. We quickly prepared for orders related to two deaths. We had 3,000 white carnations with red centers.”
Being prepared for the unexpected also means knowing the funeral and memorial traditions adhered to by community members and groups. Though this practice may be
considered regional, for fallen officers, law enforcement memorial protocol typically includes the wearing of a white carnation marked with a red dot in the middle. The white carnation represents a good life and career. The red dot indicates the blood shed by the fallen officer.
During an unexpected event, communi- cate clearly when working with floral vendors but be prepared to be flexible. Related to military and law enforcement services, red roses combined with white carnations and blue delphinium might be your first choice, but being open to a vendor’s immediate inventory might be necessary.
Labor is often an issue for supermarket floral departments processing and design- ing flowers for unexpected large events. In some cities, volunteer groups have stepped in to help with the red dotting of the white carnations worn by law enforcement officers honoring fallen comrades.
Schwanke reminds retailers to consider labor-saving options for large events where multiple Sympathy arrangements are required. He says Fern Trust Inc. of Seville, FL, creates wreaths that arrive ready for adornment. “Pre-made items can help reduce labor, and make creating as easy as taking something out of the box and adding flow- ers,” says Schwanke. Retailers can consider ordering pre-made wreaths of Magnolia, Carolina Sapphire or mixed Florida Foliage. “In times of need when there is little notice and staff is not plentiful, floral designers can fulfill Sympathy orders by embellishing the pre-mades with flowers.”
Does your store have a community liaison or a connection with the local police depart- ment? If so, communication and advance planning for annual memorial events will help secure the products in the requested colors. For law enforcement, blue and white are the traditional flower colors, but of course retailers will also want to be prepared with ribbons, balloons, candles, and plush for chil- dren of law enforcement families who often receive the comforting stuffed animals after the services.
Beyond the immediate grab-and-go bouquets needed for makeshift shrines, and flowers for funerals and memorial services, remember to plan for after-events. Some significant accidents and natural disasters are followed by recognition ceremonies honoring first responders. Does your response strategy plan include the step for securing inventory needed for after-events including anniversary memorial services? pb
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