Most of the florists interviewed by Capital FM News believed they could have made much more sales were the lover’s day to fall on a week day like previous years. Photo/FRANCIS MBATHA.
NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 14 – Most florists in Nairobi were unhappy on Saturday after recording poor sales because Valentines fell on a weekend.
Most of the florists interviewed by Capital FM News believed they could have made much more sales were the lover’s day to fall on a week day like previous years.
“On a weekend like this, it doesn’t boom. People don’t open offices on a weekend,” Rose Kinuthia a florist said, “there are no people in town.”
Bernard Kitenz, another florist said he started selling flowers on Friday night but complained that the sales were very poor.
He said since Friday he had not received an order of flower delivery like in previous years in which organizations made big orders.
“Business is not so good today. I started selling from yesterday evening. Last year by this time I had made very many deliveries. Since yesterday (Friday) I have not received any order, and it is already in the afternoon,” he explained.
A spot check by Capital FM crew showed that there were a lot of florists who had set temporary shops at tents erected at strategic places but they were not busy.
According to the florists, they missed out on corporate clients who buy flowers and other Valentines accessories for their clients as appreciation from them whenever the day fell on a weekday.
There were few people donning red clothing and even some who did said it was accidental.
“I just found myself on it, it wasn’t planning to be in a red shirt,” Tony Mwai, said when we caught up with him Kenyatta Avenue.
However, there were few others who still celebrated the day and even bought flowers for their loved ones.
“I have bought flowers for my wife, we will go to a restaurant and have lunch,” one of the buyers said.
A report released by Synovate IPSOS on Friday showed that 67 percent of Kenyans were ready to celebrate the special day recognised as a Lover’s Day.
According to the survey, majority of those who intend to celebrate the lovers will spend between Sh1000 to Sh2000 (19 percent), with a few expecting to spend more than Sh20, 000(4 percent).
Eighty percent of the participants will be celebrating the day with a romantic partner.
However, Thirty two percent of Kenyans will not celebrate the occasion with a majority of them (24 percent) attributing it to lack of anyone to celebrate with while 22 percent of them do not believe in Valentine’s Day.
“Fifteen percent will be working, 12 percent are broke while 11 percent have never celebrated the day, 8 percent are not in a relationship “the report stated.
When asked what gifts or activity one would like to get from their partner during this year’s valentines, majority of Kenyans said they want clothes (22 percent), 13 percent want Red roses, while 11 percent want nothing.
“Nine percent expect a special dinner, nine percent want shoes, 7 percent want cards and only 2 percent want wine, “the report states.
Interestingly, 40 percent of the single women are hoping that their boyfriends will propose while 63 percent of the single men do not plan to engage their girlfriends this Valentine.
The survey was conducted between 9th and 11th February 2015 on about 1075 adults aged 18 and above living in urban areas.
About The Author
