Grocery stores have become a one stop shop for customers. You can get everything you want in one grocery store, groceries, small electronics, movies and even flowers. You want a nice flower arrangement to surprise your lady at home? Go by the floral department and ask the florist if they can put together something really nice while you do your grocery shopping. You can pick up your customized floral arrangement on the way out. It’s that easy. The flowers are just as fresh and well arranged as if you went to a floral boutique but half the cost! Florist who work in the grocery stores have their own stories as well, I’d like to introduce you to Tora the Florist!
Background
I started working in a grocery store when I was a sophomore in high school. I did quit about a year and a half ago, but got laid off from my other job and just recently came back as a Floral Manager. I really like my regulars that come in, they make it worthwhile to come in everyday. I also love working with flowers 
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I don’t like it when customers blame me for something I have no control over or when they assume I know everything just because my name tag has the word manager on it!
Pet Peeves: Customers who come in drunk, and employees that don’t do their job
Um… Are These Dead?
The load for the floral department comes in two days a week. In order to reduce costs of shipping, and improve quality, all of the flowers now come in dehydrated and in small boxes. Once they come in, I have to process the flowers (cut the stems) and put them in water so they can drink for a bit, and then I will put them out on the sales floor. Another thing to note is that when flowers are fresh, they are almost completely closed and small. It is when they are fully bloomed that they are about to die…
Me: Hello Ma’am, can I help you find anything today?
Confused Accuser: Yes, I was wondering if you have anything fresh, all of your bouquets are dead!
Me: Ma’am, I assure you, those are as fresh as you can get them, they just came on today’s load.
Confused Accuser: But they are not even open! See! Look at these! Holds up a bunch of Alstroemeria. Do these look alive to you? They are limp and look disgusting!
At this point, I am ready to give up on the customer. I mean, really… I know what I am doing, ya know?
Me: When flowers come in, they are dehydrated. They just need a couple more hours of soaking in water, and they will bloom in a few days. Those are in fact the longest lasting flowers we have! I have had customers come back and tell me theirs lasted almost three weeks! Believe me, they aren’t dead, and it’s a great deal for such long lasting flowers.
Confused Accuser: Whatever! I don’t believe you! I cannot believe you are trying to sell me dead flowers!
Me: Well have a nice day!
Have you ever thought someone in retail was giving you phony advice?
Thanks for sharing Tora from Colorado and there’s plenty more of her stories to come!
