[dropcap]G[/dropcap]one are the days when fresh flowers such as roses, lilies, and chrysanthemums were only seen being given in western movies, as it is now common to see them being given as gifts for various occasions such as birthdays, anniversaries and of course as a romantic gesture, as Valentines Day is increasingly synonymous with sending fresh flowers.

This is especially the case when fresh flowers are delivered with other gifts such as chocolates, cakes, cupcakes, wine and champagne, and other gifts.

A quick look at the websites of the top flower delivery shops in Lagos and Abuja, Nigeria, Regal Flowers and Floralhub.com.ng show that while prices start as low as N5,500 for some flowers, others are costly and luxury product, and apparently there is also other types of specially treated fresh flower called Forever Roses which lasts up to a year and is even more expensive.

We took the opportunity to speak to various flower shops including the top two flower shop owners on why fresh flowers are so expensive, especially in Nigeria, and here is the summary of what they had to say.

1. Cost of Constant Electricity Supply

Fresh flowers are extremely delicate and require storage in a specialized cold room and 24 hours of uninterrupted power to stay fresh and pristine.

Running a business where you need a constant power supply like a fresh flower business in a country like Nigeria can be so expensive as you would need to keep buying fuel for the generator to power the cold room.

As a luxury business targeting high-end clients, you are also likely located in premium areas with higher cost rates for electricity, which means you would have much higher electricity bills on average.

Add up diesel costs and electricity bills, and you end up with high flower costs.

2. Cost of Importation

We all know fresh flowers are luxurious and fly in from different parts of the world. From South Africa, Kenya, Ethiopia, South America, and many other countries just so we can get the best and freshest flowers.

Yes, we have tried growing roses and some other fresh flowers in Jos, Nigeria, but they are not as good and do not have the same quality as the ones imported. Greenhouses have been made, and chemicals have been applied but it is still not good enough as the ones we import, as the climatic variation between Nigeria and those foreign countries is a lot, as well as other factors. It is still doable, but by doing the maths, it will cost even more than importing to achieve the desired quality.

We are a luxury brand and want to ensure our clients get the best of our services and course the best flowers. So we have no choice but to import our flowers which involves flying them in.

It is no news that air freight isn’t cheap, which also adds to the price of flowers.

3. Cost of Cold Storage Transporation

Once we are done clearing the flowers from the cold section of the airport, we bring them down to our office in a cooling van to transport them from the airport to our office.

We have to use a cooling van because flowers are perishable and have to be kept in a cold room all the way from the farm in Holland to the airport, from the cold section of the airport to our office, and from our office to our clients or recipients, as we typically use airconditioned cars for deliveries.

And a cooling van is more expensive than a normal van, and also we know how much fuel is now, and that’s even when there isn’t fuel scarcity. This also adds to the cost of flowers.

4. High Cost of Foreign Exchange

The dollar rate is affecting everything in Nigeria, and flowers are being affected too because they are imported from different parts of the world and we pay for them with dollars from Nigeria.

The dollar cost is another reason flowers are expensive, just like they are for many other things in Nigeria.

We tried growing them here instead of importing them, but unfortunately, it wasn’t practical to do so, and millions of naira were wasted in the process. Every other day, someone approaches us saying they want to try it too, then they go back to growing exotic vegetables instead when they realize how impractical it is to match the quality and price of the imported flowers at the moment.

It will make a huge difference if the dollar can drop and be stable.

5. Price Increases from Farms and Air Freight During Festive Periods

Farms worldwide increase the prices of flowers due to the global high demand for flowers on occasions like Christmas, Mother’s Day and especially Valentine’s Day.

This is done to meet the increased demand globally as farms have a fixed supply and it becomes the highest bidders game. As such, farms increase their rates, sometimes more than double, so it goes to those willing to pay the premium rates.

Freight costs in airlines are also limited and often can’t meet the increased demand, which leads to an increase in their rates as everyone is scrambling to secure the same set of flights as close to the festive period as possible to keep the flowers fresh.

On Valentine’s Day month especially, flowers like roses are astronomically higher than during other periods. Roses are mostly known as the Valentine’s Day flower, especially red roses representing love and romance, and are the most affected.

That also adds to the cost of flowers, making them even more expensive than they usually are.

6. Flowers Getting Damaged During Transportation

Fresh flowers are very delicate and fragile, and most of the flowers inevitably don’t make the long journey from a far country as well as the various change of hands until they get to Nigeria, and from there to the destination in Nigeria, especially the most delicate types and colours of flowers.

To compensate for this, the lost flowers are usually factored into the prices by the florists to not make a loss overall. This generally affects the cost of flowers to the buyers as the prices of the damaged flowers are added to the cost of flowers.

7. Variable Cost of Different Flowers

Fresh flowers have a very wide range and also have different prices from the farm and that is because of how they are being planted or cultivated.

Some flowers are seasonal or take a longer time to grow, which also takes much effort, while some are easy to grow and don’t need too much effort.

Flowers like Orchids, Tulips, and Peonies are more expensive than Roses or Chrysanthemums and are sometimes difficult to get due to availability from the farms. That will definitely affect the price of the bouquet; a bouquet is more than a flower’s stem.

In Conclusion

In summary, while these factors make fresh flowers very expensive in Lagos and Abuja, Nigeria, do not be discouraged as they are an effective way to make your friends and loved ones feel truly special. In fact, knowing these factors would serve to make both you and your intended recipient appreciate just how special the gesture is.

What other factors did we miss out on, and what do you think about the prices of flowers in Nigeria? Let us know in the comment section.