The Flower Divas – A day in the life of a flower shop Part One

The Flower Divas – A day in the life of a flower shop
Part One - ‘From Amsterdam to Audlem’
Welcome to our new feature on your local Audlem florists. 2012 is certainly turning
out to be a summer of events and celebrations both locally and nationally. 2012 is
also a year for celebration for the Flower Divas as in September we will be
celebrating our first Anniversary, not quite a Diamond Jubilee but none the less an
important milestone we will be celebrating in true floral style.
In the run up to our first anniversary we will be telling the story of your local Flower
shop and what goes on behind the scenes along with a few trade secrets and some
interesting facts and figures. We are so passionate about flowers and our industry
and we just want to share a little of that passion‼
If you are around in the village on a Tuesday morning then chances are you
will have seen ‘The Flying Dutchman’ in the village, a 40 tonnes refrigerated
articulated lorry. You will know if you have seen it as it’s impossible to miss
stopping the traffic in the village.
Modern technology means that the British
Florists are now able to order flowers on line
direct from the International
flower auctions in Holland.
However we still rely heavily on the
Dutchman who is in essence a mobile
Wholesaler and our eyes and ears on the
ground at the auction.
Lorenz our Dutchman will buy at
auction and then travel the country
selling to flowers shops and florists around
the region. He has a considerable amount
of experience and knowledge of both
Flowers varieties and availability as well
As the workings of the auction itself.
Lorenz spends his week travelling from Holland then around the region and then
back again. Lorenz is at the auction early on Monday morning and by midday is on
his way to England.
He travels from The Hook of Holland to Hull and then travels to the Northwest with his
first stop being in Northwich, then on to Nantwich. From there he makes his most
important stop in Audlem at the Flower Divas before travelling onto North Wales and
finishing up on the Wirral and Merseyside on Thursday before travelling back on the
ferry on Thursday Pm arriving back in Holland on Friday morning.
For any florist the weekly arrival of the dutch wagon is one of the highlights of the
week. We are both like ‘kids in a sweet shop’ and have to resist the urge not to buy
up one of everything. The lorry is refrigerated and kitted out inside to hold all the
flowers and plants in optimum travelling conditions to ensure they all arrive in tip top
condition. The inside of the lorry full to capacity when it comes to Audlem so we
really do get the ‘pick of the bunch’
Some interesting facts:
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The Lorry is the largest artic allowed on the road’s in Europe at 16.5 metres
long and 40 tonnes.
The trailer is set at a constant 7 degrees to provide the optimum temperature
for cut flowers.
It costs £800 or 1000 Euros to fill the tank each week and a further £1100 per
week for the Ferry crossing.
The cabin can sleep two people in bunk beds and has all the basic for an
overnight stay, but after years on the road Lorenz swaps his lorry for the
comfort of a bed and shower at the local Travel Lodge.
Watch this space for our next episode, when we will look at the Flower Auction at
Aalsmeer the ‘Wall Street’ of flowers ‼ bought to you by The Flower Divas at 16 The
Square Audlem. www.theflowerdivas.co.uk 01270 812434 or follow us on twitter
and face book.