Host Intro: In the year 2020, all the businesses got hit by the pandemic . The same goes for the flower industry while shops are being forced to shut down and flowers getting destroyed , some said that the flower industry will be dying. However , New York City’s vibrant flower district is now blooming again in 2021 . Let Yan Jiang bring on the story of some florist about reopening
NAT: Cart passing
TRACK: It’s about 8:30 a.m. on October 15th, I’m on West 28th Street in Manhattan. People are busy going to work, getting breakfast and the traffic is relatively smooth. Turning off 28th Street, it is New York’s flower market. Early mornings at the flower market are always busy, with shopkeepers categorizing the flowers that have just arrive and customers purchasing their favorite bouquets. I walk into one of the shops, where employees were busy delivering flowers. I meet the owner at the back of the shop
NAT: The background music in the store
ACT:DAVID: I am David Marchini and I work at George Rallis wholesale florist here in New York City ‘s flower market
TRACK: The shop has been in the market for about half a century.
AMBI: The wrapping paper
ACT:DAVID: We are third generation family own business, we started in 1955 here in the market .we started as a strictly orchid importer and we expand in the mid 60 to start bring in flowers from all over the US and in the 70s we are the first wholesale florist to import flower from Holland and Columbia and Ecuador.
TRACK: Similar to every other business, running a flower shop faces a lot of challenges.
ACT:DAVID: Flowers are a luxury product or a luxury item. People don’t necessarily need flowers, they take them because they like them. They are in love with them. Some of the challenges are keeping up with the trend, what is going on, knowing what is popular, what ahead, kind of forecasting what is needed. That is always a little bit of a issue
TRACK: Dealing in luxury items, florists have had a hard time during the pandemic.
ACT:DAVID: We got hit very hard, nobody was buying flowers ,there are no weddings, there is no funeral and there is no party, so we actually have to close for 3 month and it was during our peak season ,it was mother’s day.
TRACK: Even though there are a lot of challenges in running a flower shop, there is something that supports David to continue the business.
ACT:DAVID: It is a true passion you have to really love people and you learn about people .
TRACK: David shared with me what he had gained from running the flower shop
ACT:DAVID: You kinda get to know them , you know what they like and you build a bond , a lot of my customers are my friends , you build a lot of friendships along the way.
TRACK: As I left George Rallis Wholesale Florist and walked down the street, i met Patrycja Danowska, a student from ithaca college, it her first time visiting the Market, she shared with me her story with the flowers
ACT:PATRYCJA: I personally love flowers. I grew up appreciating flowers because both of my parents are from the countryside back in Poland so my mom has her own flower garden, so I just love growing up with flowers , always having flowers in the house.
NAT: Street noise
TRACK: Looking to the future of New York’s flower industry, as the restoration of the city continues and the arrival of the holiday season. Florists are gearing up for their recovery from the pandemic . From Baruch College, I’m Yan Jiang
