My niece asked why we don't sell more dried arrangements like her friend's mom does
She said 'everything at your shop is so wet and fresh, it's gonna die in a week'. Made me realize we've been stuck in the same fresh-cut routine for 15 years while the market's moved on. Anyone else pivoting to more preserved stuff lately?
One angle is the local angle. We started working with a nearby wheat farmer to get dried stalks and seed heads. It's cheaper than buying preserved eucalyptus, it looks really rustic and unique, and customers love the 'grown here' story. It builds a different kind of value.
Your niece nailed it. We started offering dried lavender bundles and preserved eucalyptus last fall, and they outsell fresh roses now. People want things that last, especially for gifts. Have you looked into freeze-dried flowers? They keep their color way better than air-dried.