BY ALICIA DORSET
Clarkston News Staff Writer
Valentine’s Day is Saturday, Feb. 14. Are you ready?
If you own a store that features Valentine traditions such as flowers or chocolate, you’ve been ready for quite some time.
‘It’s a mad rush to get ready in a week,? Christie Kojima, owner of The Chocolate Moose, said. ‘They’re here and then they’re gone.?
Finding the right treat for that special someone is often left to the last minute, so local stores have been preparing for the holiday to make the process smooth for frantic shoppers.
?’We stay pretty organized, but it still gets crazy,? Shari Schulz, owner of Clarkston Flower Shoppe said.
Schulz makes sure her shop works one day ahead of all orders to stay on top of the high demand for flowers, especially since Valentine’s Day falls on a Saturday.
‘We won’t have as many deliveries for flowers during the week,? Schulz said. To combat this, the store plans on having extended hours on the holiday itself depending on what demand is like.
Roses aren’t always the most popular choice for Valentine flowers, according to Schulz.
‘It’s a misconception that women always want red roses,? Schulz said. ‘Women tend to prefer colored roses. The show is better on them.?
Popular choices this year have included Oriental lilies and Gerbera daisies.
If flowers aren’t what you had in mind, The Chocolate Moose has a wide variety of chocolates to choose from, a variety they’ve been working to perfect since New Year’s Day.
‘It’s not a long holiday,? Kojima said. ‘You have extremes. People know exactly what they want or they have no clue. They’re either in to buy their favorite treat or look for the prettiest package.?
While Kojima’s store features traditional chocolate roses, Valentine candy bars, and boxes of chocolate ‘smooches?, a new item this year reflects current events.
Low-carb chocolates have arrived to The Chocolate Moose just in time for the holiday.
‘Valentine’s doesn’t have to be a no-chocolate-holiday,? Kojima said.
The store works with only the best ingredients to create the diet-friendly treat. While sugar-free products have already been available at the store, new twists, such as low-carb Belgian chocolate, are ready for the Valentine rush.
‘I love experimenting with new ideas, that’s the fun part,? Kojima said.
Watching what sells and what doesn’t is an important job for Kojima and her staff. They keep an extensive log of sales numbers to help start planning for Valentine’s Day 2005.
As with a florist on the actual holiday itself, The Chocolate Moose is a busy place to be.
‘We’re hit really hard until the middle of the afternoon, usually with men,? Kojima said. ‘Most of them are just happy to grab something and go. This year will be particularly stressful since it’s on a Saturday.?
Whether you need a dozen pink roses or a box of low-carb candy bars, Kojima reminds the Valentine’s Day shopper to keep their sweetheart’s favorites in mind.
‘Everyone thinks truffles are the ultimate Valentine’s gift,? Kojima said. ‘But just make sure that the person likes dark chocolate- lots of dark chocolate.?