Fresh Flowers & Gifts in Riverside is working around the clock to ensure flowers are ready for Valentines Day (Tiffany Goodwein/CHATNewsToday)

By Tiffany Goodwein

Flowers, gifts, flying off shelves as Hatters look for the perfect Valentines day gift

Feb 13, 2021 | 4:41 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – It’s a day to show that special someone how much you care. Valentines day is this Sunday and flower and gift shops have been working in overdrive to keep up with demand.

At Fresh Flowers & Gifts in Riverside, extra staff have been brought in to help with the abundance of orders.

“We’ve been crazy busy. There’s five of us on staff running as fast as we can go to keep up with it all,” Brenda Ruckaber said.

The flower shop has had over 175 orders the past three days. Two delivery drivers have been transporting flowers and gifts to homes across the city.

It’s a welcome sight, given the economic uncertainty. But Ruckaber told CHAT News that throughout the pandemic, flowers have been a hot button item.

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“A lot of people come into the store just to stop and smell the flowers because it’s bright, it’s colourful, fragrant. It’s making us happy right now, and we all need some happy,” Ruckaber said.

Roses are the more traditional flower for Valentines day, but tropical arrangements are equally as popular this year, according to Ruckaber.

A few doors down at Fruitful Specialty Shop, a team is working to ensure their products are just right.

“It has been beyond crazy. We have been busy open to close before the sun goes up and after the sun goes down,” co-owner Aurora Berchard said.

The shop makes edible bouquets out of fruit, and chocolate-covered strawberries, marshmallows, and roses.

The store has been in business for three years and this past year, they’ve seen a slight uptick.

“It’s been a little bit busier because people can’t see their families. They are sending more gifts.Whatever they can, flowers, fruit, anything they can get their hands on it seems,” Berchard said.

And for those who may have forgotten that Valentine’s Day is this Sunday. The shop is taking orders on Feb 14.