Sexy Florist in Bed with Nation's Best

Online, February 1, 2010 (Newswire.com) - Hutto, TEXAS, February 1, 2010 - In the wake of a national recession, it's no bed of roses for the floral industry. But while times have seen most florists cutting back or closing shop, Dragonfly Floral and Gifts of Hutto, Texas, has gotten creative and is telling it like it is. "You're here for one of two reasons: you want to stay out of trouble or you want sex."

Recently selected for the 2009 Best of Business Award by the Small Business Commerce Association, Dragonfly is well known for its creativity. And owner Cindy Allen-Lott brainstormed the Valentine's Dinner-in-Bed Basket as a tantalizing alternative to the same old dozen roses for men who want a little something more.

"I ask them flatly, 'Isn't Valentine's the time to get some sex?'" says Allen-Lott. "'Isn't that why you're standing in my door? It's either that or so you won't get in trouble. And they're looking at me like, 'Yeah.'"

"And I say, 'So here's what you're going to do. You're going to buy this basket. She doesn't have to cook, you don't have to stand in line at a restaurant for two hours trying to get a table. You're going to stay home, pop open a bottle of wine, enjoy a pork tenderloin dinner in bed with rose petals and get to know your significant other again.'"

The basket includes slices of pre-marinated and grilled pork tenderloin, wine and wine glasses, strawberries, ROSCAR® truffles, cheese, crackers, ambrosia sauce and rose petals to sprinkle across the bed.

"And a feather," she laughs, "to tickle with."

That's one way to keep customers coming back. And retaining your customer base was never more important for traditional florists, who have been nipped in the bud by supermarkets and the Internet.

According to Florist Review, the number of retail florist establishments in the U.S. fell by about a third between 1992 and 2007, from 27,000 to 19,000. And supermarkets and the Internet have gained from their loss, as market share figures illustrate:*

2000 2008
Traditional Florists 61.2% 39.9%
Supermarkets 20.6% 32%
Internet 3.5% 10%

* Florist Review, "Retail Florists in Crisis," 1/10.

"Oh, it's tough right now," says Allen-Lott. "We've had six florists close shop in our county in recent years. That's why we have to be creative."

Of course, Dragonfly will also offer plenty for roses for her more traditional - and timid - customers.

"Don't get me wrong," says Allen-Lott. "I will sell more dozens of roses on Valentine's Day than any other day. But come on. Be creative! American women are underappreciated. And it doesn't have to be that way. I'm a woman, and I know what I want. Dinner in bed with my husband, kids off at grandma's - sounds good to me."

About Dragonfly Floral and Gifts

Located in Hutto, Texas' historic bank building, Dragonfly Floral and Gifts is a full-service florist specializing in unique gift items and highly personalized customer service. Dragonfly's trademark "Guy List" service employs detailed customer interviews to create a personalized database for follow-ups and reminders to help clients eliminate the "dog house" factor. In addition to floral arrangements, unique gifts, living plants, handmade truffles and bonbons, Dragonfly Floral and Gifts offers out-of-the-ordinary specialty items such as its Valentine's Dinner-in-Bed Basket.