Just like the flowers in that Valentine's Day bouquet, some businesses can bloom a little too early.
Florist Susan Occhino of Waterbury, Connecticut may understand that better than most, especially after she discovered that the more than $10,000 she made selling flowers on Amazon.com was being withheld by the online retailer, WTNH News 8 reports (h/t The Consumerist). With Valentine's Day, one of the biggest days of the year for florists, just around the corner, Amazon said Occhino's business was growing a little too quick and only disbursed some $45 of the $10,000 she made.
With little other choice, Occhino decided to send out hundreds of Valentine's Day orders anyway, dipping as far into her savings as possible to send off as many flowers as she could.
Occhino could be right to fret about any lost sales on what one consumer expert calls "the Black Friday of florists." Last year, florists sold 196 million roses on Valentine's Day. This year alone, lovestruck consumers are expected to spend $1.8 billion on flowers. Indeed, demand is so high that the world's largest florist, Kroger, is extending hours on Tuesday to accomodate any procrastinating Casanovas.
In addition, because Valentine's Day fell on a weekday this year, florists are likely to experience a boom as extravagant bouquets win out over late-night dinners midweek, according to the Miami Herald.
All told the average American will spend around $126.03 this Valentine's Day on restaurants, flowers and other gifts, according to the National Retail Federation.
This isn't the first time Amazon has ruffled users. The company's "prime service" -- an aim to attract customers that are more loyal than average -- has brought in fewer than half of what the analysts estimated, according to Bloomberg.