Valentine’s Day boosts Turkey’s flower exports and jewelry sales
Posted by meb at February 14th, 2008
Turkish flower exports to Europe have increased significantly over the past couple of days, as competition toughened among jewelry-sellers in advance of Valentine’s Day, being celebrated worldwide today.
The Mediterranean city of Antalya has exported significant amounts of flowers to several European countries, most notably to England, the Netherlands and Germany, and the jewelry market has seen a noteworthy increase in sales.
Jewelers across Turkey are trying to boost their sales with special designs and deals for the holiday. Vahdi Karacaoğlu, one of the partners of Karacaoğlu Jewelry, said that rings set with brilliant stones are the most favored presents for Valentine’s Day. “We are giving 50 percent discounts and payment options especially for this occasion. The price of diamond rings ranges between YTL 275 and YTL 10,000,” he noted.
Karacaoğlu said that heart-shaped necklaces sell well during this time, adding: “We sell such necklaces at prices between YTL 100 and YTL 500. There has been a significant surge in sales in the last couple of days. People at all income levels can find presents appropriate for their budgets.”
Silver jewelry is a popular alternative for those who cannot afford jewelry with brilliant stones or set in gold.
Osman Bağdatlıoğlu, the chairman of Antalya flower exporters’ association AKÇİP, told the Anatolia news agency that they have exported 40 million single-stem flowers to Europe. He went on to say that in addition to roses, they have exported flowers including carnations, gerbera, ranunculaceous and anemone to Russia and Ukraine, adding: “We earned $4 million from these sales.”
Bağdatlıoğlu also said that 95 percent of the flowers cultivated in Antalya are exported, while the remaining 5 percent are sold in Turkey. “Turkish people buy only red roses for Valentine’s Day — but they should buy other flowers as well, like the rest of the world,” he noted.
Nevertheless, the sale of flowers in the domestic market has remained stagnant, some florists argue. Despite the fact that the Turkey Interfloral Association has set prices for roses to be sold at, flower sales in the domestic market remained below expectations. “Roses will be sold between YTL 7 and YTL 10,” Bağdatlıoğlu said.
Mehmet Şık, who has been a florist for 24 years in Zonguldak, told the Cihan news agency yesterday that sales were better last year. “People lined up to buy roses last year, but no one has yet stopped by to ask for roses,” he added.
Ömer Şahbudak, the chairman of the Mersin Florists Labor Association, underlined that due to cold weather the cost of flower cultivation has increased slightly: “But we will sell flowers at higher than last year’s prices. Unless the weather is freezing, we expect good sales.”
Şahbudak also cautioned against florists working illegally, asking that people buy from registered florists so as to combat the unregistered economy and prevent unfair competition.
Meanwhile, Bağdatlıoğlu also noted that flower sales also boom ahead of International Women’s Day (March 8th). “Flower producers and exporters have already begun preparations. We expect to sell around 50 million flowers then, particularly to Russia, Ukraine, Romania and Bulgaria,” he added.
source: Today’s Zaman
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