Valentines Flowers - Economy doesn’t wilt Wildwood Crest florist

WILDWOOD CREST — Sharon Roman first got into the flower business by walking into a florist shop to interview for a sales job with the owner.
Formerly a stay-at-home mother, Roman said the owner, the late Marie Falcey, took her under her wing.
“I had expressed an interest in learning how to design, and Marie gave me the opportunity to learn how to do that. I had a talent for it,” said Roman, 58, of Lower Township. “These were her words: You can teach someone how to design, but they have to have it up here,” she said, pointing to her head.
“I was so eager to learn it, I was like a sponge. I would always ask questions about different design techniques,” she said.
Falcey, who owned and operated Marie’s Flower Shoppe for more than 20 years, died in 1995. Roman bought the business and kept the name.
Roman keeps a framed picture of Falcey on a shelf in the floral shop, which moved in November from North Wildwood to Wildwood Crest off New Jersey Avenue.
“I think she’d be happy to know her business is still chugging along,” Roman said.
Of course, the business has changed over the years.
Competition from supermarkets selling valentines flowers and online flower sellers have taken a toll, Roman said.
The down economy of the past few years has had an impact too, as consumers cut back on spending.
Summer becomes a busy time due to the tourist trade and the summertime population at the shore, she said.
“Especially here on the island, you have people who if they are down here, they are celebrating anniversaries and birthdays and get-togethers,” she said.
Then there are the holidays throughout the year, including Christmas, when the shop prepares plenty of poinsettias, fruit baskets and flowers in the red, green and white varieties for floral arrangements and dinner table displays and centerpieces.
Popular valentines flowers for the holidays include mums, roses and alstroemeria, she said.
“It’s a little bit of a lift. It gets you through until Valentine’s Day, depending on how the holiday goes, she said.
Roman works at the shop with her husband, John “J.J.” Roman, who does deliveries, fruit baskets and sales at the shop.
Most of the wedding business comes from April to late October, and many of the weddings involve brides and grooms from out of the area getting married in Cape May, Stone Harbor and Avalon areas, she said.
Contact Brian Ianieri:
609-272-7253