Hudson Valley flower shop says it isn't raising prices on Valentine's Day, despite rising operating costs

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Certain Hudson Valley business owners who live for Valentine's Day are managing increasing operating costs this year while trying to avoid increasing prices.

Inside Absolutely Flowers on Route 211 Thursday, staff were juggling pre-orders and a deep line of walk-in customers.

"We try to stay like pretty fair with the prices of everything," Chloe Babilar, store associate and granddaughter of the owner, said as she arranged another bouquet on the back counter. "Sometimes you just gotta roll with the punches."

Owner Janet Barberio told News 12 the shop has been dealing with a steadily increasing electric bill and heating oil prices that recently topped $4 a gallon.

Barberio said the hardest hit, though, comes from supply prices that have increased, in some cases dramatically.

She said the prices for vases have doubled and the price of green trim used in flower arrangements have quadrupled.

"Wholesale," she said with a laugh. "And as you can see, I buy a lot at a time."

Regular customers, including Sisto Martello, said they were prepared to pay more for gifts this year than last.

"Everything is high. The cost of everything is expensive," said Martello, also a small business owner who has had to make painful cost-cutting decisions, "but you can't just always keep passing it on to the consumer because they won't come in."

Barberio said the shop can handle a hit to profit margins for now while keeping prices the same.

She said her not-so-secret weapon — perhaps an arrow considering the occasion — is a loyal, always available staff that are invested in the shop.

Almost everyone working at the shop Thursday was family.

"You can't exist without having a sustainable group of people who can just walk in and know how to [to do the job]," she said. "Tomorrow, I'll have 20 delivery people on. Most of them are related. They take off from work. They know how to do it."

The loyal customer base factors in, too.

The family started the shop in 1988, expanding multiple times. "It's going to be my grandchildren's business," Barberio said.

Staff said they might handle 100 orders on a regular day, and this Valentine's Day they will complete 500 orders "easily."

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