99 years and counting, Platte Floral gears up for another Valentine’s Day

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- Valentine's Day is just a day away and floral shops around Colorado Springs are gearing up. In fact, Platte Floral has ordered 11,000 roses for what they are calling their Black Friday.

For 99 years, Platte Floral has been one of the most successful businesses in town. But in recent years things have become more difficult with the introduction of online sales.

Dianna Tolbert, owner of Platte Floral said, “It’s getting hard for a brick and mortar store,” she continued. "Even the local Costcos or grocery stores, you know, you can go in and buy a dozen roses for $9.99 and our roses are $50 a dozen.”

But Tolbert, who has owned Platte Floral with her husband since 1981, says they have one thing that online sales will never have: customer service.

“I said okay, now what’s our goal again for this year, and I said service. That’s what we have over you know the online stores,” Tolbert told KRDO.

And through hard work and determination, Tolbert says her business has only grown. For Valentine's Day this year, they will make between 400-600 deliveries and create more than 1,000 arrangements.

“Even though it calls for 12 roses you give them 16 or you give them 18. Our goal is to treat the customer just like your customer or daughter,” said Tolbert.

So what does the future hold for Platte Floral? “My goal is to keep it up to the 100 years you know I’m getting passed 70 so I’d like to keep it on a few more years.”

And with that 100-year mark hitting next year, Platte Floral has become quite a staple in Colorado Springs.

Also, don't worry if you have procrastinated on flowers. Platte Floral will continue to make arrangements through the 15th.