By Alesha Capone
A Tarneit florist says she has been busier than ever since the COVID-19 pandemic started.
Owner of Mizami Flowers, Maryna Kapliieva, started her business in 2014.
“Orders have tripled since pandemic started,” she said.
“When restrictions are in place, the amount of orders increases.
“Many people send flowers and gifts to their loved ones and friends because they can’t visit them from another suburb, a state, or even a country.
“People send flowers to say ‘hello’ or cheer up each other.”
She said it could be “very hard” to see messages on cards accompanying flowers, about how hard it is for some people to be alone.
Ms Kapliieva said the pandemic has introduced some changes for her industry, including more phone calls from clients, more paperwork before starting deliveries and contactless deliveries.
“I enjoy creating bouquets and arrangements, but most of all I enjoy happy and grateful customer’s and recipient’s feedback,” she said.
“There is nothing better, when customers are calling me saying how grateful they are, how I’ve made someone’s day brighter.
“I value that more than anything.”
Ms Kapliieva said she was “so grateful for being a very small, but very important connection part between people’s lives, to help them to express their feelings and emotions with flowers and support of each other during these challenging times”.
