The flower market in Aalsmeer, Holland is the largest flower market in the world. 19 million cut and 2 million house flowers are sold there daily. Buying at local auction houses is a demanding and stressful job. It requires knowledge of the market and a bundle of nerves. "You have to love it, otherwise it wouldn't be possible," says our buyer Mája, who described her job. And today's article is about her.
The auction house opens for buyers at six in the morning. At that moment, millions of cut and house flowers are brought into the warehouse of the Dutch stock exchange. They arrived a few hours ago from various corners of the world and in a few hours they will be heading to their final destination - some of them even to us in the Czech Republic, to Dutch Flowers branches.
Buyers who have the opportunity get a taste of the atmosphere of the auction house right there. However, most companies buy online - just like Holland Flowers. One of our buyers, Mája, is already sitting at the computer before six in the morning with a coffee in her hand, checking her flower shopping list.
“We shop twice a week. On Monday and Wednesday. This means that the goods are delivered the very next day on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Every afternoon before shopping, we compile what needs to be bought and tick off individual flowers in the program of the Dutch Stock Exchange," comments Mája.
For shopping with a list
The Dutch Stock Exchange list has tens of thousands of items. "I have to go through them all and find what I need. I will then add that to my private shopping list," explains Mája. Thanks to the custom list, buyers are notified during the auction that their selected item will be auctioned soon.
Items are qualitatively graded. The best ones are marked as A1. "We only take you," adds Mája. A2 is of worse quality, which can mean, for example, crooked stems or other cosmetic defects. Next is group B.
When the auction of the selected item happens, buyers literally fight for seconds. The price of flowers starts at the highest number and gradually decreases. On Maya's screen, the hand of a clock oscillates, but instead of the time, the price for one flower appears. Maja has to stop the hand on the required amount, which she is willing to pay for the flower. If he is a second late, a tulip can be bought for one euro instead of 20 cents. This makes the purchase of several buckets significantly more expensive. And if she delays the purchase for a few more seconds, the competition can buy her the tulips she wants.
By truck to the Czech Republic
During the purchase usually one has to sit at the computer as if transfixed. After the lesson, there is a ten-minute break, and then possibly one more. Then the carts with the flowers are heading to the prepared trucks that will travel to the final destination. "Trucks will bring the entire purchase to our warehouse in the Czech Republic, from where the flowers are distributed to the individual branches," comments Mája.
One such truck supply will last for several days - it depends on the city and the branch . And also for events - for Valentine's Day or International Women's Day, you need to prepare in advance and the florists at our branches do not stop.
“It's a responsible job, that's why it's stressful. It is necessary to have some knowledge and to know flower growers. But I love it, you couldn't do it without it," concludes Mája.
