Decatur flower shop prepares for the busiest time of year

DECATUR, ILL. (WAND) - Valentine's Day is right around the corner, but a Decatur floral shop has been prepping since the fall.

Business is in full bloom for Svendsen Florist, as they prepare to fill nearly 1,000 orders on Friday.

"We'll fill about 1,000 orders next week. So, there's a lot of prep, a lot of late nights, a lot of long hours," said Melissa Keays, co-owner of Svendsen Florist.

There's a lot of work behind the beautiful arrangements. From ordering the flowers to putting them all together, prepping begins six months in advance.

"First — order our flower order way in advance, because they have to get all those flowers in from all over," said Jayne Svendsen, co-owner of Svendsen Florist.

Family and relationships help hold the shop together. Svendsen Florist is the oldest floral shop in town, serving the Decatur community since 1946.

"We're really proud of our family's legacy over the years. I mean, we have people that came in here with their grandparents 50 years ago, and they knew my grandma and grandpa and great aunt and generations of my family that have been a part of this business," said Keays.

Svendsen Florist is taking orders until Valentine's Day. They encourage you not to wait till the very last minute! To place an order, visit their website or give them a call at 217-877-4767.