’Dahlia is doing particularly well this year’
You’ve got two stores?
“Yes, one at Salzburg’s railway station and one in the city centre. And on Thursdays we sell potted plants from our mobile shop at the market. At the railway station, we mainly sell flowers, in the other shop it’s mainly plants. I’m from a horticultural family and we still have a greenhouse with balcony plants and bedding plants, which we sell in our shop in the city centre. My husband works under the same company name, he does landscaping and garden maintenance. In addition, we offer our customers a ‘hibernation service’ for their Mediterranean plants. We publish our own magazine about plants, their care and gardening, which comes out a few times per year.”
Has it been a good summer?
“Excellent even. Compared to last year, we’ve seen a large increase. The shop at the railway station was basically deserted last year, because hundreds of refugees, who wanted to take the train from southern to northern Europe, were left stranded. They stayed in and around the station for a long time. Our storage space was also used as an emergency shelter. People avoided the station and the sight of the crisis didn’t put them in the mood to buy flowers. Now that this situation has been resolved, business has improved again. Although the economy isn’t as thriving as before, I’ve noticed that people do want to allow themselves the little luxury of a bunch of flowers or a plant.”
Which products are doing well at the moment?
“Sunflowers, dahlias, panicum, potted chrysanthemums and cyclamen are currently doing very well. The majority of the balconies are planted now, so we’re selling mostly cut flowers and indoor plants at the moment. Dahlias are doing particularly well this year, as well as herbs, green plants and succulents.”
Where are your products from?
“In summer mostly from Austria. From own production, we sell tulips in winter, balcony and bedding plants in spring and summer and ornamental brassicas in autumn. From local growers, we purchase roses, gerberas, cyclamen, poinsettia and lots of bedding and balcony plants. In winter, most cut flowers are from the Netherlands and we also get most of our green plants from the Netherlands all year round. Looking at the entire year, I estimate that around 35% comes from the Netherlands. My regular haulier has just left. I bought chrysanthemums, santini chrysanthemums and thistles from him this time.”
Does the Dutch quality suffice?
“Yes, absolutely. Because I can see, feel and smell all the products in the lorry of the Flying Dutchman, I can pick the exact quality I’m looking for. There’s a wide range of choice and there’s always something new.”
Name: Veronika Schmeikal Blumen und Garten
Location: Two stores in Salzburg
Assortment: 40% flowers, 50% plants, 10% other
Specialty: Plants
Number of employees: 17
