Why I won’t write about Brexit.. well not in detail!

You know it would be easy peasy to write salacious headlines about Brexit. Everyone else seems to be doing it ... why not me!

It would actually be a doddle to put the fear of God in anyone reading this with snippets I’ve seen saying the inspection system will be sooooooooo blocked there will be no flowers at all out of Holland from January 2nd.

Then of course I could completely fudge the numbers; like the proposed tariffs which actually aren’t the oft quoted 8% for flowers but range from 4% to 12.5% depending on whether it’s silk flowers or real, foliage or plants (although Cacti are different) oh yes, and in the case of fresh flowers, what time of year it is.

Thing is that’s not my style. As a journalist my job is to research a story within an inch of its life and if I can’t be sure of it being right it won’t appear as a news story.

For example on 7th September I had some superbly positive news via an email from the DEFRA Press Office in which they told me ‘Only ‘high priority plants’ will be systematically inspected between January and July 2021. Cut flowers are not included in the list of ‘high priority plants.’ - a statement that to me meant all the peaks will be safe in terms of any delays caused by inspectors.  Trouble is someone I have a lot of respect for was surprised as it conflicted with other Government statements so I had to go back and ask again! I suspected it was true and I had just got an overly helpful Press Officer who shouldn't have told me just yet (!) but it needed double checking. Update: 10.9.20:  Checked and confirmed ... he was being overly helpful - Gov confirmed it today - see news story here 

On tariffs I have been informed by key players at Colombian Government level that a tariff free agreement for Colombia, Ecuador and Peru has been agreed with the UK and is just waiting to be ratified by the Colombian Senate in the next few weeks.

Given Colombian and Ecuadorian flowers have always been open for inspection (so in theory no extra delays because it will be life as normal) that is fabulous news because it means that any South American flowers coming directly into the UK and on to a local UK wholesaler will not only be cheaper but faster, never mind damned good quality.

Trouble is I’ve been told by people in the UK that it isn’t public knowledge over here so I can’t officially announce it. Personally I see no reason why it shouldn’t go through and why I would be finding myself a South American supplier who doesn’t go via Holland toot sweet simply because I would want the buying advantage but I didn't tell you that!

And then there’s all the brinkmanship/game playing/power struggles to look important never mind the things going on to circumnavigate the proposed systems. For example there seem to be an awful lot of Dutch wholesalers with Ltd companies being set up in UK business centres. I know it will get round the systems on the paperwork side (depending of course what the system ends up being!) but you can’t get a lot of flower in a post box and as a buyer I want to know my flowers are in the country, not just the paperwork.

The whole Brexit thing is an unmitigated disaster and looks like a complete pig’s muddle. But it was never going to be simple; break ups are invariably messy never mind full blown divorces! Add into the mix power crazy people trying to prove points or cling onto things and it’s even worse.

However bottom line is there will ALWAYS be flowers, foliage’s, plants, sundries. What’s more - and given the size of the UK flower industry - no one is going to turn their back on us. Currently they need the UK sales too much, they would struggle to replace them elsewhere.

So whilst a lot of people may be making a big hoo hah about Brexit the truth is the sky will not fall in on January 2nd. There will be flowers not least because Mother Nature couldn’t give a toss about Brexit anymore than she cared about Covid. Them flowers will keep on growing and will keep on coming. With the increased sales in flowers predicted to last long into 2021 they’ll sell too.

As for pricing? There will be fluctuations tariff or not. There always are, there always will be. This year alone we have gone from dumping product to 40% year-on-year price hikes. In fact, take the 9 months so far and some lines were more expensive in 2018 and 2019 than in 2020. And, as ever, there are ALWAYS bargains to be had.

As such - and to be blunt because I am getting very fed up of seeing people complain about prices on Facebook - if you are a good buyer, research your options, use the right supplier and are prepared to be flexible the tariffs will be the least of your worries.

Which is why – just at the moment – I don’t think it is right to talk about Brexit in any detail. Not only because no one really knows what is going on but because to my mind there are far bigger and more immediate issues to face.

• Like business survival as we face the next really challenging weeks and see the fall out of furlough ending and the impact that will have on florist shops and their suppliers.
• Like how we campaign to get weddings and events properly back into the mix given current flower losses on weddings alone is circa £75million and annihilating many florist businesses.
• Like how to deal with Christmas workshops in a way that is safe, legal and profitable.
• Like how to keep mentally strong when each day you don’t know what’s around the corner. I started writing this blog when 30 people could gather ... when I finished it we were back down to 6 people, more localised shutdowns and yet people still won't wear masks in shops!

Speaking to so many of our readers from grower to florist it strikes me a lot of people are running on near empty at the moment; indeed whether you’ve seen your business soar or struggle the headaches have been real, the pressures have been huge.

Brexit will happen and I will put out the nitty gritty detail when I know for sure it is right but the world will not come to an end on December 31st – my advice is save your brain space for the here, now and next six weeks.

Caroline Marshall-Foster

Editor