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                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, February 16, 1992                   TAG: 9202170222
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: E2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

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$50 A DOZEN NOT PREVAILING ROSES PRICE

IN ED Shamy's Feb. 4 column, Bill Burtch, owner of Marizel's Flowers in Salem, advised his customers not to buy roses on Valentine's Day because the price, $50 to $70 a dozen, was "gouging." He would have your readers believe that this is the price they must pay in this area.

Not so. I have operated Glo-Lyn Florist in Bedford for 10 years, and never have I charged as much as $50 for a dozen roses. Mr. Burtch and the other area florists buy flowers at the same place, for the same price; and while it is true that flowers do skyrocket on holidays at wholesale prices, it is not necessarily true for retail sales.

Mr. Burtch's customers might be better served if he would reduce his profit margin so they could afford to enjoy roses. Of course, he wouldn't make "thousands" of dollars, but then, neither do the rest of us florists. GLORIA SAUNDERS BEDFORD

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