Neeraj Kumar with rare variety of flowers at Bunches. Picture by Hardeep Singh

Ranchi, March 6: Flowers are for all occasions. Be it your dear one’s birthday or wedding or simply your first dream date, nothing can express your love and best wishes better than a bunch of flowers.

With Bunches — a chain store selling flowers — opening its outlet here, residents of the city can look forward to some rare variety of flowers and that too at their doorsteps. From exquisite Dutch Roses, Ascetic Lilies, Oriental Lilies to Bird of Paradise, and Orchids, the shop has it all.

Neeraj Kumar Sinha, one of the proprietors of the shop, said: “We cater to a global market. We have tie-ups with flower shops and delivery services all over the country and even abroad. We also deliver flowers to customers who have placed orders over telephone. We are the only flower shop in the capital that delivers flowers to our customer’s residence,” said Sinha.

Though rare, the flowers are not steeply priced. As Neeraj said: “The shop does not cater to only the elite people of the capital. It is for all those who want to express their love through flowers. People visiting our shop, of course, have good taste and wish to gift their loved ones with nothing but the best.”

Most of the flowers at Bunches are grown in Bangalore and then sent to New Delhi, from where they are sent by air to various outlets of the chain store. “We have to bear the freight charges which comes to Rs 3 per stick. But the response we are getting here is worth the investment,” said Sinha.

The minimum rate of a bouquet is Rs 100 and that for a basket is Rs 200. Sinha said that he has received orders for baskets worth Rs 15,000 during the marriage season. “We have even decorated marriage sets worth Rs 80,000. We had mainly used Orchids which comes at Rs 40 per stick. Its a misconception that residents of the capital have a low purchasing power,” said Ajay Singh, the other proprietor of Bunches. Sinha said the bouquets are made by experts and are delivered on time to the customers.

“The flowers remain fresh for a minimum of six days and need no special care to preserve its fragrance and freshness. At Bunches, we keep the sticks in buckets filled with fresh water. The stalks are trimmed when they begin to rot,” he said.