Ordering flowers can be a wonderful way to surprise and delight loved ones, friends, or colleagues. Whether you're sending a bouquet to celebrate a special occasion or simply to brighten someone's day, there are a few things to keep in mind to ensure that your flowers arrive fresh and beautiful.
First, it's important to choose the right type of flowers. Some varieties, such as lilies and roses, are particularly hardy and can withstand the stresses of shipping better than others. Additionally, you may want to choose flowers that are in season, as they will be easier to source and may be less expensive.
Once you've selected your fresh flowers, it's time to think about packaging. It's crucial to use sturdy materials and gift baskets that can protect the delicate blooms during transit. Many florists use specially designed shipping boxes that have built-in water sources to keep the flowers hydrated. If you're shipping flowers yourself, you can use a cardboard box lined with plastic and filled with packing peanuts or newspaper to keep the flowers in place.
You'll want to schedule your shipment so that the flowers arrive as close to the intended delivery date as possible. This will help ensure that the flowers are still fresh and vibrant when they reach their destination.
Finally, it's important to consider the climate at the destination. If you're shipping to a particularly hot or cold location, you may need to take additional precautions to protect the flowers. For example, you may want to add a frozen gel packs for shipping flowers to the box to keep them from wilting in the heat.
Once frozen, shipping gel packs last up to 65% longer than regular frozen ice derived from water. When packed properly in a well-insulated cooler, cold gel packs last longer. Generally speaking, Ice Cold Gel Packs can keep food, flowers, and other perishables at a safe temperature for 24 hours.
Using cold gel packs for shipping is as simple as placing the pack inside a freezer until desired temperature is achieved. Afterwards, the cold packs are ready to ensure your items arrive at their destination at the proper temperature.
To keep your floral arrangements safe from unwanted condensation or wilting, try creating layers between your ice pack and flowers to help reduce the transfer of heat. Covering your flowers with a protective layer and adding an ice gel pack for temperature control will increase the safety of your package.
Remember: Cooling agents such as ice have the tendency to melt. When sending gifts that require a quick delivery, like flower arrangements, it is essential to take into account the shipping times and costs. It is common for third-party carriers to need up to 4 business days to process an order, even when expedited shipping is chosen.
While sending flowers and plants can be a wonderful way to show someone you care, it requires a bit of planning and preparation to ensure it arrives on time. By choosing the right flowers, packaging them carefully, scheduling the shipment carefully, and considering the destination climate, you can ensure that your flowers arrive fresh and beautiful, and bring joy to your friend or loved one.
Flowers begin their journey at a farm or nursery before going into a cold room to be sorted and bundled. After this, they are put in a preservative solution to help them retain freshness. They are then carefully transported in refrigerated planes, set at the same temperature (33-35 degrees Fahrenheit), which takes them to their destination in the U.S. They then pass through Customs before being loaded onto another refrigerated truck to reach the retailer and finally, to the consumer.
Flowers begin decomposing the minute that they’re cut so it is truly a race against time. The use of cold chain logistics in flower delivery and working with a third-party logistics company (3PL) that is experienced in cold chain can help preserve your flowers’ life.
The rush to innovate delivery methods is in constant demand and local florists' face no exception. Until very recently, traditional delivery practices hadn’t seen much change. With a changing market and new technology emerging, companies are working to cut down on the complicated and antiquated floral supply chain.
Cold chain logistics is a necessity for ensuring that the plants and gifts get to their destination and remain in good condition, as a disruption in the cold chain can lead to a loss of up to 40% of the flowers' shelf life. A 3PL with proper knowledge of cold chain logistics is key in making sure that your flowers will arrive as expected.
There are several rules and regulations to think about when shipping temperature sensitive flowers; however, shipping with gel ice packs is easier, more cost effective, and safer than traditional refrigeration methods. Some of the other benefits of choosing Ice Cold Gel Packs;
- ICGP are non-toxic
- Our packs are reusable and safer for the environment.
- The contents of our gel packs are kept secure and will not contaminate your product.
- ICGP can be used to ship goods without the restrictions placed on items shipped with dry ice while maintaining the correct temperature range.
Cold shipping may not be new, but with the advancements made by our team, we can help make purchasing flowers online a much more effective, efficient and accessible experience, which is good news for anyone. With locations in Dallas and Los Angeles our team of specialists provide the perfect solution for your cold chain supply needs.
Our non-toxic, leak proof bags come in a wide selection of sizes to ensure your beautiful bouquets arrive safe, on time, and at the correct temperature. Contact our sales department to see how gel cold packs can innovate your same day flower delivery needs.