About a week before Mother's Day, one of the busiest holidays for florists, a Google advertisement for George's Flowers in Roanoke read: "Real Local Roanoke Florist."
The ad, placed by floral shop owner George Clements, is one way he's pushing back against Internet and telephone-order flower service companies such as FTD, Teleflora and 1-800-FLOWERS.com.
"We can't keep supplying somebody that is our competition," Clements said. "It's not just hurting us, it's hurting the whole industry."
Those services, which accept orders that are fulfilled by local florists – sometimes at a financial loss, florists say – are among several hurdles challenging retail florists, whose numbers are shrinking.
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