Dounan flower market in Kunming City, capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province, has seen a recent sales boom as flowers and plants with auspicious names and a subscription-based business model have found favor with consumers.
These days, the sales of flowers and plants that symbolize good luck and fortune surged in this Asia's largest fresh-cut flower trading market. For example, succulent plants dubbed "Jinyumantang" which literally means "abundant wealth" are very popular among consumers. "I bought flowers dubbed "Jinyumantang". I think they are really beautiful and cute," said a consumer.
A subscription-based flower delivery model is another factor that drives the boom of the floral market. By subscribing to a floral delivery service, consumers can have flowers delivered to their doorstep every week with just a few clicks.
This caters to the demands of consumers who want to have fresh flowers every week.
"Fresh flowers normally last no more than eight to 10 days. That's why we have this 'flower delivery weekly subscription' model to make sure that flower lovers can have new flowers before old ones wilt," said Guo Junxiong, procurement manager of an online flower shop.
The rise of such a new model could not have been possible had it not for the rapid development of the logistics industry and food preservation techniques in cold-chain logistics.
Nowadays, flowers sent from the Dounan flower market can be delivered to over 200 cities across China in just 48 hours by road, rail or air.
"These days are the peak season. We deliver about 4,000 to 6,000 small parcels a day these days compared with just 1,000 to 2,000 on normal days. The number of large parcels we deliver has been three times higher recently," said Li Yuliang, head of a logistics service station at the Dounan flower market.
Innovative business models contribute to flower market boom in Kunming
