Mum-zilla!

[CHR]

A tradition gone wild.

Great article about the history and tradition of those gigantic Texas flootball mum corsages.

Seems everybody's selling them - from a studio florist (1500 sold annualy throught MumsandGarters.com) to flower shops to big box stores.

At Hobby Lobby, the average buyer spends between $125 and $250, says Jerry McCoy, manager of an Arlington location. For a more affordable option, the store offers some pre-made basics done up in school colors -- but even those are $79.99.

Florists and specialty shops charge about the same: A decent mum can start at $50 and go up to $250 or $300. Garters -- the smaller mums that guys wear around their upper arms -- are usually cheaper. But still, you're looking at $50 to $75 for a decently dressed garter.

Some of the history of these colossal creations was provided by Austin, TX-based writer (and FC member) Julie Ardery of HumanFlowerProject.com.

Ya' gotta' love the tone of writer Alyson Ward, a clear fan of the Texas tradition, when she says 'give in to the excess'. :>

 

[Connie]

Power to the florists who have this business! I'd be singing, "Cha-Ching" all day and grinning from ear to ear!

 

[twiggy]

Thanks for the article! these things are so over the top! fascinating...there has to be some way i can introduce football mums to our school..hmmm...

 

[Joe Mioux]

At $125 to $250 a pop, how long will it take for a nationally known WS/OG/Direct Shipper to begin marketing to this customer base?
\

Joe

 

[Carol Bice]

Mums

As great a money maker as these mums are in Texas....I'm afraid the business is going more and more to the hobby shops and many of the mothers are starting to make this their "at home" business. It is getting so bad, that we are reconsidering not even doing them next year.

The customers will go to a private home and order 1,500 mums from them, but, never think to go to the flower shops now. The newspapers do lots of articles about them, but, never seem to push the florist.....the ones who pay their salaries.....and always seem to write about all the hobbiest and how talented they are.

My thinking is that the day we florist stopped using fresh mums and started using silk ones....the tide turned gradually away from us. The floral wholesale houses have all day workshops for amateurs so they can teach them how to make the "mums".

Moving to Texas about 10 years ago, I am still amazed at the "Texas Mum".

Carol Bice

 

[Victoria]

Lord... they will spend that kind of money on something like that, but will squeal at an arrangement at $60.00. The market place is a wild and wacky world.

V

 

[12BucksFor2Dozon]

Lord... they will spend that kind of money on something like that, but will squeal at an arrangement at $60.00. The market place is a wild and wacky world.

Because they don't see it being sold at Target for $14.95, like they see some *very* nice, fresh bouquets that some florist charge $60.00 for.

The moment the groceries and big-boxes start selling them at 1/4 the cost, you will see the price come down REAL quick...