All signs point to a slowly recovering U.S. economy, but it has been a long and bumpy road for many small business owners, including florists.
Cautious consumers, more competition from online retailers, high overhead costs and rising gas prices—all have led to a decline in independent flower shops. Between 2000 and 2011, the number of such retailers decreased by roughly 37 percent, according to the Society of American Florists.
The local florist market
In hard times, discretionary items are the first to get axed from the budget. CNBC's Jackie DeAngelis takes a look at the local florist market.
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