THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, December 9, 1994 TAG: 9412070106
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 18 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JANELLE LA BOUVE, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 71 lines
Carolyn Claar's business cards say, ``Sweet revenge is so simple . . . Don't get mad. Get even.''
Drop Dead Florists of Chesapeake has put a new spin on the slogan, ``Say it with flowers.''
``There are a lot of people out there who have an ego that needs to be trampled,'' Claar explained. ``And I want to help folks do that.''
Instead of fragrant, fresh-cut flowers, lush with color, for $26.95 Drop Dead Florist will deliver a bouquet of dead roses and dried greenery in a skull-shaped vase. The message on the card is up to the customer.
``We provide over-the-hill flowers for people you just want to get even with,'' she said. ``It's a service that's needed.'' She feels there are just as many angry people as there are happy ones.
She says her arrangements help people laugh at their problems.
``Sometimes we just have to laugh at ourselves and see the light side of things,'' Claar said. ``A sense of humor can help you tolerate the unpleasant, cope with the unexpected and smile through the unbearable.''
A Drop Dead Florist bouquet includes 13 dead roses and some dried greenery in a gruesome-looking ceramic skull, all tied up with shiny black bow.
Claar even fires the ceramic skull vases in her own kiln, adding a 14-karat gold tooth to each one.
``It takes a lot of time, but it looks great when it's done,'' said Claar.
Customers are creative when it comes to the messages they send with their flowers. Some actual examples:
``We regret the passing of your youth.''
``These flowers are as old and wrinkled as you are.''
``Anybody can send flowers dead or alive. Dead ones are what you deserve.''
``Thanks for all the lies. You've earned these. Shame on you.''
``These flowers are beautiful compared to the way you treat other people.''
``Sorry to hear about your girlfriend breaking up with you. Couldn't have happened to a better guy.''
``Pay for the car you wrecked or drop dead.''
``Life is a pain in the ---, and I just got rid of one.''
One of the few messages that Claar regrets having sent was a card that said ``A bouquet for your wedding day and an omen for your future.'' If she feels that a customer's request is really inappropriate, she will refuse the order. She won't deliver to hospitals, nursing homes or funeral homes.
``Initially, some people think the concept is kind of mean, but the reality is that the person who's receiving the flowers is the one who has done the harm, not the one sending the flowers,'' Claar said. ``It's not like they'd be sending flowers to sweet people.''
Claar also offers two other services.
``For folks who are only $10 worth of mad, I have a small skull-shaped coffee mug which is arranged with two dead roses.''
The other is a 7 1/2-foot, three-dimensional Grim Reaper for the lawn.
``The Grim Reaper with a tombstone can be displayed for up to five days,'' Claar said. ``It's for people who are turning 30, 40 or 50.'' MEMO: Carolyn Claar operates Drop Dead Florist out of her home and takes
orders by phone. The business number is 421-0365.
ILLUSTRATION: Photo by PETER D. SUNDBERG
Carolyn Claar's business, Drop Dead Florists, is for those who want
to send an alternative message with a bouquet of dead roses.
by CNB