SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. -
Some Vermont florists are concerned that people still might be unknowingly buying flowers from an out-of-state florist.
In 2011, a Vermont law went into effect that is supposed to stop a florist online from pretending to be in the state. Now, more than a year later, we found it can still be confusing just where a florist is located.
In an online search for "Burlington, VT florists," the results included Kremp's Florist.
On its website, Kremp says for three-generations it has been a "Burlington florist." It lists Vermont hospitals, funeral homes, and includes a map of the Burlington area.
Why does this matter? It's because in 2011, Vermont banned florist from pretending to in the state.
In South Burlington, Chappell's Florist Shop co-owner Steve Juiffre says when you buy from flowers from a non-local florist they take a big cut and then make a local florist actually fill the order because of national agreements.
"We're really trying to educate the consumer. And through education hopefully save them some money and keep the business in Vermont," says Juiffre.
We emailed Kremp to ask if its site was "misrepresenting that your business is in Vermont?"
Scott Kremp responded and says in fact they are florist near Philadelphia. He says they are sensitive to the deception in the flower business and says the map was "simply a feature for additional customer service."
Kremp says you can find more information about the business on its website but that took a little clicking around.
Vermont's law bars anything that would lead a "reasonable consumer" to think the florist was in the state.
Juiffre says soon a new website will launch that will only show local florists.
Until that happens, here's advice to follow when you place a flower order.
1. Ask the florist for directions to their shop. A place pretending to be in Vermont won't be able to do that.
2. Ask what flowers are in stock? Only a local florist can tell you what they have.
3. Be leery of any place with a non-local phone number.
