The hardworking and dedicated team at Island Craft Ltd are powering through one of their busiest times of year.

Just like florists all over the world, Mother’s Day is one of the busiest seasons in the Cook Islands.

The florists and other staff at Island Craft – the leaders in authentic Pacific-Cook Islands arts and craft – have been busy preparing orders for clients looking to surprise their mums for Mother’s Day, celebrated on Sunday, May 12.

Island Craft managing director Fletcher Melvin says traditionally, Mother’s Day and Valentines Day are the two biggest seasons for their florists.

Mother’s Day takes the cake, generating around 20 per cent of their annual flower sales.

To offer a wider variety, Island Craft complements their homegrown blooms with flowers imported from New Zealand.

Melvin says flowers from New Zealand offer customers something unique compared to what they can source locally.

These flowers include gerberas, roses, lilies, and orchids – “varieties you don’t typically find here”.

Melvin explains: “In the past we used to just do flower arrangements but now we offer gift packages … we thought why don’t we add some gifts for mothers with the flowers and that’s how the idea of offering packages came about.”

Island Craft is offering four Mother’s Day packages this year.

Pack 1 – Brave Mum which costs $75 includes cut flowers, Peter Rabbit Biscuits and Poe Tiare.

Pack 2 – Radiant Mum which costs $85 includes cut flowers, Belgian Chocolate 100g, Poe Tiare and Tipani Gabe set.

Pack 3 – Appreciate Mum which costs $125 includes flower basket, Belgian Chocolate 200g, Coco Beauty pack, Tipani Gabe set, soft broom hat and Poe Tiare.

Pack 4 – Deluxe Mum which costs $200 includes flower basket, Flex bag, Poe Tiare, Coco Beauty pack, Tipani Gabe set, box of chocolate, beach basket pack and soft broom hat.

Customers can add extra hat $10, Tipane Gape set $5, artificial flower $6, wine $25, champagne $35 and Fudge Box – three pieces $22.90 and box of six pieces $29.90.

Island Craft is offering free delivery, around Rarotonga only, if orders are made before May 6. This excludes deliveries on the Mother’s Day.

“We like to get the orders earlier so we know how many orders we need to prepare for,” says Melvin.

“We bring in extra staff and we have three delivery vans for deliveries around the island. We have drivers and navigators on the day to ensure smooth delivery of packages.

“We will start delivering from Friday, Saturday and Sunday although for Sunday delivery we will charge more.”

For Sunday delivery within Rarotonga, there’s a $30 delivery fee. Deliveries to Pa Enua also incur a $30 charge, but customers will need to collect their packages from the airport, subject to flight schedules.

Melvin says most orders come through their website.

“We have people from New Zealand ordering packages for their mothers here as well as locals who prefer doing online orders using our website and Facebook because it saves them a trip to the shop to place their orders.”

Despite Mother’s Day being one of their most hectic times, Melvin says they make a special effort to treat the two mothers in their family – his mum, Marie K Melvin and wife, Vaea Melvin – to a special lunch.

“On Sunday which is when everyone stops working, it’s my job to put together a special lunch for my mother and the mother of my children. I normally ask them what they want me to cook and there’re special gifts as well,” he says.

“The theme this year is ‘Celebrating our mums’ so I just hope it’s not the husbands who are buying gifts and preparing lunches, hopefully the kids are doing their part as well.”