What was the historical basis for the term 'wire service' in floristry?

• A. Orders transmitted through wire or telegraph
• B. Online orders via email
• C. Postal mail orders
• D. In-person orders only

Answer: (B)

Wire service in floristry comes from the practice of sending orders over telegraph wires. Florists would “wire” a request for a bouquet to another shop far away, which could then fulfill and deliver it. This method created a network of florists connected by wired communications, and the term stuck long after the technology evolved. Online orders via email are a modern development and not the historical reason for the phrase. Postal mail and in-person orders existed as channels too, but the distinctive feature of a wire service is the transmission of orders through the telegraph wires.