Flower Shop Network - Bloomin' Blog

Send Flowers For Sisters Day

August 1, 2011 by Flower Shop Network Leave a Comment

A sister is one who reaches for your hand, and touches your heart.

There is no coincidence that Sisters Day and National Friendship Day both fall the first Sunday in August! (August 5th) That’s because, a sister is built-in, always around, never forgetting, put-it-together kind of best friend. Through the ups and downs of life, she has stood next to you, sharing and experiencing the joys of childhood and the journey to adulthood.

Celebrate your sister by sending her a beautiful flower arrangement! Flowers are the perfect gift for the sister who lives far away, for the sister around the corner, or for the sister right there in your own home.

Talk with your local florist about creating a meaningful arrangement that speaks to your sister and reflects her personality. Gladioli, pink roses and poppy are three flowers that represent friendship, making them a great choice for a custom-made arrangement, especially designed by you. Including your sister’s favorite flowers and colors in the arrangement will surely make her smile. With flowers, you just can’t go wrong!

Great Ideas For Sister’s Day Floral Gifts

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Card Messages, Gift Ideas, Holiday Info Tagged With: Holiday Gift Ideas, Holiday Info, Sisters Day

Southern Florist Recaps Biggest Floral Event of the Year – AIFD’s National Symposium

July 19, 2011 by Flower Shop Network Leave a Comment

Written by member florist, Shirley Carmack of Shirley’s Florist in Birmingham AL:

I have not been home from AIFD Symposium in San Francisco a week, and my head is spinning from the magnificent floral displays presented! Being a “white knuckle” flyer, it was a pretty big deal for me to get on a plane and fly across the United States to attend this — my first AIFD Symposium. I can not describe the excitement I was feeling by attending this event!

The theme of symposium this year was all about 60’s Flower Power. I am old enough that I actually lived through this era as a young teenager. The hotel, every restaurant, walkway, doorway, you name it was covered in flowers! Flowers were inside bookcases, stairwells, landings — even the back wall of the check-in desk was covered in foliage and anthuriums! I have honestly never seen anything like it.

The first reception I attended, everyone was dressed in 60’s hippie garb. Tie dyed T-shirts and pants, denim and leather jackets complete with fringe, bell bottom pants, and flowers, literally everywhere. I was dressed in jeans, tie dyed T-shirt, leather sandals and peace sign earrings. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Floral Conventions & Flower Shows, Floral Design, Florist Spotlights, Trends Tagged With: AIFD National Symposium, Florist Spotlights, Local Florists

The Time is Now! El Momento es Ahora!

June 21, 2011 by Flower Shop Network 1 Comment

Are you Marketing to the Hispanic community?

Speak their language.

¿Estaś Comercializacion a la comunidad Hispana?

Habla su lengua a nivel mundial.

Be a part of the youngest trend setting markets in the United States. U.S. Latinos tend to “adopt and adapt ” to customs and habits in the U.S. without shedding traditions and values.

Formar parte de los mercados más joven del ajusta del tenencia en los Estados Unidos. EE.UU. los Latinos tienden a ” adoptar y adaptar” a las costumbres y hábitos en los estados unidos sin derramamiento tradidiones y valores.

Effectiveness of Spanish Language Advertising

When asked about advertising effectiveness:

38% of Hispanics surveyed found English ads less effective than Spanish ads in terms of recollection
70% less effective than Spanish ads in terms of persuasion
56% of Latino adults respond best to advertising when it is presented in Spanish.

Cuando se le preguntó acerca de la eficacia publicitarios:

38% de los Hispanos encuesta dos se encuentran inglés anuncios menos efectivo que los anuncios españoles en términos de recuerdo
70% anuncios Españoles menos efectiva que en términos de persuasion
56% de los adultos Latinos mejor a la publicidad cuando su presentados en Español.

72% say they always read their mail, including direct marketing, yet 60% of direct mail sent to homes is in English. 52% respondents speak only Spanish in their homes.

72% dicen que siempre len su curreo, incluyendo el marketing directo. 60% de la publicidad directo enviada a los hogares se encuentra en inglés. 52% encuestados sólo hablan español en sus hogares.

If the time is now, What will you do?
Si el momento es ahora, ¿ Qué vas a hacer?

FSN is here to help:
Florists using FSN websites can have Spanish pages added to them.
Spanish-speaking customers can find florists through our Spanish website: es.flowershopnetwork.com.

Filed Under: Florists Only, Marketing Tips Tagged With: Marketing, Marketing Tips

Ideas de Regalos Para El Dia de Los Padres

June 8, 2011 by Flower Shop Network Leave a Comment

Cada año hay varios días festivos que son muy especiales para mucha de la gente. Unos ejemplos son El Día de San Valentin para todos los enamorados, El Día de Las Madres para todas las madres, y finalmente El Día de Los Padres, un día muy especial para celebrar la existencia de los padres atravez del mundo. Aunque solo hay un Día de los Padres en el calendario, este día tan especial es celebrado en una manera diferente en cada país. Aunque muchas de las tradiciones sean diferentes, algo que sigue lo mismo es el día en que es celebrado. El Día de Los Padres caí el tercer domingo de Junio cada año.

¿Sabe que va ser el regalo de su padre este año ? ¿No esta seguro en que puede ser el mejor regalo para su padre? Bueno hay muchas ideas en lo que usted puede darle a su padre para este Día de Los Padres. Es una costumbre para mucha de la gente regalarle una corbata a su padre. Para mucho de los padres ese regalo es algo que se puede poner para salir y también es un regalo que les encantaría. ¿Su padre no es el tipo que usa corbatas? Bueno eso es solo una de los miles de ideas que usted puede usar.

El regalo de fruta!

Todos saben que a los padres le encantan la comida. ¿Porque mejor no le envía usted un regalo de comida a su padre? Flower Shop Network ofrece canastas de regalo con comida diferente, que es seguro a encantarle a su padre. Tal vez a su padre le encanta los chocolates y dulces sabrosos. Una canasta gourmet seria perfecto! Lleno de chocolates de diferentes tipos y otros dulces sabrosos que le encantarían a tu padre! O tal vez su padre es el tipo de persona que le encanta la fruta fresca. Pues no hay de que preocuparse, aquí en FSN también ofrecen canastas de frutas frescas.
No importa si su padre prefiere naranjas, manzanas, plátanos o hasta piña, su florista local hace todo a su gusto.

No pierda mas tiempo! Mire por nuestras fotos de canastas de regalos para buscar la canasta mas perfecta para su padre! Hable con su florista local hoy para arreglar el regalo mas perfecto para su padre este Día de Los Padres.

Filed Under: Gift Ideas, Holiday Info Tagged With: Fathers Day, Fathers Day Flowers, Fathers Day Gifts, Gift Baskets

Local Florist on Winning Design Team at Philly Flower Show

March 17, 2011 by Flower Shop Network 1 Comment

Last July, when Janet P. Frye AIFD, CFD of The Enchanted Florist, Asheville NC was asked to join Schaffer Designs’ team of floral artists for the Philadelphia Flower Show, she never imagined the experience would be so grand.

The Major Exhibitor’s (category) entry won Best In Show; Display Gardens-Floral with an amazing 106 points, out of a possible 100! (The judges were so impressed they awarded the flower decked vignettes extra points.) The exhibit also took the Emile H. Geschick Memorial Award for distinctive orchid display, held for 191 years by horticulture groups. An amazing 3^rd prize was the Society of American Florists Flower Show Award, given for best artistic presentation of flowers and plants for public enjoyment..

Frye was part of a dream-team of 28 floral artists from across the US who converged on Philadelphia to create a floral fantasy. Working with gloved hands, bundled in layers to withstand the cold environment needed to keep the blooms at their freshest, Frye and the rest brought the vision to life.

Schaffer Designs’ owner Bill Schaffer, AIFD and partner Kristine Kratt interpreted the show’s “Springtime In Paris” theme with an exhibit celebrating a movie classic, An American in Paris, on it‘s 60^th anniversary. Show-goers experienced the classic movie in a way never seen before. The exhibit interpreted four, magical scenes of the film through a 360-degree diorama of vignettes. The true-to-the-period set added life to the spectacular floral designs. Designers created magical elements in moving, over-scaled designs, colors and incorporated original audio and video of the movie.

Most of the designers, including Frye, are Accredited and Certified with the American Institute of Floral Designers. To obtain Accreditation a designer must pass written and rigorous hands-on testing. Only the best of the best qualify to be inducted into full membership. Frye is the only Accredited AIFD designer in the Asheville, NC area. (More info at AIFD.org)

Frye also got news the same day that The Enchanted Florist Asheville had again received the Readers Choice Award for Brides Book magazine (for WNC area). This award is chosen totally by North Carolina brides and is awarded in each of NC’s major destination wedding areas. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Floral Conventions & Flower Shows, Florist Spotlights, Flower Memories Tagged With: Asheville NC Florists, flower shows, local florist, Philadelphia Flower Show

Aspects of Design: Floral Design Periods

January 13, 2011 by Flower Shop Network 1 Comment

Thinker - Thinking About Floral Design Preparing for the future is always easiest when we know from whence we came. In this month’s Aspects of Design from FlowerShopNetwork.com, we focus on popular periods of design and how they can be interpreted into floral designs. Below is a handy, easy-to-print chart with the style and time period in which the style of design was dominant. We also include a brief description of many styles.

In floral design school? Need to brush up on your period pieces for a theme party? Interested in art behind what we do? Whatever your interest, the information below will help enhance your unique floral design skills. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Floral Design, Floral Resources Tagged With: Flemish Style Floral Design, Floral Design, Floral Design Periods, Floral Design Techniques, Floral Design Terms, Victorian Style Floral Design

Out With The Old In With The Hues!

December 31, 2010 by Flower Shop Network 2 Comments

Florist Color Trends For 2011

Bright and Bold

2011 is citing exotic elements of luxurious artistry in foreign lands like Africa, India, Peru and Turkey as inspiration for this years color trends. These color pallets are BRIGHT and bold! As shown below, tropical, fun and whimsical sets the overall tone for a year of color indulgence. The intense and radiant colors like apple green or clementine orange are best showcased when in contrast with the neutral colors of these selections like slate gray or smokey navy blue.

Colors shown above from left to right*: apple green, mauve, lilac, hot pink, slate gray, celadon, aged gold, coral, red, violet purple, mocha or chocolate brown, navy, pine green, clementine orange, and yellow.

Masculine and Earthy

If your design calls for something a little more masculine then these vintage, earthy and sun-washed colors are sure to provide a solution.
Gray is the “it” color, but mocha is sure to return to one of the top favorites, along with orange and triad hues of green for an eco-nomic/urban color scheme.

However you choose to combine these palettes, they are sure to add visual interest and creative value to all your floral arrangements and designs.

Masculine & Earthy Hues
Colors above shown from left to right*: dark chocolate, dark charcoal gray, sangria/brick red, myrtle (dark) green, dark tangerine, dark chestnut, asparagus, Tyrian purple, dark midnight green, deep blue, Persian green, mocha taupe, agate blue, amazon green, scallop shell, moccasin, olivine green, khaki, carrot orange, oyster gray, gray taupe, and antique white.

* color names may differ per source.

This post is brought to you by local Bloomington, MN florists.
Not in Minnesota? No worries, use Flower Shop Network’s handy online directory of local florists.

Filed Under: Trends Tagged With: 2011 Trends, Color Trends, Flower Trends

Charlotte Florist Dazzles Christmas Parties With Fresh Flowers

December 8, 2010 by Flower Shop Network Leave a Comment

This article was contributed by guest author, Joel Houston with the help of Micheal Mancinelli, from Flowers Plus in Charlotte NC. Charlotte is a very traditional city, and the wave of contemporary elegance is just starting to catch on. Flowers Plus is on the foreground of this movement, so Flower Shop Network invited them to share their holiday experiences with us.

This season brings lots of holiday parties, and flowers certainly play a very special role. At Flowers Plus, we couldn’t be more excited. This year, we have had the opportunity to showcase our design work, along with other top florists in Charlotte NC, at Holiday House 2010 which benefits local medical charities.

We were selected for the prominent position of the upstairs foyer, which featured a sixteen foot wide French doorway that leads to the main balcony, located on the front of the home. We chose to place the main Christmas tree for the family in this room.

The theme for this holiday event was “Dazzling“, and we dazzled with a Christmas tree completely decorated with fresh flowers. Everyone was talking about how beautiful and different it was to have the tree decorated with fresh flowers. It was all the rage!

Fresh Flower Christmas Tree Decorations

This year, one of the hottest Christmas colors we’ve seen is a vivid, apple green. To bring out this color, we used beautiful Dendrobium orchid sprays, with fragrant ‘Casa Blanca’ lilies, star-of-Bethlehem, hot-pink heather and blushing, ‘Porcelina’ roses. We also used these in a large, holiday floral arrangement at the top of the stairs to compliment the tree.

Holiday Flower Arrangement Matching The Fresh Flower Christmas Tree

The trend at Flowers Plus this year is refined elegance — bold, monochromatic flower arrangements that are very lush and full in contemporary containers. However, traditional Christmas floral designs with our special touch, are always available as well. We offer a wide variety of fresh flowers and evergreens. Bold Amaryllis in white, red and crimson, fragrant paper whites, ‘Casa Blanca’ lilies, bells-of-Ireland, ‘Charlotte’ roses, star-of-Bethlehem, calla lilies and orchids are just a few of the many varieties we offer here at our Charlotte flower shop to make your holiday season special.

When using high-end products, it sets an elegant tone that so many look forward to this time of year, and it really just makes everyone feel special. Flowers are a luxury and allow each person to make a luxurious statement about themselves and their individual style.

Whether you’re in Charlotte, or as far away as Butte, Montana, elegant floral arrangements make the perfect accompaniment to your holiday decor.

Happy Holiday’s to everyone from the Staff at Flowers Plus.

If you’re a florist with a great story or neat idea you’d like to share, contact us at social@flowershopnetwork.com with your ideas, to find out how to become a guest writer for the Bloomin’ Blog.

Filed Under: Florist Spotlights Tagged With: Charlotte NC Florists, Charlotte North Carolina, Christmas Decorations, Christmas Flowers, Christmas Party, Flowers Plus, Fresh Flower Decorating, Holiday Decorations, Holiday Flowers

Google Optimization . . .

November 15, 2010 by Flower Shop Network Leave a Comment

BEFORE you read this page, please make sure you have set up your Google Places account here.

In an effort optimize your listing and possibly save your computer a trip out the window, we have compiled a list of FREE “extras” that Google offers on your Google Places account. Why do you need to add to your basic information? Google picks up on your key words, description and serve-by cities to pull your listing in more places when a consumer searches for this information. While we can’t guarantee your placement on Google, adding your shop information will keep you a step ahead, and give you that extra “edge” customers look for when searching for a business Google.

To access your business information after you have claimed your listing, visit Google Places at http://www.google.com/local/add and log in. Your “edit” button will be to the right hand side about 1/4 way down the screen OR it will be under your shop information on the bottom left corner of [Read more…]

Filed Under: Florists Only Tagged With: Google Local Listing

Above & Beyond: The Quest For Perfect Personalized Funeral Flowers

November 12, 2010 by Flower Shop Network 8 Comments

As florists, if we are lucky, we sometimes get those unique and unusual design requests that give us the freedom to be creative. As peers have told me, it is always best to leave the designing to the designer.

Harley Davidson Funeral Flowers Request

I got a call from my best friend, she said she had a special request. She told me about the loss of a dear friend of hers. The friend loved Harley Davidson motorcycles, so I was thinking, Okay, logo.

She continued on to say that she wanted not only the logo, but also wanted to use black and orange flowers, some accents of cream, and definitely some silver to represent the colors of Harley Davidson. My mind came to a complete stop, while my mouth said, “Sure I can do that.” I hung up the phone and thought, Okay, what am I going to do now? How do you make black and orange look sophisticated and not look like Halloween.

Can Black & Orange Look Sophisticated And NOT Like Halloween?

For starters, I work out of my home, and live in a small rural town. Supplies are limited, to say the least. Like most of us, I started brainstorming and headed to the internet in hopes of finding anything to get me started. Nothing! Not many want to share their designs.

I always aspire for my floral designs to stand out and make a statement. I wanted people to remember my flowers and this order was no different. Who wouldn’t want their flowers to stand out and be the best, or at least make us feel that we have done our best.

Go Above & Beyond — Think Outside The Box

So here we go with the design. I started at an auto parts store to try [Read more…]

Filed Under: Floral Design Tagged With: Floral Design Techniques, Funeral Flowers