Mandy Maxwell

3 Tips To Keep Your Flower Shop In The Spotlight

January 4, 2012 by Mandy Maxwell Leave a Comment

Business is competitive by nature. For florists, every opportunity to stay in the spotlight is crucial. Staying on your customer’s minds will keep them, and their friends, coming back for more. Here are a few ideas for florists to showcase their talents in their own communities.

Host Open Houses

Stay in the Spotlight Think of great door prizes, interesting themes and other fun activities guests can enjoy while in your shop. Take this opportunity to showcase a wide range of designs throughout your shop. Let your visitors know just what’s possible by your talented staff. Introduce them to unusual and unique flowers available.

Have a Ladies Night – Go wild and crazy with creativity. Have everyone dress up and wear their biggest derby hat and let them decorate them with flowers, then have a tea party. Or maybe keep it simple and just serve favorite desserts and delicious fruity drinks.

Teach floral design classes – Open up your shop to new students from your community — host a floral design class! DIY is so trendy these days, creatives won’t be able to pass it up! At Helena Florist in Helena AL, they host a Sips & Snips class, where guests can bring their favorite beverage and make their own, personal flower arrangement. Helena Florist provides all the necessary floral accessories for a particular design, and guests sip and snip the night away and take home their fabulous flower arrangement. The cost of the class is the same as the arrangement normally. Guests have a ton of fun with flowers, and show off their arrangement to all their friends. Adapt this idea to work for your shop. You might teach a class for children, or a themed class for a holiday. It’s all up to you! [Read more…]

Filed Under: Floral Design, Florists Only, Marketing Tips Tagged With: Florist Spotlights, Local Florists, Local Flower Shops, Marketing Tips

Favorite Flower Arrangement For January

January 3, 2012 by Mandy Maxwell Leave a Comment

Can you believe it’s 2012 already? Ring in the new year with Silver Bells — our featured arrangement for January! This beautiful arrangement features flowers in winter colors, accented with unique silver leaves and ornaments.

Everyone’s favorite Gerbera daisies are front and center, reminding us spring is on it’s way! Blue delphiniums really shine when paired with white and silver. Blue flowers are a rare treat, and delphiniums are one of the few naturally blue flowers. Another rare treat featured in this January arrangement, are the uncommon star of Bethlehem flowers. Altogether, Silver Bells shares winter bliss with everyone! [Read more…]

Filed Under: Flower Suggestions Tagged With: Blue Flowers, Delphinium, favorite flower, Star of Bethlehem, Winter Flowers

Keeping Hypericum Berries Fresh For Multiple Designs

January 1, 2012 by Mandy Maxwell Leave a Comment

Ask The Expert:

Please respond ASAP! I need to use fresh hypericum berry for corsages TOMORROW. How can I make them last through the Saturday eve wedding without water??

Flower Shop Network Plant Expert Reply:

Red Hypericum Berries For this florist question, we went right to the source. We asked our florist friends and got an overwhelming response!

Hypericum berries are very hardy. If they came to you fresh, you should have no problems. For best results, use a little piece of tissue paper (facial or toilet) soaked in water at the bottom of the stem and wrap it as you would other flowers for a corsage. Keep them misted. Crowning Glory or Finishing Touch is also good to use to keep them fresher, longer. Be sure to keep them in the fridge at 38-40 degrees until you are ready to use them.

Hope this helps! Thanks for your inquiry.

And BIG thanks to all our florists who helped us out!

Filed Under: Floral Design Tagged With: Floral Design Tips, Hypericum, Local Florists

Wedding Trends For 2012

December 30, 2011 by Mandy Maxwell 4 Comments

2012 Wedding Trends

Predicted by Florists All Over The Nation

We asked our florist friends on Facebook what their predictions were for wedding trends of 2012, and received an overwhelming response. From new looks, to hot products; favorite flowers and color trends — we’ve got you covered!

Wedding Styles For 2012

Modern & Sophisticated – Think Royal Wedding

“I am starting to see a trend away from the hand-tied style, which has been a majority the last few years. I think modern/sophisticated is surfacing.” – Joy’s Floral & Gift, Powhatan, VA

By Playa Del Rey Florist in Playa Del Rey, CA

Return to Simpler Styles

“I think simpler designs will rule 2012. I have 2 weddings booked for 2012 where bridesmaids are holding a single stemmed flower instead of bouquets. One with calla lily and one with long stemmed rose.” – Finest City Florist, El Cajon, CA

Back to Traditional

“Brides are showing an interest in things like carnations, roses and babies breath again.” – Monday Morning Flowers, Princeton NJ

Dual-Purpose Bouquets and Arrangements

“We see dual purpose arrangements as the trend. Bouquets into cocktail table centerpieces; arches broken down down to adorn the ceremony.” – Greenhouse Gallery Florist, Colts Neck, NJ

Eclectic Styles With Found Objects

“Rustic, natural looks with nicer flowers. Also collections of eclectic bottles & vases with few or single blooms for centerpieces.” – The Enchanted Florist, Asheville, NC

Brides Want DIY

“I’m noticing many brides are being more hands-on & doing their own reception centerpieces. Perhaps to be more cost effective or personalized” – Flowers by Flowers, Parkville, MD

Cascading Bouquets

I am also seeing a lot of requests for updated cascade bouquets styled similar to the shield bouquet Kate Middleton carried.” – Joy’s Floral & Gift, Powhatan, VA [Read more…]

Filed Under: Floral Design, Trends, Wedding Flowers Tagged With: Local Florists, Wedding Bouquets, Wedding Flowers

Help! Why Is My Ranunculus Sprout Wilting?

December 30, 2011 by Mandy Maxwell

Ask The Plant Expert:

I planted 4 ranunculus bulbs, in a 3 inch plastic pot 10 weeks ago. I had germination signs after 3 weeks; leaves are getting taller, now 4-5 inches tall. Only a couple of days ago they started to wilt, and now they are completely hanging from the sides of the container. I keep the pot in a sunny room, and I water them once weekly from beneath!!!!!!! -Amjad

Flower Shop Network Plant Expert Reply:

Sounds like you’re doing a good job. Let’s go over the basic ranunculus care and growing information and see if there is a step you may be missing.

Your new ranunculus plant should be placed in a sunny location with well-drained soil. This plant likes to live in slightly cooler temperatures. Although they can be planted in containers, the ranunculus produces a large root system.

I would say the problem is either:

It’s possible your plant has already out-grown it’s container.
It is too warm.

Try adjusting these and see if it helps! Let us know if you have any more questions.

Filed Under: Plant Care Questions, Plant Propagation Tagged With: Ask The Plant Expert, Plant & Flower Bulbs, ranunculus

Best of the Best Floral Design Trends Of 2011

December 28, 2011 by Mandy Maxwell Leave a Comment

Best Floral Design Trends of 2011

Wow has it been a great year! So many incredible floral design trends — some new, some tried and true. We publish articles daily here at FSN, but today we are looking back through 2011 to find the best of the best in floral design trend posts.

Pantone Color of the Year 2011

The official color of 2011 is honeysuckle pink, which is fantastic news for florists and flower lovers! The luscious reddish-pink is available in many varieties of flowers, and looks great paired with almost any style. Pantone has been the global authority on color and provider of professional color standards for the design industries for over 50 years.

Unique Wedding Bouquets of 2011

It’s no secret brides are looking for something out-of-the-box when it comes to their wedding. In the last three years, traditional weddings have declined by as much as 30%. Brides are opting for more of a personal and stylish look to make their dream wedding truly unique. While most brides keep with the traditional white dress, it’s the bouquet that really packs the punch of pizazz. In this article, we will show you some really unusual wedding bouquets spotted at florist conventions all across the US.

Yellow – The Hottest Flower Trend of Summer 2011

So many designs used the color, and why not? Yellow is the perfect color for summer! Sunflowers were one of the most popular flowers used. Brighten up any space with a bouquet of yellow blooms! Trendy yellow flowers keep us in a cheery mood, and are perfect for sending as a quick pick-me-up to someone who may be feeling a little blue.

Feathers: Biggest Trend of 2011

I don’t know about where you live, but here I can’t go 50 feet without spotting someone with a hair feather extension!? Not just teens either — kids, moms, grandmas; even DOGS are getting hair feathers! It’s definitely the biggest new trend this year! Why not add a little feather to your summer flower power?

Creative & Custom Funeral Flower Trends

First of all, let’s think of the purpose of funeral flowers: to show one’s love, and support for the family and the departed. Flowers comfort and soothe us as we say our final goodbyes, but why stop there? Creative florists everywhere are using funeral flowers to construct personalized tributes to fallen friends.

Fall 2011 Wedding Bouquet Trends

Our florist friends on Facebook constantly keep us with our jaw on the ground. Each week they post some of the most amazing designs around! Because it’s wedding season, we’ve seen a lot of amazing fall bouquets! So let’s take a look at what trendy designs are popular for 2011 fall brides!

Fruit & Veggie Floral Design Trends

Using apples, oranges and limes in floral design has become increasingly popular over the past few years, but now florists are finding new and innovative ways to use fruit like never before! At the recent Tennessee State Florist Convention, fruit and veggies in flower arrangements seemed to be a reoccurring trend, let’s take a look…

Photo Pocket Square Trend: Keep Her Next To Your Heart

Floral pocket squares are a great alternative to wearing a boutonniere. Guys love them because it moves the flowers further from their face, and are sometimes a bit more durable. Libby’s Flowers, Gifts & More has taken the pocket square to a whole new level.

Latest Christmas Floral Design Trends

I am always astounded at the creative and out-of-the-box methods florists use to create incredibly unique holiday arrangements every year. No two are ever alike! The way florists keep it fresh every year stems from their creative abilities. I love these beautiful holiday flowers, and I know you will too…

We want to know what your favorite posts of 2011 were! Let us know in the comments below!

Filed Under: Floral Design, Trends Tagged With: 2011 Trends, Floral Design, Flower Trends, Trends

Recharge After The Holidays! Time To Treat Yourself!

December 27, 2011 by Mandy Maxwell Leave a Comment

Well, it’s over! After months and months of shopping, decorating, planning and preparing, the hardest part of the holidays is finally over. Now it’s time to settle down, relax and welcome the new year. Whether you’re still amped up on sweets or fighting to stay awake, you need to make a little time for yourself! You worked HARD this weekend, why not treat yourself with a little reward?

The easiest way to reward yourself this week is by ordering winter flowers for yourself, and here’s why:

Flowers are scientifically proven to improve moods.
You can’t help but smile when looking at big, beautiful blooms.
The heavenly smell is an instant pick-me-up!
When you order flowers for yourself, YOU get to pick out the style and colors.
YOU can choose your favorite flowers to really put you on Cloud 9.
Flowers are a treat with no calories. (Something we all could use this time of year!)

But what is the best part of treating yourself with flowers?

They come to you! [Read more…]

Filed Under: Flower Suggestions, Seasonal Flowers Tagged With: New Years, New Years Flowers, Ordering Flowers, Sending Flowers, Winter Flowers

Hanukkah: Love & Light

December 21, 2011 by Mandy Maxwell Leave a Comment

Colorful candles burning bright, each lit on eight very special nights.

Hanukkah is here! The first candle lighting began last night and today is the first day of Hanukkah. So grab your dreidel, it’s time to celebrate Hanukkah!

What Is Hanukkah? A History

Hanukkah celebrates the triumph of faith and courage over military might, when a band of Israelites stood up for their right to be Jewish. They were prohibited under penalty of death from studying their sacred texts or performing important mitzvot. Their holy Temple had been defiled, and they were ordered to worship other gods. A small band of faithful Israelites, known as the Maccabees, rose up and defeated the invaders, reclaimed the Temple, and rededicated it to God.

The eternal flame in the Temple’s great menorah (the lamp stand) had to be lit, but the Jews had only a one-day supply of the sacred olive oil needed to burn (which took 8 days to prepare). They decided, in faith, to light the flame anyway, and a great miracle occurred. The jug of oil refilled itself every day with enough oil to relight the Temple’s great menorah, and this continued for 7 days, the exact time it took to prepare new oil!

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Gift Ideas, Holiday Info Tagged With: hanukkah flowers, Hanukkah Hostess Gifts, Hanukkah Party

Jazz Up your Christmas Decor With A Little “Holidazzle” From Your Florist

December 19, 2011 by Mandy Maxwell Leave a Comment

By now you’ve probably got all of your Christmas decor up, shopping mostly done, and are looking forward to the last of the holiday parties. Have you gotten a hostess gift yet? If not, your florist has you covered! Skip the busy mall and visit your local flower shop for the best selection of holiday flowers and gifts.Think flowers are a bit old fashioned? Think again!! Contemporary Christmas floral styles are incredible and will have your hostess’ jaw on the floor!

From traditional red and green, to bright and colorful, your florist can do it all! Going to a themed Christmas party, or know the specifics of your hostess’s decor? It’s not to late to order something completely custom! (But you better hurry)

Need a last-minute gift for the person who has everything? Flowers of course! Order now and your florist will take care of all the hard work for you! Your beautiful Christmas arrangement will be delivered right to their door. No wrapping, on time and hassle free — what could be better than that!?

Just check out these DAZZLING styles:

Flower Shop Network is dedicated to helping you connect with your local florist. When you select any arrangement on our website, you instantly are connected with the closest florist in your area. You can also use our handy florist finder to find your florist directly! Either way, we encourage you to use a real florist; it’s the best deal for you and your community!

The Holiday HotSpot: Your Local Flower Shop

December 16, 2011 by Mandy Maxwell Leave a Comment

If you haven’t taken the time to stop by your florist this season, what are you waiting for?? In addition to great holiday flowers and centerpieces, your local flower shop will also have unique holiday decor, the best poinsettias, gifts and most importantly, TONS of holiday inspiration!

The photo above is the inside of Trig’s Floral & Home in Minocqua, WI. You could walk around this store for days and still not see everything worth seeing! Here you can find the best in holiday gifts and decor, why would you need to go anywhere else?? This florist is a one-stop-shop for the season!

Need gift ideas? Check out this florist’s shop in McFarland, WI. The Petal Patch truly has something for everyone! Whether you need something for your niece, brother, or that friend who has everything, they’ve got your covered!