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The Voters Have Chosen The FSN Facebook Photo of the Week!

October 12, 2009 by Leave a Comment

Voters have declared this week’s Flower Shop Network Facebook photo contest of the week winner. What a mouthful! The votes were numerous and close but one amazing bridal bouquet photo skirted past the others and took home the win by a single vote.

Bridal Bouquet Photo from FloraBella DesignsCongratulations (again) to Renee DeStefano Griswold of FloraBella Designs LLC! Your bridal bouquet photo charmed us all.

FloraBella Designs’ bridal bouquet photo displays more than a unique wedding bouquet. It also shows the hands and wedding rings of the newlyweds whose attraction and affection is obvious even without showing their faces. The colorful array of flowers designed by FloraBella Designs, a Wallingford CT flower shop, sets off the beauty of the moment even more.

Want to be the winner of this week’s FSN Facebook photo contest? Simply read the official rules then post your pictures to Flower Shop Network’s Facebook page or post them in a comment below. It’s as easy as that!

For more great information from local florists, visit www.FlowerShopNetwork.com.

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One Florist’s Halloween Haunted House Adventure

October 6, 2009 by Leave a Comment

I have to say that I think the world of Corinne Galarneau of Artistic Petals & Scents in Hanna Alberta. Though we’ve never crossed borders to shake hands, Corinne keeps us entertained and awed. Everyone at Corinne’s trendy Hanna AB flower shop is always a step ahead when it comes to implementing creative ideas like the haunted house they do each year for Halloween. It’s a clever idea in many ways, but I’ll let Corinne tell you more about it.

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The Fun Florist’s Halloween Haunted House:

This was last year (08) which was our first year. There were 150- 175 people that went through in two nights (30th & 31st) We are in a very small town pop. 3000…

As I stated in the post to Flower Shop Network post we do this free of charge, just ask for a donation to the local food bank. No one is turned away and everyone gets a goodie bag at the end of the scares and screams :-)

Again we have the opportunity to utilize our seasonal garden center at the back of our store but this could easily be adapted to either a store front or a rental space…or something a business could do as a community event… arena? community center? etc….

I act as the ‘Tour Guide’ dressed as the Grimm Reaper.. and my business partner is my surgery victum… We ask our families and friends to assist us in the haunting. We have spooky music, fog machine and things popping out from nowhere. As I walk in the back door I announce the presence of ‘young ones or older kids’ We take care not to really scare the young kids.. just enough to make it fun.

As you can see from the pics, we have ghouls hiding in corners, under tables, in coffins and what you don’t see is the goblins hidden under all the leaves… they all reach , grab legs or move slowly (depending on who is going through). We have an 8 foot spider web with a bunch of spiderlings as well as a 3 foot momma spider. Also as I walk from one room to another there is a 4 1/2 foot helium filled balloon spider that I reach over and grab her leg and have her float down in front of the kids… we complete the effect by adding in ghosts, bats, fun lighting, intestines (chowmein noodles dyed red) ‘eyeballs (water pearls) carved watermelon ‘brain’ , styrofoam tombstones, dead trees and plants and lots of fun things. The possibilities are endless. And the cost is very minimal… as much as you want to put into it.. lots of the items can be made at home. (bonus!)

Last year it was a ton of fun…. everyone had awesome feed back.

And if that weren’t enough, here’s a little spoiler. There’s also a town festival in July that is a huge hit. People from towns more than 300 miles away visit for this event. Want more info on that tasty morsel for promoting summer sales and fun? Check the Bloomin’ Blog again soon!

Artistic Petals & Scents is a proud member of Flower Shop Network. Want to contact your local florist? Flower Shop Network makes it easy.

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Congratulations To The Newest AIFDs!

September 25, 2009 by Leave a Comment

And people assume florists just DO flowers.

American Institute of Floral Designers (AIFD)

American Institute of Floral Designers (AIFD)

That’s hardly the case for the 116 florists who took part in the Accreditation Evaluation Session (AES) of the American Institute of Floral Designers (AIFD) at the yearly Symposium held this year in Kansas City, Missouri. 46 of the 116 earned the AIFD accreditation and can now say that they are AIFD certified florists. Flower Shop Network would like to congratulate all of the new AIFDs, but 5 individuals have earned a special pat on the back.

Flower Shop Network is very proud of the following members who earned their AIFD accreditation at the 2009 AES:

The AES is not a contest and no winner is declared. However, it’s not easy either! Florists are judged on 10 points of professional floral design including mechanics, balance, color, theme, line and creativity. This is something that takes many hours of preparation (days, months even) and has earned its elite reputation partially due to the difficulty of the AES. When a florist earns his or her AIFD, they should be heartily congratulated at the least.

We at Flower Shop Network want to extend our congratulations to our good friends above and to the other florists who participated in the session. The 46 floral designers who earned their AIFD accreditation will be inducted officially at the 2010 AIFD Symposium in Boston, Massachusetts.

69 of the remaining 70 participants earned the Certified Floral Designer (CFD) accrediation which is the AIFD’s newest designation program. Among these were three Flower Shop Network members who deserve a feather in their cap:

Congratulations everyone!

Click the photo above to view the official AIFD press release and see a complete list of newly accredited participants.

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Flames Can’t Subdue This Santa Clara Florist

September 23, 2009 by Leave a Comment

In the face of a tragedy, the kind staff at Citti’s Florist in Santa Clara California maintained their primary focus—customer service. Citti’s Florist has been a fixture in Santa Clara for more than 45 years. They’ve earned their reputation as dedicated, professional, friendly florists with creativity and talent to boot.

Sadly, a fire recently struck the flower shop leaving significant damage to the Citti’s Florist building but none to the neighboring apartment complex. Linda Citti, a co-owner of Citti’s Florist, was saddened but not deterred by the events. In the midst of the fire, they thought only of their customers and how to best take care of their needs. The strength and dedication shown by everyone at Citti’s Florist is an inspiration to everyone facing a difficult challenge.

With other Citti’s Florist locations in Campbell and San Jose,  Linda and her staff made certain that they would be able to provide enough flowers for the weekend’s events that had been planned. They were faced with a challenge, met it head on, and rose to the occasion. Hard pressed but not crushed, struck down but not destroyed, all of the wonderful people at Citti’s Florist kept their customers at the front of their minds. They saw every face as a reason to persevere and work harder to restore their flower shop.

Thank you, Citti’s Florist, for being an inspiration to florists across the nation.

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Could Tim Clark’s Flowers Be Any Cooler?

September 23, 2009 by 1 Comment

I highly doubt it after hearing about their latest good deed. Basically, they asked their customers to “pay it forward” on September 9th. Anyone who came in that day could pick up a dozen roses absolutely free. The intent? Keep one for yourself and give the other 11 to people in your life that deserve them. Say thanks in a simple way but a big one.

The good people at Tim Clark’s Flowers in Markham Ontario also collected donations for The Centre For Dreams which is a great charity for developmentally disabled adults. Can you say “awwwww”?

Visitors to Tim Clark’s Flowers that day were able to meet members of The Centre For Dreams, get a rose, give a rose and make plenty of friends in the process. Now if this isn’t an awesome way to contribute to the community, I’m not sure what is.

Flower Shop Network loves to see local flower shops like these Markham florists do something good for their communities. More than a marketing ploy (though an added perk), community and charitable involvement is a fantastic way to keep people’s faith in the goodness of others at a high. It stimulates the giving nature of others and is an encouragement to pursue other acts of community involvement. Tim Clark’s Flowers is definitely paying it forward with activities like this. For that, they’ve earned a huge pat on the back and even a hug.

Way to go, Tim Clark’s Flowers! You’re an inspiration to us all.

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Guess Who Was Voted The Best Florist in Tampa 2009

September 16, 2009 by Leave a Comment

We are so excited for Scott Darhower of Apple Blossoms Floral Design & Gifts who was just voted The Best Florist of Tampa for 2009. What an honor! Scott is an excellent designer and savvy business owner so we were not shocked at all to see him earn such a lofty honor.

Christmas Decorations by Apple Blossoms Floral Design

Christmas Decorations by Apple Blossoms Floral Design

Scott’s skills are impressive to say the least. Like many other talented Tampa florists, Scott does it all. Not only does he create beautiful floral works of art for most major occasions, but he is also one of the finest wedding florists in the area. His unique mastery of making art meet beauty keeps people returning to his flower shop just to see what his creation will be for their next occasion.

The inside of his shop is a work of art as well. You walk in and get a glimpse inside his creative mind. He decorates the shop for each major holiday in a very upscale, unique way. Spending a great deal of time at the shop, Scott makes his flower shop as appealing and homey as possible. It is familiar, pleasant, warm and inviting. It takes merely opening your eyes to his designs to imagine what your own home can look like. If he can do that in his shop, imagine what his designs will look like in your home, office or at your wedding? The possibilities are shocking.

We are very proud of Scott for his recent award. We know that it was definitely earned. Way to go Scott! Congratulations!

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Pay It Forward Like This Mount Ida AR Florist

September 4, 2009 by Leave a Comment

One person helping another. That person helping someone else. So on, so forth. That’s the idea behind “paying it forward.”

The notion doesn’t cross my mind often enough so I was happy to hear that a florist just a few hours from me was inspired to do something wonderful and is keeping the rhythm going.

Jonetta of Mount Ida Floral in Mount Ida Arkansas is one of those too-sweet-to-dislike people who lights up the room she’s in. Her perpetual happiness is easy to love and any sadness in her is nearly unbearable for those that love to see her smile in the way that only she can. Her network coordinator at Flower Shop Network, Amy Hall, had that much and more to say about her as she gushed over “the sweet person I have ever spoken to.”

Apparently a hardship found its way to Jonetta’s flower shop. Unable to watch her struggle to find her smile, her flower wholesaler helped her by selling roses to them at very low rates. On top of that, the wholesaler gave two (2) cents of every rose sold to the Autism Foundation. The same flower wholesaler encouraged Jonetta to give back as well so she decided to give five (5) cents to her local library from every rose sold.

The caring “pay it forward” sentiment impressed Amy who quickly spread the news around Flower Shop Network. We all love hearing stories of charity, hope and giving. Jonetta’s made us smile and think. I hope it does the same for you.

What’s your “pay it forward” story?

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In The Mood For Gift Baskets?

September 2, 2009 by 1 Comment

Who isn’t? They’re fun, funky and unique.

Mary Ann Hodge knows this better than most. She’s the owner of Hodge Podge Etc. Flowers & Gifts in North Little Rock Arkansas.  The name is cute but what has earned Hodge Podge the “best of the the best” award three years running is the quality of her gift baskets. She has a massive assortment of incredible gift baskets ranging from gourmet gift baskets to something more sweet, more salty, more plush or more tailored.

Mary Ann has made a name for herself making gift baskets that people adore. Joe Hays of Flower Shop Network met Mary Ann at the ASFA Convention in Hot Springs Arkansas. When he came back she was one of the first names on his lips. “You should check her out. We’re talking big time gift baskets. She has gourmet gift baskets like you wouldn’t believe.”

Of course I took him up on it and checked out her website. I see beautiful flowers everyday so I was stoked to see some of her incredible gift baskets. My mouth literally began to water. The only thing stopping me from making a call for one of them is distance. (Can you imagine a 4 hour round trip delivery fee??) They’re awesome!

We at Flower Shop Network are always happy to see florists who have a passion for other specialties as well. Mary Ann also does gorgeous flower arrangements but the kicker is the quality of her gift baskets. They make you smile. It’s like unwrapping a Christmas present with 5 or 6 gifts inside!

If you need a gift basket for someone in Little Rock or just want to get some ideas for how to create your own, contact Mary Ann at Hodge Podge Etc. Flowers & Gifts.

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Jacksonville Oregon Florists Fights Arthritis

August 21, 2009 by Leave a Comment
Caitlin's Bugs Beautiful Bouquet

Caitlin

If you saw someone stealing something from a child, wouldn’t you want to stop them?  Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis steals the carefree life a of a child.  It needs to be stopped.

With the help of  the 2008 Arthritis Foundation Child of the Year (Caitlin Ryan), Cowboy Flowers , a  Jacksonville, Oregon florist is doing more than fighting  arthritis. They are sending a message of faith, hope, truth, friendship, purity, strength and awareness all in a beautiful bouquet.

How does one bouquet filled with sunny yellows, perfect pinks, pure whites, and soothing blues accomplish such a big task?

The answer to the question begins with 11 year old Caitlin, who has had juvenile rheumatoid arthritis since the age of 3.  Despite an up-hill battle with arthritis and a hip replacement, she is a happy and creative pre-teen with an eye for floral design.  Add in a visit to Cowboy Flowers and Barb Wallgren, who recognized an opportunity to mentor a budding floral designer.  Equipped with a heartfelt passion and an array of fresh flowers, this formidable team created a bouquet representing the essence of every  person fighting arthritis.

Besides beauty, each flower in the arrangement has a hidden meaning: yellow spray chrysanthemum (hope), white chrysanthemum (truth), pink gerbera (purity & strength),  pink carnation (I’ll never forget you) and the blue iris (faith & friendship).  The cheerful beauty of this flower arrangement will give every recipient sheer enjoyment as it subtly fights arthritis.

How is this bouquet fighting arthritis? Cowboy Flowers is putting their money where their heart is with this bouquet.  They are donating $10.00 for each “Bugs Beautiful Bouquet” sold.  So anyone sending flowers can send someone fresh flowers and fight arthritis at the same time by ordering a “Bugs Beautiful Bouquet”.

When asked why Cowboy Flowers would put time and effort into this project, Barb replied “When you see the beauty in a child like Caitlin and know the battles she has fought, you have to do something to help.  We have been fortunate to have wonderful customers (community). It is only right that we give something back.”

I think the reason is more than Barb’s humble reply.  This flower shop sees the bigger picture – making the world a better place.

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Color Me Impressed By Every Blooming Thing (Akron)!

August 21, 2009 by 2 Comments

Let me preface it all by saying that I see hundreds of wonderful flowers arrangements every month. My personal tastes aside, there are florists all over the country that are knock-down-drag-out awesome at floral design. I was going through the Flower Shop Network Facebook page one day and found one of those florists. Color me impressed by Every Blooming Thing in Akron, Ohio! Wow.

Here’s a little preview of what grabbed my attention like a bargain hungry shopper at an outlet mall.

For one thing, putting flowers in a margarita cup the way they did is fun, quirky, flirtatious, mirrors the fun of the season, and unique. Add to it that he features a lot of carnations in this arrangement and you can see why my eyes widened.

Scott and the gang at Every Blooming Thing are always using unique vases and backdrops to make their flowers come to life in a big way. Take the tall contemporary arrangement in a square red glass vase for instance. That by itself is beautiful for many reasons. Place the flowers in front of a zebra striped wall and you really have a fun arrangement!

They also make back to school gifts fun. Even if it’s not for a back to school gift, you can’t help but love the “cute factor” that the mug arrangement has. This particular arrangement is placed in a cat mug but I’d like to think that dog people like me can get something every bit as adorable. Knowing Scott and Every Blooming Thing, I’m sure of it!

Honestly, I wasn’t sure what to make of the arrangement featuring delphinium, white calla lilies, a spot of hydrangea and blue iris. I was instantly taken to it but couldn’t explain why for a very long time. The shapes that these flowers mimic, the deep colors, and the unique style of the arrangement just scream “buy this for a guy!!”

I wouldn’t count out Every Blooming Thing for traditional arrangements either. Just take a look at the flowers in the white square basket. Isn’t it fun?! It uses a great mixture of flowers so there are many textures, shapes, styles and colors to love. However, Scott works them all together into one amazing piece.

There are many florists touted for customer service. While I could go on and on about the same for Every Blooming Thing, I’d rather give kudos for the excellent floral design. Great job!

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