Florist Spotlights - Bloomin' Blog

October Blog Spotlight: Concord Flower Shop

October 16, 2014 by Ed Belly Leave a Comment

Welcome to October’s Blog Spotlight!

This month we have a small blog from Concord, MA: The Concord Flower Shop Blog. This flower shop has been in business since 1898 and is in its 25th year under current owner, Helen Dearborn Halloran. They are a local, independent and green florist that carries a large selection of cut flowers from local sources and around the world. They offer both monthly specials and web specials, so if you’re in the Concord area, it’s a good idea to keep an eye on their page. But what about the blog?

Concord Flower Shop Blog

It’s always exciting to win and we couldn’t be happier to have been voted Favorite Florist in both Concord and the wider Region (Acton, Chelmsford, Clinton, Concord, Littleton, Maynard, Stow & Westford) by Wicked Local!

Each year the local Beacon Communications News runs this contest for their readers. We’ve won in each category before but not both at the same time. It’s great to know that our hard work and customer service doesn’t go un-noticed and we will continue to work hard to keep your business.

Right now we are offering local summer flowers from area farms. This means the flowers are picked daily and when you bring them home or send them to a friend, you can be certain they will be fresh and long lasting. Our summer specials are posted on the sandwich sign outside our shop in West Concord, on our Facebook page and the special’s page on our web site. We hope you’ll visit soon and see for yourself why we are the areas favorite florist!

Why It Works

The post is short and to the point, but that’s not a bad thing! It’s a public thank you to their customers, and they are using the blog as a way to communicate store news to their audience. Both excellent uses of the blog space!

Are you interested in having your blog featured in our next blog spotlight? Leave your shop name and blog link in the comments below. Thanks for reading and join us next month for another edition of the monthly Blog Spotlight!

September Blog Spotlight: Allioops! Flowers and Gifts

September 18, 2014 by Ed Belly Leave a Comment

This month our blog spotlight is on Allioops! Flowers and Gifts in New London, NH. This shop is known for beautiful designs and amazing arrangements, but they are also known for their eye-catching window displays and fun atmosphere. And the value of that can’t be overstated. In today’s market, having a great environment and creating a reason for customers to enter your shop is key. There are so many ways that customers can interact with businesses and standing out is of utmost importance. See how this blog interacts with customers and promotes their brand.

The Allioops! Blog

Who’s not already hooked on Pinterest? We sure are! Head on over to view our latest Pinterest galleries! We’ve got pins of our work, plus lots of ideas we’re cooking in the shop.

Why It Works

Yes, it’s short. But then that’s the point. They have a singular purpose, directing their clients to their Pinterest page, and it’s brilliant. They did all their telling with the photo which highlights their boards and the impressive stuff you can find. There was no need to put together a long post when the graphic says everything that needs to be said. Well done.

If you have a blog and would like to be featured in our Blog Spotlight, leave a link in the comments section below. I’ll see you next month!

Filed Under: Florist Spotlights Tagged With: Florist Blogs, Flower Blogs

Starting the Right Way with Sweetbriar Floral & Gifts

September 2, 2014 by Ed Belly Leave a Comment

Jaime Koller first worked in a flower shop over 29 years ago. She was newly married, trying to make ends meet and doing the grunt work, but she loved working with flowers. Even after she left, bought a print shop with her husband and became a success in the printing business, her flower shop experience was one she never forgot.

The Dream Lives On

So how did Jaime go from small town print shop mogul to the owner of Sweetbriar Floral & Gifts? It began three to four years ago when the city began expanding and making improvements to the road. Several businesses were bought out and closed up for the construction, and the local flower shop was one of those. It’s owner, Misty, continued her work in the floral industry but at a shop located over 20 minutes away.

Fast forward a few years, and Jamie and her husband decided to sell the print shop and explore other opportunities. After more than 20 years in the printing business they had accomplished everything they set out to accomplish.

They were driving through town looking at real estate when Jamie off-handedly mentioned that somebody should really open a flower shop as one hadn’t been in the area since Misty closed hers down three years previously.

Her husband was well aware of Jaime’s love of flowers and how much she had enjoyed working in that flower shop so many years ago. He immediately started looking for a building to make her dream a reality.

The Pieces Fall Together

They found a building without any trouble, but Jamie needed more than just a location to get started in the floral business, certainly if she wanted to be successful. After all, Jamie had worked at a flower shop before, but she knew she wasn’t a designer by any means. She was going to need someone with long-time floral experience to compliment her business savvy. And that’s when she reached out to Misty.

“Misty was the key piece of this puzzle,” Jamie says. “Without her, we couldn’t have moved forward.” As it turned out, Misty was tired of her 20 minute commute and was thrilled for the opportunity to work close to home once again. Now with Misty and her 22 years of floral experience on board, it seemed the shop was finally ready. And then one more important opportunity came knocking.

Just as they were putting the finishing touches on everything, Jamie heard that Zurawski’s Floral, a flower shop across town, was closing its doors. The owner was retiring and looking for someone who might be interested in her customer list. Jamie was quick to act. Now, finally, she had the pieces in place to create a successful shop.

A Full-Service Flower Shop

As of April 1st, the doors of Sweetbriar Floral & Gifts are open and welcoming to anyone with an interest to walk through them. Jamie and her staff are prepared to tackle any project and their excitement is palpable, even over the phone! So if you’re in the Plover, WI area, stop by and say, “Hi.” They’d love to see you. And if you’d like to pick up some beautiful, fresh-cut flowers while you’re there, well, that would be fine too.

Filed Under: Florist Spotlights Tagged With: Florist Spotlights

August Blog Spotlight: Blossom Flower Shops

August 21, 2014 by Ed Belly Leave a Comment

Blossom Flower Shops in White Plains, NY provides this month’s blog spotlight. They were founded in 1925 and became one of the first 100 florists in the United States to be computerized. They began in the Bronx, but after four generations of ownership have expanded beyond that one simple shop. Still, their expansion has been slow and planned so as to maintain personal interest in every order.

And here is the most recent excerpt from their blog:

Blossom Flower Shops – 3 Fun Facts About the August Flower, Gladiolus

Every month has a birthstone associated with it. The same applies for flowers. The birth flower associated with August is the Gladiolus. The botanical name is a nod to Roman Gladiators who fought with swords.

This stately, long, elegant stem is topped with multiple flower blooms. Because of the long, thick stems, the flower is also known as the “sword lily.” Legend has it that when someone gives a gift of a gladiolus, the giver is piercing the recipient’s heart with love.

Other Meanings

In flower language, (and yes, there is a language of flowers,) Gladiolus is considered the Flower of the Gladiators, and it symbolizes character strength, sincerity, and generosity. It also symbolizes “love at first sight.”

Gladiolus is Technically Not a Bulb

Many people mistakenly refer to Gladiolus as a bulb. Although it looks a lot like a bulb, it is actually a corm. Corms are solid objects. When you look at a corm, the exterior part of the solid mass doesn’t have any defining characteristics or layers. If you cut into it, you’ll see something that looks a lot like the inside of a potato – a hard piece of flesh.

Another important distinction between bulbs and corms is that the spring bulbs are planted during the fall, allowing enough time for bulbs to establish roots, which nourish the tiny embryo inside all winter. The National Gardening Association explains that a gladiolus corm isn’t winter hardy in zones that get colder than USDA hardiness zone 7.

Bigger Corms Produce Bigger Plants and More Flowers

If you want taller flower stems and larger flowers, then you need to look for larger corms. To figure out the size of a corm, simply measure the circumference. Gladiolus plants can grow to heights of anywhere between two and six feet, but the typical range is three to four feet. Most stems produce between 12 and 20 flowers, each of which is about the size of a fist.

Gladiolus Aren’t Hardy in Cold Zones

The familiar spring-blooming bulbs like tulips and daffodils and even irises are hardy in cold hardiness zones. Gladiolus bulbs won’t withstand cold winter temperatures, so in cold climates, they are either grown as annuals or lifted from the soil before the first freeze. They are planted in spring – after the danger of frost passes. It is important to loosen the soil to a depth of 15 inches before planting Gladiolus. Add at least four inches of compost or organic matter to the soil after tilling or digging, mixing it in thoroughly. Plant Gladiolus four inches deep, and space corms at least four to six inches apart.

Gladiolus are commonly used in cut flower arrangements. If you can’t find Gladiolus, you can get the bright summery colors in other summer arrangements like Summer Samba or Summer Sunflowers. Brighten any room in your home, or bring some summer cheer to a friend or loved one with summer flowers from Blossom Flower Shops.

I love that they are so focused on providing excellent information to not only potential customers, but anyone needing flower tips. And it’s not just this post. All of their posts are useful for flower lovers everywhere. I would like to see some photos tossed into the mix, but overall they do an excellent job. I most like that they update often. Well done!

Filed Under: Florist Spotlights Tagged With: Florist Spotlights, New York Florists

July Blog Spotlight: A Touch of Class Florist

July 17, 2014 by Ed Belly Leave a Comment

We are joined this month by A Touch of Class Florist in Havana, FL, owned by Edna Hall. This blog is the most simple of all we’ve spotlighted before, but no less effective for all of that. So, without further gilding the lily, here’s the blog!

A Touch of Class Florist

May and Justin say, “I do” at Sweetwaterbranch Inn … Gainesville

Beautiful Bride [Read more…]

Filed Under: Florist Spotlights Tagged With: Florist Blogs, Flower Blogs

June Blog Spotlight: Whistlestop Florist

June 19, 2014 by Ed Belly Leave a Comment

This month’s blog spotlight comes to us from Whistlestop Florist in East Syracuse, NY. They are a long-established florist, and the landmark building in which they operate has been a florist shop since 1951. It was lovingly renovated in 1993, and over the years this little building has become a destination shop in the Syracuse area. So let’s check out an excerpt from their blog!

Whistlestop Florist Blog

Skaneateles Wedding of Allison and Kevan

Details, Details, Details. That is what I tell Brides. Pick a theme and stick with it. .And if you can’t stay on track, then hire someone to help you.

Allison and Kevan worked with Kate Brown of Lovewell Celebration Design and together they created a standout event.

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Why It Works

There is quite a bit more to this post, and it is full of amazing photos. The post works beautifully because they introduce the event at the top, and then allow the pictures to tell the story for them. There’s no need to elaborate with words because nothing they could say would have more impact for the viewer than the gorgeous visuals. Then, at the end they list all the vendors who’s work appeared in the photos with links to their web pages. This allows their readers to not only know they are a quality florist, but also that these other companies do quality work as well.

Great job, Whistlestop Florist!

Be sure to come back next month and see who our next Blog Spotlight will feature!

Filed Under: Florist Spotlights Tagged With: Florist Blogs, Florist Spotlights, Flower Blogs

May Blog Spotlight: North Raleigh Florist

May 15, 2014 by Ed Belly Leave a Comment

For May, we are highlighting North Raleigh Florist in Raleigh, NC. From looking through the history, this florist does a great job of updating their blog regularly, and this is important because it keeps readers engaged. They do a mix of informative and promotional posts, ensuring that their reader gets value from reading.

The post we’re looking at today is talking about the different arrangement done for the Palahmuk Wedding. This particular post relies more on photos to do the talking, and it works well for a florist blog. Without further ado, North Raleigh Florist!

Palahmuk Wedding

Summer Weddings Are Filled With Bright Colors. Check Out These Beautiful Bouquets In Hot Pink From Amanda Palahmuk’s Wedding at Bedford Club House.

Groom and Groomsmen Boutonnieres

A full size rose for the groom and spray roses for the groomsmen are great choices. They are similar but they still have a different look.

Bridal Bouquet

Different Shades of Pink Accent this bouquet that have the gerbers and lilies as its focal point and roses and greens to accent.

Bridesmaid Bouquets

A base of green hydrangea is accented with gerbers and spray roses and is very affordable if you have a lot of bridesmaids.

Bridesmaid Bouquet

Another View of the Bridesmaid Bouquets.

Gerbers

Full view of Bridal Bouquet.

The Power of the Photo

The gorgeous bouquets and boutonnieres portrayed here do plenty to capture the eye and keep the reader interested. The floral industry is very much a visual industry and this blog post works well in making that evident. It also chooses to use original designs and not stock photos. Stock photos are nice, but original designs show off the florist’s talent and lets their readers know exactly what they are capable of achieving.

Come back next month and see who we spotlight next!

Filed Under: Florist Spotlights Tagged With: Florist Blogs, Florist Spotlights

April Blog Spotlight: Lavender Hill Florals

April 17, 2014 by Ed Belly Leave a Comment

This month we are showcasing a wonderful and classic take on the florist blog. The comments under the photos are mine, and I’m only going to use some of the photos here. If you’d like to see the entire post, click here!

Lavender Hill Florals

We just finished setting up Abby and Ted’s wedding at the Galt House hotel in downtown Louisville. She picked some beautiful spring colors, and she couldn’t have had better spring weather for the big day! Check out some of the photos below.

I love how they use the camera to give a beautiful scene an artistic flair.

Doing good work is paramount, but it is of penultimate importance to take good photos of that work. This bouquet is gorgeous and the high quality photo allows us to see that perfectly.

This is a gorgeous centerpiece. Elegant and simple yet arresting.

Again, they use the camera to excellent effect here. The boutonnieres are beautiful as well.

More centerpieces, and here they are allowing the work to speak for itself. Perfect.

A Visual Emphasis

A florist creates visually stimulating pieces, and as such their work is best appreciated through a visual medium. Lavender Hill Florals uses their blog to showcase the work they’ve done for weddings and other special events through expert photography and beautiful HD photos. This works because they can update the blog each time they have a new project. It guarantees their newest work is always on display.

This also allows visitors to see examples of the florist’s actual work and not obviously canned images. This window into the florist’s talent is beneficial to the customer, allowing them to see exactly what florist and staff can accomplish. The transparency is also beneficial to the florist. Showcasing work as impressive as this is never a bad idea!

Filed Under: Florist Spotlights Tagged With: Florist Blogs

Blog Spotlight: Enchanted Florist

March 20, 2014 by Ed Belly Leave a Comment

The Enchanted Florist

Welcome to the March edition of the blog spotlight. Our first two spotlights came from the northeast so this month we are featuring a blog from the southwest area of the country. Located in Pasadena, TX, the Enchanted Florist is a full-service florist who has been in business for over 25 years. They offer all the services you might expect: weddings, birthdays, sympathy pieces, corporate functions, etc., and they are more than happy to work with you if you have a project that’s a little off the beaten path.

The blog for this florist is written by Tarrah Wright, daughter of shop owner Debbie Wright, AAF, TMFA. Tarrah grew up in the florist business doing every job in the shop from bucket scrubber to flower designer. After attending college to get her degree in marketing, she has once again returned to the flower shop to fulfill her role in the family business. So, without further ado, here is an excerpt from the blog!

10 Weeks of Spray Roses Delivered

Posted on March 1, 2014 by enchantedflo

10 Weeks of Spray Roses Delivered to Your Home or Office

100 stems of spray roses, you know, the cute little ones with a bunch of blooms on each stem. Let us bring you to your favorite location, 1 bunch of spray roses every Monday for 10 weeks this summer. You can keep fresh roses in your home or office all summer long.

Makes a great gift because it’s the gift that keeps on giving!

Weekly flowers have a positive influence on productivity in the work place and at home create a happy peaceful environment. (Real research from Rutgers University)

Program Details:

*1 Bunch (10 stems) of spray roses every Monday afternoon

*1 vase of appropriate size delivered Monday June 23, 2014

*Price includes 10 bunches of spray roses, 1 vase, and delivery each week

*Program runs Monday June 23, 2014 thru Monday August 25, 2014

*Spray roses will be delivered to your home or office, must be in our delivery area

*All spray rose bunches must be delivered to the same address

*Save over 20% by paying in full up front

Payment Options:

OPTION 1- (Save 20%) Billed in full on your June 2014 Enchanted Florist statement – $150

OPTION 2 – (Save 20%) Pay by check, cash, or credit card in full by June 23, 2014 – $150

OPTION 3- Billed in 3 installments to your Enchanted Florist statement in June, July, and August 2014 – $190

OPTION 4- Billed to your credit card in 3 installments June 23, July 23, and August 23, 2014 – $190

Roses and spray roses are some of our most popular flowers in the store. So this program is perfect for those rose lovers as well as flower lovers in general. Click here to order online, or call us at (713) 944-4303

Tarrah

Enchanted Florist

Marketing Focus

Tarrah’s marketing background shines through in her posts, but that is not a bad thing. Her blog offers value to Enchanted Florist customers and potential customers because she uses it to provide special offers and discounted rates. I want to thank Tarrah for giving us the opportunity to show off her blog, and I’ll see you all next month for April’s Blog Spotlight!

Filed Under: Florist Spotlights Tagged With: Florist Blogs

“Surprise, Surprise” Victor West Wins a Design Competition!

March 18, 2014 by Ed Belly 1 Comment

Victor West, owner of Vanessa’s Flowers in Plymouth, MI, is known among friends and other Michigan florists as the “numbers guy”. He was the kid who attended computer camp in 1975, went to school for accounting and business and then chose to open a flower shop over 22 years ago because he “thought it would be easy.” He quickly learned differently on that last point.

The floral industry is a lot of things. Fun? Yes. Rewarding? Yes. Easy? Not so much. Still, although it wasn’t what he expected, Victor gave it his all and was one of the first florists in the state to become a Certified Florist once the program was implemented. And as no surprise to anyone who knows him, his was also one of the first small shops in the industry to utilize a computer.

Vanessa’s has always done amazing work. 22 years in the business is a testament to that, but Victor takes no personal credit for the breathtaking beauty Vanessa’s has created over the years. “The ladies who work for me are easily twice as talented as I am,” he said, giving them their due accolades for the daily designing that goes on behind the scenes. Victor normally does what he does best, run the business.

An Out-of-Character Choice

It came as a surprise to everyone who knew him when Victor decided to enter the Michigan Floral Association’s Design Contest at the Great Lakes Expo. It was not the first time he’d entered such a competition, but the instances were few and far between and he hadn’t done so in a very long time. Most of his peers were ignorant of his design capabilities, but his close friends and family new the truth. In fact, many of them had been encouraging him to showcase his ability in a more public forum.

The Right Competition

Victor looked at the four competitions and chose to compete in the Surprise, Surprise portion which required the designer to do what he could with a bucket of flowers and 20 minutes. He felt that he had a better chance at an impromptu design than one that could be prepared ahead of time. He did his best and hoped it was enough.

Victor was disappointed after the second and third place winners were announced because he had hoped to at least place in the competition. He held out no hope for first so no one was more surprised than he when the 1st place winner was announced. “I didn’t know what to think,” he said. “I just started laughing.”

He spent the rest of the Expo fielding congratulations and exclamations of surprise from those who were unaware of his hidden talents. Victor is a long-standing member of Flower Shop Network, and now he is also an award-winning designer. Congratulations, Victor!

Filed Under: Florist Spotlights Tagged With: Floral Design, Floral Design Competitions, Michigan Florists

Concord Flower Shop Blog

Why It Works

The Allioops! Blog

Why It Works

The Dream Lives On

The Pieces Fall Together

A Full-Service Flower Shop

Blossom Flower Shops – 3 Fun Facts About the August Flower, Gladiolus

A Touch of Class Florist

Whistlestop Florist Blog

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Why It Works

Palahmuk Wedding

The Power of the Photo

Lavender Hill Florals

A Visual Emphasis

The Enchanted Florist

10 Weeks of Spray Roses Delivered

Marketing Focus

An Out-of-Character Choice

The Right Competition

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