Bloomin' Blog

Know Someone Who Needs A Smile Today? Send Flowers!

January 21, 2013 by Mandy Maxwell Leave a Comment

Whether your friend is very sick, or simply has a case of the winter blues, flowers have been scientifically proven to help lift spirits and boost moods. Yellow flowers are a good choice because the color yellow brings feelings of warmth, activates memory, and purifies the body. It’s also the color we think of when we think of sunshine and summer days.

During cold winter months, it’s easy to catch the winter blues. The cold weather, the long nights, and all that time cooped up indoors can do a number on a person. Think about those who are sick in bed, or are just unable to get out anymore. Send them bright and sunny flowers to warm their souls.

Just remember, always always always use a real local florist when ordering flowers. Not only will you receive the best in customer service and quality, but also are helping your community at the same time.

Florist Friday Recap 1/12 – 1/18: Floral Tributes

January 18, 2013 by Mandy Maxwell Leave a Comment

Again this week we have a lot of sympathy designs in our weekly florist recap. They are all so beautiful and unique and some truly personify the person’s life. Although the loss of a loved one is sad, florists do their best to create designs that are bright and uplifting. Don’t miss today’s post with beautiful pictures of flowers from real local florists all across the country!

Sympathy Floral Design Photos

Tropical funeral flowers by Bentley Florist, Burton MI

“Casket spray for a woman who loved tropical flowers.”

This magnificent funeral floral design features massive anthuriums, protea, birds of paradise, orchids and so much more!

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Sympathy spray by Libby’s Flowers, Gifts & More, Elberton GA

Beautiful standing spray filled with large, blue hydrangea, asters, alstroemeria, roses and more.

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Filed Under: Floral Design, Funeral Flowers Tagged With: Facebook Friday, Floral Design, Funeral Flowers

4Florists: Mardi Gras Promotions (Just in Time for Valentine’s Day)

January 17, 2013 by Mandy Maxwell Leave a Comment

You don’t have to live in New Orleans to celebrate Fat Tuesday. Officially, Mardi Gras is on Tuesday, February 12th, but you should start your promotions by at least the 4th, if not sooner. I know what you’re thinking… “but but but.. that’s VALENTINES DAY. I can’t be bothered with Mardi Gras.” While that’s true, I’ll show you some quick and easy promotions you can do that won’t get in the way of your Valentines Day marketing plan. Because this holiday occurs so close to the biggest floral holiday of the year, take advantage of this time to spread the word about your flower shop!

Find Your Target

You know your community better than anyone else. What groups can you promote Mardi Gras flowers and gifts to and be the most effective? If you live in an area where the holiday is widely observed, this will be easy, but if not, you might need your marketing thinking cap for this one. Here are a few suggestions:

Restaurants
Bars
Coffee Shops
Collegiate hangouts
Hotels
Casinos
Anywhere!

What They Want/Need & How To Make It Work For You

Contact all of the above businesses in your area, and anyone else you think might want a little more ‘fun’ with their [Read more…]

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

Help! My Peace Lily is Suffering

January 15, 2013 by Mandy Maxwell

Ask The Plant Expert:

“I just recently figured out what kind of plant I have; it’s a peace lily. My roommate left it behind when he moved and didn’t give any information. My peace lily has tons of brown and dead leaves. I know that pruning the dead blooms, you cut the stalk at the base of the plant because it will only bloom once. My question is, does the same rule apply to the leaves of the plant? Do I trim the entire stalk or just the dead leaf and if I leave the stalk will it sprout more leaves or just die?”-Amanda

Every Person Has A Story, Let Us Tell Yours With Flowers

January 14, 2013 by Mandy Maxwell Leave a Comment

What’s your story? What are the biggest accomplishments in your life? You don’t have to be an astronaut to have a great story. It could be your faithful devotion to gardening, crafts or family. It could be your love of hobbies like scrapbooking, reading or climbing mountains. What story do you want to tell?

If you’re having friends over, throwing a party, or just want a little pick-me-up for yourself, why not let your florist to tell the story through flowers? Most floral designers are very creative and would love the challenge of interpreting your story through color, flowers and accessories.

These custom arrangements don’t have to be over-the-top or huge, but the subtle, creative ways flowers are arranged can tell more of a story than you might expect.

Here are some examples:

Yoga Guru – A yoga teacher wants to have a very special class with her students. She asks her florist to create something to tell the story of yoga through flowers. The florist creates something like the arrangement to the right. The bamboo-like Equisetum adds an Eastern quality to this arrangement and the way it’s standing tall and used bent reminds viewers of the flexing yoga poses.

Why Is My Sansaveria Turning Yellow?

January 12, 2013 by Mandy Maxwell

Ask the Expert: I just moved to Southern New Mexico with my large sansevieria. I was covering it outside, but because of the temperature I brought it inside. Seems there is damage on the tips and I don’t know whether to cut them or wait. If you need more info please let me know. I am freaking out about what is happening. -Dena

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Filed Under: Plant Care Questions Tagged With: Ask The Plant Expert, Sansevieria, Yellowing Leaves

Florist Friday Recap 1/05 – 1/11: Floral Focus

January 11, 2013 by Mandy Maxwell Leave a Comment

It’s Friday and our first full week of recap in the new year. We have some very lovely arrangements this week, and we’re almost clear of holiday arrangements, almost. (I love the holiday designs, so I’m kind of sad to see them go.) For the most part, it’s back to business as usual for florists. If you love these arrangements, give your local florist a call and order one for yourself!

Everyday Flower Arrangement Pictures

Lovely flower arrangement by TCU Florist, Fort Worth TX

This is a beautiful arrangement using orchids, lilies, snap dragons, bells of Ireland and more.

Rose arrangement by TCU Florist, Fort Worth TX

Low profile arrangement using peach, pink and red roses on a bed of Green Ball Dianthus.

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Birthday flower arrangement by Sweet Expressions Florist, Quitman TX

“Silk Birthday Arrangement.”-Judi

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Filed Under: Floral Design Tagged With: Facebook Friday, Floral Design

The 14 Days of Love – Marketing for Valentine’s Day

January 10, 2013 by Mandy Maxwell Leave a Comment

Florists, Valentines Day is less than a month away. If you haven’t turned your attention to Valentines Day, it’s time to start now! This could be your biggest year yet! Here we’ve composed 14 great ideas for the 14 Days in February. You can do them all, or pick and choose your favorites. If you have even more ideas, let us know in the comments below!

Valentines Day Marketing Tips Day 1. Tell your customers you love them.

Use your promotional outlets, blogging, social media, etc, to tell your customers what they mean to you. Create a special email or graphic; maybe give away coupons. This day is all about showing love to your loyal customers.

Day 2. Day of love contest

Give away an inexpensive, but desirable product in a quick and easy contest. It may be as simple as asking “I love my sweetheart so much because ____” on Twitter and giving away a prize for the best answer.

Day 3. Decorate, and decorate again.

Your front window should scream, “VALENTINE’S DAY,” but don’t stop there! Stick cut out hearts and doilies all over your walls and windows. Use red, white and pink ribbon to decorate your house plants, gift items and anything else. Catch love fever and go crazy!

Day 4. Send Valentines

Collect Valentine’s Day cards to be taken to local hospitals, nursing homes or even sent to soldiers. Advertise to your community via press release in radio, newspaper and even your own online promotional outlets.

Florist Spotlight: Flowerama, Ft. Collins CO

January 9, 2013 by Mandy Maxwell Leave a Comment

FSN recently had the pleasure of talking to Jim Endicott, owner of Flowerama in Ft. Collins CO, about how they keep their customers happy and coming back for more.

What does your flower shop do best?

“Customer service and attention to each customer. We are a smaller shop so that’s kind of where our niche is. We try to provide product that’s a little different than the average shop, especially in our dish gardens and gift lines. Customers have come to expect a wide variety of items to shop for in our store: from plush to candles, dish gardens to other little gift items. We try to select things that you wouldn’t find in a big box or grocery store.”

Do your customers respond to this?

“We think so, mainly because they can’t find them anyplace else. For instance, our garden flags and spinners from Premiere Kites. We’re the only one in the area that carries those products. And when we carry it, we like to have a good selection.”

What Is This Purple Spotted Plant In My Dish Garden?

January 8, 2013 by Mandy Maxwell Leave a Comment

Ask The Plant Expert: “Need to identify the plant with green leaves and darker green or purple spots in this dish garden.” – Karen

What Is The Spotted Plant In This Dish Garden

Flower Shop Network Plant Expert Reply:

In this dish garden, the plant you are referring to is a Prayer Plant, or Maranta leuconeura. There is another type of common houseplant that looks similar to this called Calathea. Both of these are in the Marantaceae family, and are common in dish gardens and as house plants. Hope this helps!

Filed Under: Plant Identification Tagged With: Calathea, Dish Gardens, Plant Identification, Prayer Plant

Know Someone Who Needs A Smile Today? Send Flowers!