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FSN at Great Lakes Floral Expo 2015

We had a great weekend in Michigan at the Great Lakes Floral Expo! There were great business sessions by some great presenters, like Derrick Myers, Tim Huckabee, Mark Anderson, and Jamie Jamison Adams of Flower Shop Network. There were also some amazing design sessions and everyone who participated in the designs contests created beautiful work! More importantly, it was fun to see florists get together and share ideas!

This was our booth where we met many great florists!

This was a very interesting design that caught our eye!

This beautiful bouquet really sparkles!

This presentation used a variety of flowers and really made a statement.

This elegant standing spray was just one of many that were created during the sympathy design session.

Floral outfit

There was no missing this creative use of flowers and greens to make an incredible outfit!

If you missed this great event, don’t worry! Mark your calendars now for next year’s expo.

You don’t want to miss it!

Thank you to everyone who stopped by our booth! We also want to thank Rod and all the volunteers who made it a great weekend! Make sure to follow our Facebook page to see where we will go next!

Wedding Trends: Guest Book Table Arrangements 2015

One of the first things guests see at a wedding, whether it’s at the ceremony or reception, is the guest book sign-in table–and along with that, a floral arrangement to greet them. This table decor sets the theme for the wedding. It introduces guests to the event, so it’s no surprise that this arrangement is an important part of the wedding floral decor. Here are some guest book table arrangements that are trending for 2015!

FSN-sign in flowersTall Majestic
To make a grand first impression, consider a tall arrangement that will catch the guests’ eye. They will know right away they have made it to the wedding location.

Shorty Chic
A short arrangement can put the finishing touch to a decorated table. Shorter blooms will make it easy to see the guest book.

Sweet Cluster
Wanting that rustic look? Group a cluster of small arrangements that can be lined up or scattered around the guest sign-in. This works great if using glass bottles and mason jars.

Elegant Design
A long design, much like a spray, can be the table’s focal point. This works perfectly if the table is light on decor.

When it comes to this special arrangement, there are so many options to choose from. Don’t hesitate to make this arrangement a great piece to represent the wedding theme. For more great tips and ideas, visit the Bloomin’ Blog!

Tall Majestic photo accreditation to: weddingandpartynetwork/gallery/8589

Shorty Chic photo accreditation to: weddingandpartynetwork/gallery/3241

Sweet Cluster photo accreditation to: weddingandpartynetwork/gallery/13819

Elegant Design photo accreditation to: weddingandpartynetwork/gallery/12471

5 Tips To Decorate Your Shop

Sometimes it’s easy to forget that the quickest way to market your shop is from the sidewalk. Customers are drawn in from the first look of your shop’s front window display and will remember your store from the chic interior. With that creative mind, you can make your shop look as beautiful as your designs with some easy tips! Sherwood Florist from Dayton, Ohio has shared with us 5 great tips for florist on how to make your store enticing for customers!

The Basics

Who is the main shop decorator?
Jessie Wright, Co-owner of Sherwood Florist is the main decorator and display designer in our shop. However, the team at Sherwood all tend to follow suit and put their own spin on certain displays.

How do you get inspired?
My inspiration comes from so many different outlets. The building in which our shop is located is inspiration itself. From the exposed brick to the original hardwood floors and the large open space in general. Social media also plays a huge factor for inspiration. Most of all, I like to find fabulous old pieces that are worn or bound for the trash and reinvent them or group them together for an impact display. Most of our display tables, counters and shelves are all from reclaimed wood and salvage warehouses.

Why is it important for a florist to make their flower shop look nice?
Keeping up with trends and reinventing your space is half the battle, but definitely most important for your brand and will absolutely pay off in the long run. Keeping a clean concise shop is appealing for the eye and will draw customers to want to walk through and browse your space.

Do you have a decorating mantra?
Our decorating mantra is keeping it simple. There is no place in a successful shop for clutter. We find it is good to have a few core display areas and keep the rest of your space simple and clean.

Can you tell us about your focal piece chalkboard wall?
Our chalkboard wall came about when we moved into our new space nearly two years ago. It is a wall that we built to hide our walk-in cooler. It is the first thing that your eye is drawn to as you walk into our shop because it is directly 60 feet across from the front door. So we knew we wanted something on there that was bold and a focal, but not too busy. We decided to paint it with chalkboard paint. Our main design table is right in front of the chalk wall so it just made sense to add a few bar stools at the end of the table so that our clients wait on their design to be created at the “Flower Bar.” Not to mention a few tips for them to help decide what type of arrangement they would like to order.

Sherwood Florist’s Top Decorating Tips

Photos courtesy of Sherwood Florist

1. Keep it Clean!

Anything too busy or cluttered is a turn off to customers.

2. Use What You Have

Your shop is probably filled with items that are just waiting to be reinvented.

3. Keep Up with the Trends

I’m not saying completely redecorate your space with each changing season, but certainly add or update a few core “statement” pieces.

4. Identify Who You Are Trying To Appeal To

For instance, it’s the New Year, which means booking season for weddings. We’ve added a soft hint of gold with a bit of eye-catching bling to a portion of our front window for this season.

5. Step Out of Your Box!

Do something that would never normally do. You will end up surprising yourself!

From Left: Jessie Wright, Co-owner and decorator, and Bev Guy, Co-owner.

From Left: Jessie Wright, Co-owner and decorator, and Bev Guy, Co-owner.

Thank you Sherwood Florist for these great tips! Check back with the Bloomin’ Blog for more great ideas!

5 Reason To Send Flowers: March ’15

March marks the arrival of spring! This is the month in which flowers bloom, bringing color to our surroundings after the gloomy weather of winter. Here are 5 reasons to send flowers to loved ones this month!

1. Employee Appreciation Day – March 6th

On this day let your employees know how important they are. Maybe send a bouquet of mature blooms to your assistant, manager, secretary, or even to everyone in your business. All it takes is a single yellow flower! Yellow is a popular choice to show appreciation for a job well done.

2. International Women’s Day – March 8th

March 8th is the day to celebrate the success of women. Treat a lovely lady in your life to let them know how important they are. A single rose represents all that a woman is–delicate, strong, vibrant and beautiful. Let their beauty be mirrored with an astonishing bouquet of roses.

3. St. Patrick’s Day – March 17th

There is no better way to celebrate a holiday than by sending flowers. For St. Patrick’s Day send a beautiful mixture of green and white flowers–maybe even adding a touch of yellow. This will definitely make anyone smile, especially those friends of Irish descent!

4. Spring Day – March 20th

Flowers blossom in spring, bringing color after the cold winter. This is a new beginning for nature, as it comes alive once again. Today, send flowers to the most important person in your life as a sign of a new, happier and colorful beginning.

5. National Doctor’s Day – March 30th

When we get sick, our first phone call is our doctor. They keep us healthy and this is something we should definitely be grateful for. Doctors make us feel comfortable and within days we are ready to conquer the world! Today make some time to give back to these amazing people. There’s no better gift than flowers to express gratitude.

Flowers don’t need a reason to become gifts because they are accepted with a huge smile. Whether it’s a holiday or just because, surprise someone with a bouquet. Head to your local florist today!

Floral Gifts For Employee Appreciation Day

March brings us closer to spring flowers and on Friday, March 6th celebrate your wonderful staff with beautiful blooms of appreciation.

Something Sweet for the Desk
Your employees help you succeed, so make sure to let them know how much they mean to you with a touch of floral for their desk. Some delicate roses or even daisies for spring will brighten their work space and put a smile on their face!

Pretty Greens
Hard work should be rewarded! With a beautiful dish garden, your staff will have a gift that will constantly remind them of a job well done!

Simple Card Messages
Need writing help? Here are some sweet and simple card messages for your hard workers!

Your boss thinks you’re kinda a big deal! Job well done!

For your hard work, effort, and talent–I am a proud boss! Thank you!

You dedication and hard work never goes unseen. You are a valuable member to this team! Many Thanks!

Head to your local florist and get your hard-working team a gift of appreciation! Employee Appreciation Day is Friday, March 6, 2015.

The Florist With The Horse

Kimberly George has always been creative. So, when the opportunity to own Northwest Arkansas Florist fell on her and her husband’s lap in 2012, they took it.

With a team of ten designers and two locations (Fayetteville, Arkansas and Bentonville, Arkansas), NWA Florist is recognized not only for their great design, but also for an iconic statue that calls the shop home.

Artist painting horse for American Diabetes Association

Horse Beginnings
The shop began in 1978 with the Dufresne Family. When the family moved to the area, they bought a grocery store that included a cement and fiberglass horse. When the family started NWA Florist, they brought the horse over to the flower shop and he’s been an icon ever since.

One day the horse was vandalized. Someone spray-painted him and that’s how the painting of the horse started evolving and non-profits became involved.

According to George, the horse is around 50 years old, he gets painted once a month, and it’s non-profits and other charitable organizations that do all the painting. His name is ‘Ol’ Paint’ in the Fayetteville location.

He is currently scheduled for painting past 2018. It’s no surprise that everyone wants to be part of this local icon.

“Some people don’t always know the name of the shop,” George said, “but if they are told, ‘it’s the one with the horse,’ they know exactly who we are.”

Northwest Arkansas Florist.Part of the Community
George said she loves being a local business. They cater to just about any event and they are able to work with any budget.

From everyday arrangements to University of Arkansas events, NWA Florist has done it all. Their manager s also AIFD Certified, which is the highest certification in the nation to receive in the floral industry.

George said it’s important to shop locally because everyone supports each other and they are able to control the quality of the flowers.

“The most important thing is that you are getting a personal touch of something that is happening locally,” George said. “You’re not getting something from overseas. It is something that is adding back to the community because we are a small business.”

There is no need to look further for a florist that will have the experience and the personal touch to focus on your needs as a customer. Just remember to look for the florist with the horse–Northwest Arkansas Florist.

Happy Floral Design Day!

At Flower Shop Network, we love our members and we wanted to take a little time today to tell you that we are blown away by all the art you share with us on our blog and Facebook page. Keep doing what you do because local florists ROCK!

Pictures starting from top left going clockwise:

Garden Gate Gift and Flower Shop from North Salem, IN

Oak Bay Flower Shop Ltd. from Victoria, BC

Jocelyn’s Floral Inc. from Cedar City, UT

Oran’s Flower Shop from Kingston, TN

Petals in Thyme from Wasaga, ON

A&A Floral Arts from Chicago, IL

FSN February 2015 Newsletter

Time has flown by! With Valentine’s Day already behind us (although some may still be recovering), we start looking ahead and wishing for spring. Here are some of our top February articles to get you thinking about the upcoming spring events!

Trending: Succulent Corsages

We know prom is still weeks away, but we couldn’t wait to share this great post of trending corsages. We reached out to one of our florist and talked about succulent corsages!

Read More


Customer Corner: Sending Valentine’s Flowers

We love hearing from customers! Here’s an article by a customer about the importance of shopping locally and sending to loved one’s away from home.
Read More


Trending Wedding 2015 Boutonnieres

Flowers aren’t normally a guy thing, but when it comes to their wedding boutonniere, it’s important to get the groom involved too!

They can personalize them in the theme of their wedding and reflect their personal style.

Here are some boutonnieres that will be making their way through 2015:

Whimsical Garden-‘freshly picked’ look.

Rustic Beauty– soft hues and neutral tones

Timeless Elegance-dark colors in summer.

Read More


Flower Spotlight: Ranunculus

With their incredibly radiant colors, Ranunculus are truly breathtaking. From wedding bouquets, to ‘Just Because’ they are perfect blooms to brighten anyone’s day!
Read More


Creative Design for a ‘Close-Knit’ Community

We often get stories from our florists about special arrangements they create for their customers. From beautiful wedding bouquets to one-of-a-kind funeral sprays, we know our florists have immense creativity and talent. One unique arrangement created by the folks at City Trading Post in Winona, Mississippi has intrigued the community and showcases how this florist commemorates a fellow neighbor.
Read More


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Love flowers? Follow us on the above Social Networks! We are always sharing the latest articles from our Bloomin’ Blog, as well as the most fascinating news on the net!

Help make Flower Shop Network‘s monthly newsletter even better! Got questions? Have an idea for a story? With your help, we can make the FSN newsletter just what you want and need. You can drop us a note in the comment section on the blog or email us at social@flowershopnetwork.com. We can’t wait to hear from you!

 

Creative Design for a ‘Close-Knit’ Community

We often get stories from our florists about special arrangements they create for their customers. One unique arrangement created by the folks at City Trading Post in Winona, Mississippi has intrigued the community and showcases how this florist commemorates a fellow neighbor.

James H. “Doobie” Palmertree was the owner of the Palmertree Fence Company and passed away in early January. Known throughout the community, Linda Montague, owner of City Trading Post, knew she had to create something special when his family approached her for a funeral arrangement.

According to Linda, her flowershop is known for doing personalized arrangements and this order was no different. But there was one problem–Linda was away at a conference.

“I was in Alabama at a show and my son, who works on the pipeline, took the call,” Linda said. “He said, ‘Ma, I think I can handle this.'”

Curtis Montague helped his mother create a chainsaw 3D arrangement. For this creation he used styrofoam, pipe cleaners, a PVC pipe, and an actual blade cover donated by a local small engine repair shop that knew Palmertree. The shop created both a chainsaw arrangement and a picket fence arrangement for Palemertree’s funeral service.

The Montague family is no stranger to Linda’s flowershop business. Both her sons, who work on the pipeline, have been known to help around the shop every now and then. Linda’s daughter also helps out by decorating the windows and running the Facebook page.

City Trading Post has created many unique arrangements, like the chainsaw, for customers. From a pack of Juicy Fruit Gum to football jerseys made of flowers, this flower shop has done it all and is always looking for a new challenge.

City Trading Post enjoys showcasing their artistic abilities, but the ultimate goal, according to Linda, is to create something that represents the loved one and can bring the family together.

Flower Spotlight – Ranunculus

There is beauty in everything coming from nature, but Ranunculus flowers simply go above and beyond expectations. With their incredibly radiant colors, it is true to say that they will brighten anyone’s day!

Origins and Symbolism
Ranunculus are best known as Buttercup Flowers, but some may also know them as Coyote’s Eyes. Legend has it that the Native American mythological figure “Coyote” was throwing his eyes up in the air and catching them every time, when suddenly “Eagle” snatched them. Coyote not being able to see grabbed two buttercups creating a pair of new eyes, allowing him to see the beauty of this world once again.

This isn’t the only legend surrounding this beautiful flower. Another legend tells of a shy, handsome Persian prince who lived longing to declare his love for a nymph. Not being able to do so, he died of heartbreak and turned into a giant Ranunculus flower.

Turban Buttercup is another alternative name for this flower. It derives from a species that originated in the Middle East. The Victorian meaning of Ranunculus is “you are rich in attractions,” making this a very romantic flower choice.

To Consider
Ranunculus use a lot of energy for they produce complex, multi-petal flowers. Make sure to add all purpose fertilizer when you plant them and every two weeks supplement with half strength fertilizer while the plants are growing.

Also note that these flowers are poisonous when eaten fresh by cats, dogs, horses and cows. They contain juices that can irritate or damage their digestive systems. So, make sure to keep you little friends away from these blooms.

Avalability
Ranunculus come in a variety of vibrant colors such as yellow, red, pink, orange, copper, and white with dark or yellow centers. Once cut, these flowers last for a week. This makes them perfect for bridal bouquets or centerpieces. They are most popular in the mild-winter regions of the South and West.

If you want to put your hands on these beautiful flowers, head to your local florist today! Check back with the Bloomin’ Blog for more tips on flowers!

Photo by iMarly