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The FSN crew recently returned from Groton Connecticut where they attended the 2013 Northeast Floral Expo. This show is one of the largest florist conventions offered in the States with over 1000 floral industry attendees from more than 9 states.
Please Help Our Friends in Connecticut
December 17, 2012 by 1 Comment
This is a note sent out by Bob Heffernan the Executive Director at Connecticut Floral Association (CFA) concerning the tragedy this week in Connecticut. If you or someone you know could help with these points, please email the contacts below. If you would like to send a donation, you can do so via the Michigan Floral Foundation, details at the bottom of this post.
Connecticut Floral Association Special Notice
Because there is the potential for a huge amount of funeral flowers this week for the funerals of the victims of the Newtown school murders, CFA will coordinate our industry’s response:
- Volunteer designers. There’s only one real florist in the town (Newtown Florist) and one funeral home. They may be overwhelmed with orders on this, the busiest week of the year. If you would like to be on a stand-by list to volunteer for design help, please send an email to ctflorists@aol.com.
- Assistance to Newtown families in need. We don’t yet know if there are lower-income families of the victims. There could be a major draw on flowers for memorial services. President Obama may also come to Newtown. If you are a wholesaler who would like to make donations of flowers or product, OR if you simply would like to contribute to providing the funeral pieces in some other way (financial, product, etc.), please send an email to ctflorists@aol.com.
We all know that flowers can and will ease the pain of the families and loved ones of the Newtown victims, as they do for every other person who suffers a great loss.
Send Your Donations via Michigan Floral Foundation
The Michigan Floral Association has established an account for cash donations to be used to help the CFA provide for the victim’s families that are in need. If you would like to make a donation please make checks payable to the Michigan Floral Foundation and note CFA on the memo line and mail to MFF – PO Box 67 – Haslett, MI 48840.
If you would like to use a credit card please call Cindy at the MFA office (517) 575-0110. She will be able to assist you over the phone. The MFF will send 100% of your donation to the CFA to help with their efforts. You may also contact Cindy via email here cindy@michiganfloral.org.
Thank you for your support, this is going to be a difficult week for our industry friends in Connecticut. Thanks so much to Rodney Crittenden for sending this to us so that we can share with others.
Superman Florist Of The Year: Bob Buettner
November 5, 2010 by 1 Comment
Bob Buettner from Paul Buettner Florist Inc. was recently named 2010 Connecticut Florist of the Year, but after our recent conversation, I think he should be titled, Superman Florist of the Year. He has done more in the past year than most people accomplish in 10! Congratulations Bob. No one deserves this honor more than you!
This award is given for more than just being an accomplished florist, it’s about all of the contributions made on both a local and state level. Bob is truly a man who goes above and beyond his call of duty.Working as a florist is great, but Bob’s true passion is helping others in need. He does an incredible job of merging his two loves.
Bob helps organize a special flowers for kids program in his community, where he shows children how to make bouquets. Each kid gets their own flowers to arrange and by the end of the day, they have their own bouquet to take home. There is also a story that goes along with it about growing flowers. What a great way to get kids interested in plants and flowers!
Bob Buettner also has a big heart for charity. He sponsors a booth at the Connecticut Women’s Health and Wellness Expo where this year they helped raise $1,400 in 1½ days for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Awareness Foundation. (Last year they raised $1,200!)
For Christmas, Bob helps his team decorate childrens’ hospitals to, as Bob puts it, “bring [the children] a little bit of brightness and cheer.” He works with Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, Bridgeport Hospital, Yale-New Haven Children’s Hospital, and others. Each hospital gets it’s own theme and they decorate multiple floors. Bob says they start planning in August and begin decorating right after Thanksgiving. What an amazing effort to bring joy to the lives of sick children who are stuck in the hospital for Christmas.
In February, Bob helps out at the Connecticut Flower Show. Here, he raises money for charity by doing multiple flower arranging demonstrations through the event.
He also plays a vital role in the North East Floral Expo in March as trade fair chairman. Bob spends much of his time working closely with the Connecticut Florist Association. He is proud to be on their board of directors and is also marketing chairman. Buettner does as much as he can to proactively promote his industry.
Somehow, Bob also finds the time to teach floral design at the Manchester Community College.
“One other project that is dear to my heart,” is surprisingly his role as a scuba instructor. For the past 22 years, Bob Buettner has spent his summers teaching scuba lessons to kids with terminal illnesses. These are kids who otherwise would never have the chance to be a part of something like this. It is clear Bob is wholeheartedly dedicated to helping others and is truly an inspiration to us all.
Surprised by his overwhelming selflessness, I asked “When do you have time to be a florist?!” He responded, “There’s always time to do new things that are worth while. All of these projects are very worth while. I have a lot of good help behind me. My committees work very hard and we all support each other.”
Bob Buettner is a 2nd generation florist who’s been in the business for over 50 years. His daughter (3rd gen) is now the shop manager and is slowly taking over his day-to-day practice. He says proudly that she is an excellent designer. When I asked about his family business, he said, “It’s nice to have family, because we all work so closely together. Sometimes there’s a problem at family dinners. We all start talking about business and things like that. It’s a very personal business and we pride ourselves on service.”
“I’m 66 years old and people keep asking me, ‘When are you going to retire?’ I will retire the day I don’t want to come to work. I enjoy the business. I keep telling people, ‘Grumpy people don’t buy flowers.’ It’s not always a happy situation; obviously we deal with a lot of people that have had death in the family, but we can give them a little peace and a little bit of beauty and know that we have brought a smile into their lives.”
The Connecticut Florist Association could not have picked a better choice for the 2010 Florist of the Year. Thanks Bob for being such an inspiration to us all.
This post is brought to you by local Hartford CT florists.
Not in Hartford? No worries, use Flower Shop Network’s handy directory to find a florist near you!
Flower Shop Network and the 2009 Northeast Floral Expo
March 17, 2009 by Leave a Comment
This is our fourth year to participate in the Northeast Floral Expo. Pictured below you can see myself, my wife Loranne and Leslie Cox.
It’s like going to a reunion and seeing family you haven’t seen in a long time. It is something we look forward to every year. Some of the florists attending are from Connecticut. Others are from surrounding states like Massachusetts, New York and Vermont. The convention gives us a chance to talk to florists in person. We gain a better perspective of what is happening in their region. We often come back with great ideas on how we can better serve the floral industry.
Many of the florists I spoke to were reflecting on their past Valentine’s Day business. Although this year’s Valentine’s Day business wasn’t the best in recent history, the general consensus was it was better than expected. Many florists shared their business philosophies with us. Some were altering the way they do business. Others were investigating new ways to promote their business both online and off.
In fact, Leslie had a great conversation with a new member, MariEllen owner of A Dykstra Florist in Spring Valley New York. They discussed several ways that MariEllen could promote her FSN Custom eCommerce Website. Among other things, they discussed how MariEllen should claim her Google Local Listing to make sure that her correct website address was displayed.
Loranne spoke to several florists who were combining their online marketing efforts with their offline marketing strategies. Several florists who are using FSN’s Holiday email campaigns were also sending direct mail to customers. They use the emails and direct mailers to remind customers about upcoming holidays and to direct them to the florist’s web site to make their purchases. Many of these florists were happy to hear about the direct marketing templates (formerly direct mail templates) Flower Shop Network will offer to members starting next month.
Florists weren’t the only ones we had a chance to speak to at the Expo. We spoke to vendors as well. At the beginning of the Expo, many vendors were concerned about how the economy would affect attendance. When it was all said and done everyone agreed attendance was good and the show was a success.
Join Flower Shop Network at the Northeast Floral Expo!
February 20, 2009 by Leave a Comment
Ever wanted to visit Cromwell Connecticut? Now is the perfect opportunity! Flower Shop Network will be attending the Northeast Floral Expo 2009 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Cromwell. Just 15 minutes south of Hartford, this is sure to be an exciting time for florists in Connecticut and the surrounding areas.
The show is set to begin on Friday, February 27th and will run through Sunday, February 29nd. There are many great exhibitions and programs that will take place at this floral expo. For instance, florists attending can learn new techniques from the many how-to sessions. There are also business clinics with handy advice, a florist bookstore with useful information, design competitions and more. There’s something for everyone to love!
This is also a great time to meet network coordinators from Flower Shop Network. While networking with other floral industry professionals, stop by our booth and meet the people that make Flower Shop Network the best choice in online directories of florists.
Be sure to stop in to see Flower Shop Network at booth #47!
Mark Your Calendars for the 2008 Northeast Floral Expo
January 11, 2008 by Leave a Comment
I know the Northeast Floral Expo is over a month away, but Flower Shop Network is buzzing with preparations for their journey to Hartford, Connecticut. One of the top florist trade shows, the Northeast Floral Expo will be held February 29th thru March 2nd.
After a long and hectic Valentine’s Day, this florist trade show is a refreshing change of pace. Florists, from over 15 states, will be inspired and educated by an array of international designers during the four design show sessions. Many fantastic learning opportunities are available for florists at the expo. Florists can learn the fundamentals of creating excellence, both in design and in their day-to-day operations, at the business clinics and workshops. Valuable how-to-tips are demonstrated right on the Trade Fair floor and free to all attendees. These how-to demonstrations are interesting as well as educational. The spectacular displays at the Trade Fair will introduce florists to incredible new products and ideas. In fact, Flower Shop Network has one of the most popular booths at the Northeast Floral Expo.
Great information and products aren’t the only thing in store for florists attending the Expo. Local Connecticut florists and Southern New England florists can display their flower arrangements. Connecticut Florists Association members can participate in a floral design competition. The 2008 CFA Floral Design Competition will have two divisions. The first division is open to any beginner to semi-experienced CFA member. The second is the “best of the best” competition. Previous winners of the state competition will via for the title of Floral Designer of the Year 2008. Probably, the most exciting aspect of the Northeast Floral Expo is the opportunity to network with other florists at one of the workshops, competitions, on the Trade Fair floor or at the banquet.
The Flower Shop Network Sales Co-coordinators are looking forward to meeting up with old friends and excited about meeting new ones. So mark you calendar – that’s February 29th through March 2nd – We hope to see you there.
For non-florists the Northeast Floral Expo is sharing the Connecticut Convention Center with the Connecticut Home & Remodeling Show. Florists attending the Expo receive a pass for the Home Show – in return the Home Show attendees are invited to the state floral design competition and the local floral displays at the expo.
