I constantly advocate the use of local florists. After all, hometown flower shops are the life force of the floral industry. So when I read “A Dozen Reasons to Shop at a Local Florist” on Dirt (a blog by Amy Stewart), I was thrilled. Florists often don’t communicate their value and strengths to the consumer. Amy does a fine job in reminding florists what their value and strengths are and how they should relate them to the consumer. But this article is more than a reminder to florists. As Apartment Therapy points out it is also “… a good read for the consumer, to know what to look for and expect in a good local florists, and also know why it is good to support them.”

Here is an abbreviate version of Amy’s article

12 Reasons to Shop at a Local Florist

1. Local florist flowers are better.
2. Local florists take better care of their flowers.
3. Local florists take better care of the customer.
4. Local florists offer a money-back guarantee.
5. Local florists can handle long distance orders.
6. Local florists are part of the community.
7. Local florists give back.
8. Local florists care about the environment.
9. Local florists go the extra mile.
10. Local florists are artists.
11. Local florists affordable.
12. Local florists have more fun.

Go to Dirt for a more in-depth explanation of A Dozen Reasons to Shop at a Local Florist. Amy’s article begins on September 4th and goes through September 17th.

I would like to add another reason — making it a bakers dozen.

1. Local florists know their flowers and their customers.

Ok, so your thinking isn’t that implied somewhere in the other reasons. Yes and No. Local florists know what is in season in their area and what is available for a special occasion. They also know the meaning of flowers. Lets say your need to convey a message such as “I have lasting affection”; your local florist knows that magenta zinnias represent lasting affection. With this in mind, they can design an arrangement with magenta zinnias as the predominate flower.

Knowing their community and their customers is a critical aspect of being a local florist. They are more than part of the community; they know the community. Local florists. with a strong Chinese community, know that red flowers are not appropriate sympathy flowers for a Chinese funeral. Florists are people who want to know who you are and because of this can provide you with better service. When I send my mother flowers, my local florist knows that she hates the color orange. As a result, they steer away from oranges when they design her arrangement.

So whether you’re a florist or a consumer, it is good to know all the reasons you should shop at a local florist.