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TSFA Convention and Texas Cup Competition

The Texas State Florists’ Association held its 99th annual Convention and Trade Show July 12-14 in Mesquite, TX located just east of Dallas. That’s right, the 99th annual convention, and you know what that means, folks. If you missed this year, there’s no way you can let next year slip by as it will be the annual Convention and Trade Show’s centennial celebration! If you were looking for the right year to go, next year is definitely the one! As usual, Flower Shop Network will be there and is always excited to bring you the highlights! Here are some pics from this year’s show.

Flower Shop Network Booth

 

First off, a photo of our booth. Isn’t that awesome? We’re so organized with our little gift bags in a line around the tables. Good job, Joe Hays! It looks like he’s done this before, doesn’t it?

As with any convention, booths were a big part of the main floor, but it was the amazing classes on offer that really got people excited. With instruction in everything from how to increase business, to Texas-style designs and even how to grow your revenue stream, there was a lot of great information to be had! Still, the free loot you could rack up on booth row was pretty impressive too.

Texas Cup Competition

The event no florist worth her pruning shears would dare miss was the Texas Cup competition. This is an annual part of the show where florists from across the state are given a certain period of time to design and create an arrangement worthy to be crowned the Texas Cup winner! Flower Shop Network slipped in and snapped some candid shots of the top three designs!

Third Place

Third place was claimed by Flower Shop Network member Martha Wiggs-Aaron of Clear Lake Flowers in Houston, TX. As you can see, she made a beautiful arrangement using sunflowers and yellow roses to give a nod to the rustic roots of Texas. The basket is an excellent touch, and the bird’s nest as well as the wire formed into the state of Texas add all the accent needed. Gorgeous Martha!

Second Place

Second place was also snagged by a Flower Shop Network member! Man, are our members talented or what? Alan Masters of Compton’s Florist in La Porte, TX submitted this elegant arrangement that almost looks good enough to eat! Are those mushrooms? Wow!

So, who won first place? Drum roll please …

Texas Cup Winner

First place was claimed by none other than Flower Shop Network member Rebecca Sherman AIFD of The Blooming Idea in The Woodlands, TX. Rebecca also chose to go with sunflowers, and her creative arrangement turned out wonderfully! Amazing job Rebecca, and congrats on winning the Texas Cup!

Is it just me, or was that a Flower Shop Network trifecta?! Wowza! If you went to the TSFA convention, let us know all about it in the comments below. If not, there’s always next year!

 

The Floral Olympics at the Great Lakes Floral Expo 2013

The Floral Olympics at the Great Lakes Floral Expo

Back around the first of March the FSN crew attended one of the biggest floral design shows in the nation – the Great Lakes Floral Expo. One of their big themes this year was ‘Floral Olympics’. All of the programs, workshops and seminars dealt with Reaching for Excellence and Going for Gold.

 Floral Olympics Floral Olympics

Just like in the real Olympics, the Great Lakes Floral Expo had a grand Opening Ceremonies presented by Carolyn Clark Kurek, AIFD. Carolyn demonstrated the application of the principles and elements of design using contorting gymnasts. She would talk about a specific element of design and the contortionist would use their body to demonstrate. As you can imagine, this presentation has gotten rave reviews!

Other Olympic themed programs include: Your Gold Medal Staff, The Balance Beam of Successful Weddings, Floral Olympic Awards Gala and more.

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FSN At the 2013 Northeast Floral Expo

North East Floral Expo 2013

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.

Welcome to the Northeast Floral Expo!

Wedding work from the Northeast Floral Expo Cascading arrangement from the Northeast Floral Expo Wedding work from the Northeast Floral Expo

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FSN at the 2013 Great Lakes Floral Expo (Photos)

Unusual photographer themed design at the 2013 Great Lakes Floral Expo

A couple of our FSN team members headed north this past weekend to attend the Michigan Floral Association’s Great Lakes Floral Expo — an event we look forward to every year! Once again the amazing talent at the show blew us away. There were so many fascinating presentations, competitions and enough inspiration to last the entire year.

The Great Lakes Floral Expo is one of the nation’s premier floral shows. This show is a must attend event to those in the floral industry. This event is unique in the floral industry because it is held in conjunction with the West Michigan Home and Garden Show and there are events for the general public.

If you want to get a taste of what the Great Lakes Floral Expo has to offer, check out the photos after the jump:

Convention season has just started. Check out our Florist Conventions & Flower Shows and start planning your trip to one near you!

FSN at the 2012 Oklahoma State Florist Convention

Flower Shop Network had the fantastic opportunity to attend the 2012 Oklahoma State Florist Association‘s Convention July 28 – 29th! A convention filled with beautiful flowers, great workshops and top-notch competitions, including the Oklahoma Cup Competition!

Flowers in the Flower Shop Network Booth

Gorgeous flower arrangements in the Flower Shop Network booth. These were created by the talented Tammy Martens, designer at Generations Flowers & Gifts, Broken Arrow OK.

Tammy Martens, Oklahoma Cup Winner

Here is Tammy Martens with her award from the Oklahoma State Florist Association. Way to go Tammy! (The biggest arrangement in the photo above was created specifically for the FSN booth [and we loved it!], the others were used in the competition.)

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Upcoming Florist Shows & Conventions

Floral conventions and flower shows are excellent ways to boost your creativity! No matter if you’re a florist or just someone who enjoys the beauty of flowers, these shows are just for you. Bring a notepad; you’ll be busy!

There’s nothing like a flower show to a florist. Not only will you find so much inspiration and new techniques, but you will meet fellow florists and form life-time friendships in this industry. Grab your bags and get going; maybe we’ll see you there! (*** Indicates Flower Shop Network will be there!)

JULY 2012 — Floral Conventions and Flower Shows

Photo from Texas Florist Convention 2011***July 20 – 22, 2012: The annual Texas State Florists Association will be held at the Hangar Hotel in Fredericksburg, TX. Florists who are members, as well as non-member florists may attend.

***July 27 – 29, 2012: The annual South Carolina Florists Association Convention will be held at the Marriott Hotel, downtown in on Columbia, SC. Florists who are members, as well as non-member florists may attend.

***July 28 – 29, 2012: The annual Oklahoma State Florists Association Convention will be held at the Doubletree Waren Place Tulsa, OK. Florists who are members, as well as non-member florists may attend.

AUGUST 2012 — Floral Conventions and Flower Shows

***August 3 – 5, 2012: The annual West-Texas New Mexico Florist Association will be held at the The Midland Center in Midland, TX. Florists who are members, as well as non-member florists may attend. [Read more…]

Upcoming June Florist Conventions

Attending a state florist convention is incredibly valuable for florists. You learn new tricks and trends, demo new products, learn new techniques from top designers and get business and marketing help from the pros. Why wouldn’t you want to attend!? Here are the shows coming up in June — convention season is just kicking off!

June 10-12, 2011: The Florida State Florists Association Convention will be hosted at the Marriott in Jacksonville, Florida. Florists who are members as well as non-member florists are invited to attend.

June 22-22, 2011: The Society of American Florist (SAF) Growth Solutions will be held at the Dallas/Ft. Worth Airport Marriott South in Dallas, TX. Florists and flower shop owners are invited to attend.

June 25-26, 2011: The Utah Professional Florists Association Convention will be held at the Deer Valley Resort in Park City, Utah. Florists who are members as well as non-member florists are invited to attend.

View More Florist Conventions & Flower Shows

If you know of a show we left out, let me know and I’ll add to the list! (Email me at social@flowershopnetwork.com)

Behind The Scenes At The Illinois State Florist Convention

Illinois State Florist Association Convention 2011

We just got back from the Illinois State Florist Convention in Springfield IL. The theme was “Let it Rock” and a rockin‘ time was had by all! We enjoyed great presentations, delicious food, and wonderful shopping at the trade show. Above all else, this show had the most floral designs I think I’ve ever seen at one show — table after table of jaw-dropping, show-stopping floral ART!

These shows are so important for florists to come out and be apart of the experience. Not only will you learn all of the NEW things happening in our industry, you will be filled to the brim, if not overflowing with creativity and NEW ideas. While at the show, I met up with Rae Griffith, President of the Illinois State Florists Association. She was kind enough to give me and all of our Flower Shop Network followers a walking tour of the whole show! I wanted our florists who had never been to anything like this to see just what they’re missing! Come on out and recharge your creative batteries at your state floral convention! Be sure to check out the video below! [Read more…]