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Sending Flowers For Christmas? Here’s What Your Florist Should Know

December 21, 2009 by Leave a Comment

Good tidings we bring to you and your kin. Christmas is the time to send lovely bouquets of flowers to loved ones down the street or across the country. Florists bring flowers to life in spectacular arrangements filled with the red, green and white colors of Christmas (plus a few non-traditional beauties as well).

"Holiday Happiness" Christmas Flowers

"Holiday Happiness" Christmas Flowers

With the popularity of sending Christmas flowers, it’s important to know what information your florist needs to deliver your order smoothly. You don’t have to worry about getting lost in the shuffle. No, nothing like that. It’s just important to keep I’s dotted and T’s crossed during one of florists’ busiest holidays.

To get your Christmas flowers delivered more promptly than if they came on Santa’s sleigh, remember to include the following information when speaking with your florist.

  • Recipient’s Name – Seems like a no-brainer but trust us. Sillier omissions have been made.
  • Recipient’s Address – If your loved one is staying out of town for the holidays, have the address of their other location. This will prevent flowers being left in the cold or returned to the flower shop because no person was available when the delivery was attempted.
  • Recipient’s Phone – This is particularly important to the driver who may need permission to access the premises, help locating the address, etc.
  • Consumer’s Phone – This is your telephone number. Though rare, the florist filling your order may need to contact you regarding flower substitutions, unsuccessful delivery attempts, and other similar events.
  • Allergic Information (if applicable) – If the recipient is allergic to a particular flower, your florist should be given this information.
  • Special Instructions – Special instructions vary and are not always mandatory. Special instructions can include a requested delivery time, allergic information, an alternate address, delivery instructions for an apartment complex and more.

This may seem like a lot of information but take heart. Ordering Christmas flowers from your local florist (or your loved one’s local florist) is quick and painless. All it takes is a quick phone to the florist or you can order Christmas flowers online from a local florist using Flower Shop Network.

We wish you a merry Christmas and happy new year!

Filed Under: Tips & Tricks Tagged With: ,

Sending Funeral Flowers? Your Florist Needs This Info

November 16, 2009 by 1 Comment

When the sad occasion comes and it is time to send flowers to a funeral home, no one wants to be bothered with more details. The passing of a friend or loved one is a burden which is hard to bear, so juggling phone calls from businesses providing a service to the grieving can be equally exhausting. Don’t put yourself through that when sending funeral flowers.

There are a few bits of information that your florist needs to ensure that your sympathy and funeral flower arrangements are delivered promptly with little or no hassle to anyone else. To make sure that all goes smoothly on the day of the service, include these details when talking with your local florist. You’ll find the process easier and your load remarkably lighter.

Send funeral flowers from a real local florist with Flower Shop NetworkWhen sending funeral flowers, include this information:

  • The deceased’s name — The funeral home keeps up with services based on the name of the deceased. This way, there is no confusion when deciphering which arrangement goes where. For example, perhaps you were friends with the deceased’s daughter who has since married and changed her name. Instead of piling through paperwork to figure out whose daughter she is, the funeral director can quickly place your arrangement with the right service based on deceased’s name.
  • The funeral home where the service will be held — This is particularly important when sending flowers for a funeral service instead of sympathy arrangements to the home. Florists who do not have this information must call each funeral home and inquire about the services. Though this is only a minor inconvenience, it is a time-consuming one for all involved. Knowing the name of the funeral home will help prevent any late or missed deliveries.
  • The address of the funeral home — If you know this, you’re golden. Though most florists are familiar with the funeral homes in their area, including an address will help the delivery person in the event that their is a different error in the information. For example, if the name of the funeral home is incorrect, having the address will prove beneficial to the driver who can then verify the service times upon arrival.
  • Funeral service time — If possible, always include the service times. This will help prevent any missed or late deliveries.

Once your florist has this information, your hands are free and clear to tend to the grieving. If you are among them, you will not have to worry with what seems rather trivial at the time. Our deepest condolences to anyone having lost a friend or family member. My the following days find you with smiles instead of sadness.

Filed Under: Funeral Flowers, Tips & Tricks Tagged With: , ,

Sending Flowers To A Hospital? Things Your Florist Should Know

October 19, 2009 by Leave a Comment

There are many occasions where hospital flowers are the gift of choice. The birth of a baby, a friend’s surgery, or perhaps a loved one’s near passing create the desire to send flowers to a local hospital. With many rules and regulations to protect patient safety, there are several things that your florist must know before your flowers can be delivered.

When a baby has been delivered, many list the name of the family member that they know the best. In the event that this person is the father, remember that the mother is the one listed on the room rather than the baby or the father. If you do not know the mother’s name, ask someone if possible as this will make delivery go much smoother.

Another very helpful piece of information is the room number. If you received a text or call from the doting father or mother with “come visit us in room X”, use this to your advantage. Florists delivering new baby flowers to a hospital will need this information in the event that the occupant’s last name is not known. It also makes it easier on hospital staff who are juggling patients in many rooms. Once you have these helpful tidbits lined out, your flower delivery will be as smooth as the new baby’s bottom.

The room number is helpful when delivering flowers to a hospital for any occasion, not just the birth of a child. The room number is not generally given out by the hospital nor is any other patient information. They can give the delivering florist a hard time if they do not have this information which leaves your gift without a recipient. If you are sending flowers to someone in a hospital across the country, it is helpful to have as much information about the patient as possible. Room number and patient’s name will help your florist deliver your gift with efficiency and a smile.

For more flower sending tips when buying flowers online from a local florist, visit Flower Shop Network.

Filed Under: Tips & Tricks Tagged With: , ,

One Must-Know Flower Sending Tip

September 21, 2009 by Leave a Comment

After working with florists across the country and some across the globe, it is easy to recognize a few simple things that each customer and flower shop can do to make sure that all orders are processed correctly and the flowers are sent without trouble. A very interesting flower sending tip was recently pointed out to me so I thought I’d share.

Always give the recipient’s full name.

This seems simple enough, right? Not always. Many customers continue to do this but some simply address the recipient by their first or last name only. Others use titles such as “Mr” and “Mrs” that can be ambiguous. If an arrangement addressed to “Mr. Jones” is sent to a home with an adult Jr. and Sr. in the home, confusion occurs. If flowers are sent to an office addressed to “J. Doe”, this may be confused for John Doe when the recipient was inteded as Jane Doe.

Though this isn’t often a problem, it is important for those sending flowers to remember the full name of the recipient when buying flowers, especially when buying flowers online. Florists who take orders by phone or in person should also consider this when asking for recipient information.This will prevent confusion and keep the flower buying process as fun and simple as it should be.

Just a handy heads-up!

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Sending Flowers? Leave Alternate Phone Numbers!

August 17, 2009 by Leave a Comment

Sending flowers? Many florists emphasize the importance of including alternate phone numbers with your order. For instance, provide both a cell phone number and a home phone number (if applicable). Perhaps a work phone and a cell phone if no home phone is available.

Thankfully it doesn’t happen often, but sometimes florists need to reach the sender before the flowers can be delivered. This obviously slows down progress while florists are on the phone trying to get answers to simple questions. Some questions we see a lot are:

  • “That color is not available. Can I substitute it with the same flower in a different color?”
  • “The hospital will not give me a room number. What is the recipient’s room number?”
  • “No one’s home. Is it alright to leave them along with a note or return later?”

These are just a sprinkling of the questions we hear all of the time at Flower Shop Network. Local florists across the country have the same questions but are unable to receive answers because no alternate phone number is listed and the other line isn’t available or working.

Avoid this! Simply include any two or more of the following numbers and you should have no problems getting your flowers delivered quickly!

  • Cell phone number
  • Home phone number
  • Work phone number
  • Fax number
  • Number of a close friend or number if no other second number is available
Filed Under: Flower Suggestions Tagged With: , ,

Sending Flowers? Don’t Forget To List Your Second Choice

July 21, 2009 by Leave a Comment

This is one flower sending tip that you won’t want to be without. Florists run across an issue often when they are asked to create an arrangement based on something seen in a magazine, on a floral website, or a wire service design gallery. Because availability varies by region and other factors, it is important to have your second choice in mind when ordering flowers.

Small Changes, Not A Different Flower Arrangement

Having a second choice is not what it seems to be. This does not mean giving up what you want in favor of a completely different arrangement. This can be something as simple as selecting pink roses if red roses are not available. It could also mean selecting a different type of flower that closely resembles one used in the bouquet.

Keep Color Options In Mind

Most flowers come in a variety of colors. Each variegated species has its own unique appearance. Though you do not have to know the species name of each flower, keep in mind which colors you would like to see in the arrangement. Note this when sending flowers through a local florist. Knowing that green and yellow are preferred (or whichever) is very helpful information when floral designers need to make substitutes.

Keep Flower Substitutes In Mind

Is your wife highly allergic to a particular flower? Does your husband love a certain flower? Let your florist know! He or she will better able to tailor your arrangement to your specific needs if s/he knows which flowers are preferred/off limits/acceptable. Also, note whether substitutions will be acceptable if the flowers are not available. It may be something as simple as filler flower changes, but it will get your flowers out the door faster and spare a lot of people the hassle of multiple phone calls.

Filed Under: Tips & Tricks Tagged With: , , ,

Attending A Backyard Barbecue? Don’t Forget The Hostess Gift!

July 15, 2009 by 1 Comment

Summer is the time for parties. All of the best backyard parties start with great friends and end with big smiles. Count your blessings if you’ve been invited to a backyard barbecue because you’re in for good friends, great food, and fun times! One thing is for certain when attending any party, especially a backyard barbecue — you don’t want to come empty handed.

Hostess gifts are usually simple gifts that say “thank you for having me” in a nice way. They can range from a pair of tongs and a “kiss the cook” apron to my personal favorite which is flowers. Fresh flowers are the pretty much the be-all hostess gift for barbecues and backyard parties. If you’re a little leery about bringing along flowers to a food gathering, enjoy this little story:

Last year was my 22nd year to enjoy a lovely summer. Done with college, 8-5 job, no full-time family responsibilities (at the time)…ah. Life was good. My friends know that I love chilling around a grill and especially around a pool. Chlorine must have been seeping from my pores by the end of the summer after attending all the backyard barbecues/pool parties that my friends threw. One barbecue in particular stood out to me.

My best friend lives fifteen minutes from anything. In this part of Arkansas, that’s not uncommon. She doesn’t have a pool but she does have a huge barbecue grill and a great yard for grilling, frisbee, and being far away from any interruptions. She invited me and a few mutual friends to her place for a backyard barbecue. Well, I showed up with a hostess gift because I’m southern. It’s just what we do. Another friend showed up with nothing. We weren’t offended because we didn’t think much of it until we were playing frisbee.

My best friend’s yard is full of wildflowers. Bees love it there. We tried to walk to a more grassy area but it didn’t work for one of us. She went to catch a long pass and stepped a bit short. After she fell and we all stopped laughing through our concern, she leaned over and picked a flower. She put it to her face and sniffed it. It was at that very moment–I kid you not–when a bee flew up and stung her shoulder. That to me was mother nature saying “get your own.”

She’s brought flowers ever since.

What’s your backyard barbecue story? Does it involve flowers? Whether it does or doesn’t, share it below!

Filed Under: Flower Etiquette Tagged With: , ,

Sending Flowers To Someone In The ICU?

June 15, 2009 by Leave a Comment
Try "Flower Garden" Or Other Get Well Flowers

Try "Flower Garden" Or Other Get Well Flowers

I remember when my best friend’s mother was having brain surgery. Over the course of 6 months she had 5 surgeries to repair her brain stem which sat too low. Tabby, myself, and our mutual friends all view Mrs. Vickie as a mother so we spent countless hours in the ICU waiting room at our local hospital in Jonesboro, AR.

The staff was great but there is little that makes the waiting room experience pleasant. After hours waiting for the surgeon to call, the time seems to pass like molasses. You know what would’ve made that experience better? Well, not having to do it (especially 5 times) for one. Aside from that though, flowers.

It’s never fun to need to send flowers to someone in the hospital. However, it brightens their day. Studies have shown that someone happier also heals faster. Whether it’s on the enclosure card or not, you really are “wishing a speedy recovery” when you send flowers to someone in the hospital.

There is one hiccup.

Patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) are not allowed to receive flowers. Once they are moved to a room, fine and dandy. When in the ICU, hospital flowers are a no-go. Don’t feel like you have to give up though. Sending flowers expresses a great sentiment which can be enjoyed by the person’s family and friend in the ICU waiting room. I know it would’ve helped us. We felt like we were the only ones in the world that knew or cared about what was happening. Receiving hospital flowers reminds those waiting that someone else is thinking, praying and caring at the same time.

Ever go through something like this? Did you receive flowers while you were waiting? Have you sent flowers to a hospital and received a good response? Please share your stories with us.

Filed Under: Flower Suggestions Tagged With: , , , , ,

Don’t Forget The Enclosure Card Message!

May 18, 2009 by Leave a Comment

While most people remember to include an enclosure card message with fresh flowers, some do not. Working at Flower Shop Network, I hear tons of card messages, reasons why that message was chosen, and reasons why no message was sent at all. I tend to frown on the “no message at all” senders because there are too many good reasons why one should be included. Here are some reasons why it’s a great idea to include a card:

  1. Enclosure cards let the recipient know whom to thank for the gift.
  2. Enclosure card messages help express a sentiment that may not otherwise be comfortably conveyed.
  3. Peer pressure. Everyone else is doing it. You should too.

While I figure reason #3 is the best, I don’t expect it to resonate quite as well as the others. To put it simply, enclosure cards help express the feelings that flowers bring. Expressing sympathy by sending flowers? Condolence enclosure card messages relieve the burden of saying “I’m sorry for your loss” to a crying friend but still get the message of support across. Celebrating a birthday with a birthday bouquet? Nothing’s better than cake but when cake fails, a “happy birthday to my favorite friend” enclosure card will come very close.

This is not your traditional flower sending tip, but including enclosure card messages with fresh flowers is definitely something that no one should overlook.

Let us know what your favorite card message is. Simply log in and comment below.

Filed Under: Card Messages Tagged With: ,

Did You Remember The Return Address With Sympathy Flowers?

April 20, 2009 by Leave a Comment

You’d be surprised how many people do not include a return address when sending sympathy flowers. This could be for many reasons and no one is at fault. However, including an address with sympathy flowers has many benefits. The next time you send flowers to express condolences, ask your local florist to include an address where you can be reached in the future. Here’s why:

  • “That will make it seem like I want to be thanked.” Not really. It’s a very courteous gesture that will not be perceived as polite and prudent In fact, it’s somewhat expected.
  • Once the family has had a few days to grieve, most tend to send “thank you” cards to those who have expressed their sympathies. Whether or not this seems necessary to the sender, it is polite to include an address just in case.
  • In lieu of “thank  you” cards, many people try to contact the sender by phone or in person. Though they probably have this information, including an address and perhaps phone number will make it easier for the recipient to contact you after the services have ended. If your address is included with the sympathy flowers, the recipient will not have to go far to find your information whether he or she has it or not.

This kind of simple convenience goes a long way to someone who has just lost someone that they love. It’s a hassle to do even the slightest chores. Even though things have usually settled by the time this type of contact is made, it is still easier to have things laid out nice and neat in front of them.

If you are a florist, remember to ask for an address where the sender can be reached. This is not a must-have as far as sending sympathy flowers goes, of course. However, there will be far fewer troublesome phone calls after the service. Many who do not receive word that the flowers were received like to call the florist to verify delivery. Some call the recipient. Making sure to include an address with the enclosure card is one way to avoid this hassle for everyone.

Filed Under: Funeral Flowers Tagged With: , , , ,
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