I spend a good majority of my time telling people about the benefits of using a real local florist; about the power of flowers and what a great gift they make; how to take care of the flowers they receive; and what flowers are appropriate for whatever occasion. Of course, I always picture people popping into their local florist to place their order or to pick up some flowers. But last Friday while I was thinking of blog ideas for this week, I made a note to discuss how to order flowers online. I thought this would be a timely blog topic since the Mothers Day holiday was fast approaching.

So Sunday when I was reading USA Weekend, there staring me in the face were the very tips I was going to discuss with all of you this week. Of course they had beaten me to the punch and done it quite well, especially since USA Weekend and Amy Stewart recognized FlowerShopNetwork.com as a authoritative place to find real local florists online.

So instead of reinventing the wheel I though I’d republish the tips written by USA Weekend on Sunday May 4th, 2008 –:
Buying flowers online

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The English Garden Florist introduces TEGWeddings.com - a new website that showcases the shop’s Wedding and Event flower business.

Flower Shop Network member, The English Garden Florist of Raleigh, North Carolina has just launched TEGWeddings.com, a new online resource for couples in search of a wedding florist in the Raleigh/Durham Triangle, North Carolina area. The new wedding site offers prospective brides and grooms the ability to learn more about The English Garden Florist and their capabilities through an online gallery and testimonials from past customers.

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A’Dair & Company florist and gifts in Liberty, TX (an FSN member) won the 2008 Rising Star Award at the Monument Awards for Small Business ceremony held last month. A locally-owned retail flower shop, A’Dair & Company was cited for their focus on teamwork and working hard to stay on top of the latest trends in floral design without compromising price. Another FSN member, Liberty Hometown Florist & Gifts located in Liberty, Texas was last year’s overall winner in the retail/wholesale category and also received a (more…)

Today’s Garden Center recently named Hillermann Nursery & Florist in Washington, MO the winner of the 2008 Revolutionary Retailer Award. The award ceremony took place during the Revolutionary 100 Roundtable, February 27-29, 2008 in Atlanta, GA. The Revolutionary 100 Garden Centers is an elite group of the country’s most innovative retail garden center operations – big and small – that have been recognized for their commitment to creating a customer experience that sets their operation apart from the rest and doing so in a way that helps them to be profitable businesses.

According to the editors of Today’s Garden Center magazine, “This company has (more…)

Being a member of Flower Shop Network is like being part of a great big family. When someone in your family perseveres through hardships to make their dreams come true you can’t wait to tell everyone. Nick (one of our FSN network coordinators) has always told me that Justin and Heather at BiZi Bee Floral and Gifts; (one of our Seattle WA florists) were amazing people. Until I read Justin’s blog last Friday, I didn’t really (more…)

Although Valentine’s Day 2008 is over, the next two weeks is a busy time for many florists. Several florists’ conventions are taking place February 29th through March 9th.

The Northeast Floral Expo will be celebrating its 75th year, February 29th –March 2nd in Hartford Connecticut. Florists attending have the opportunity to attend workshops, programs and a trade fair. Some of the Flower Shop Network staff have their bags packed and are ready to go.

Florists from Georgia attending the Georgia State Florists Association Convention February 29th – March 2nd in Atlanta Georgia. Florists will have the opportunity to (more…)

Like most people in the floral industry, Valentine’s week is a busy time for the Flower Shop Network staff. We work long hours and are only passing blurs at home. Luckily, we all have wonderful families who understand and support us. Family members drop-by to check on us and there is an abundance of snacks to keep us going when exhaustion hits.

Yesterday afternoon, Loranne Atwill (Flower Shop Network owner) received a beautiful Valentine’s Day flower arrangement from her nine-year-old son, Luke - I’m sure his dad probably helped. English Garden florist in Paragould Arkansas delivered the flower arrangement with Luke’s hand written message. Basically the note said, although his mom was working late every night this week, she was still his number one Valentine. This delivery, as well as some of (more…)

Kudos to Santa Cruz florist Teresa Sabankaya and her flower shop Bonny Doon Garden Co. for their unique eco-friendly flower sales approach. This Valentine’s Day, their sales pitch is more than romance and red hearts. In fact, with their “green” approach you might think it was St. Paddy’s Day. Bonny Doon Garden Co lets customers know the “green” status of the flowers they sell by labeling flowers organic, certified or locally grown. According to the New York Times article “… A bucket held red and fuchsia anemones that were ‘organic’. Ecudorean roses the size of baseballs were ‘certified’. Roses from a nearby farm were ‘locally grown’.” Customers who want organic flowers can easily find them at

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The Wedding & Party Network recently launched the website, www.WeddingandPartyNetwork.com, a comprehensive online resource to assist consumers in conveniently locating products and services associated with planning weddings, parties or other special events.

The Wedding & Party Network site provides information for thousands of companies that specialize in providing products and services specific to weddings, parties and other special events. All Flower Shop Network florists enjoy membership privileges with Wedding and Party Network.

FlowerShopNetwork.com recently announced recipients of sales achievement awards for 2007. Sales representatives, Cathy Condray and Rebecca Speer were the top two winners of the company’s annual sales contest, according to FSN president Brock Atwill. Presentations were made at the company’s annual sales meeting held earlier this month at the Paragould, Arkansas Community Center.

For their accomplishments, Condray received an all-expenses paid trip to San Antonio’s world-famous River Walk, and for her prize Speer chose a five day and night Walt Disney

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