We all know that sending flowers is a great way to create memories with the gifts we give to our family and friends. In fact last April, I even wrote a newsletter about it for Flower Shop Network called Flower Memories; detailing the wonderful memories I had from the flowers I had received as gifts throughout the years.  Well this morning Lifetime Television explored the issue of sending flowers using a real local florist.

Growing up we had a very close relationship with our local florist and it was easy to send flowers to my family and friends because most of them lived in the same town as I did.  Of course, today my Read the rest of Did You See Lifetime Television This Morning »

Flower Shop Network Appearing on Lifetime Television to promote Real Local Florists on October 9th at 7:00am (6:00am cst).

Flower Shop Network will be featured on the Lifetime Television series, The Balancing Act on Thursday October 9th at 7:00am (6:00am cst). The Balancing Act is a half-hour, magazine-formatted television series that empowers women seeking personal and professional growth while maintaining a career, family and home on a daily basis.

Flower Shop Network president Brock Atwill will sit down with Danielle Knox, The Balancing Act host, to inform consumers of the advantages of sending flowers online through a real local florist. During the interview Brock will outline ways consumers can verify that an online florist is a real local flower shop and not an order-gather.

This is just one more way FlowerShopNetwork.com is ensuring that our retail florist members have the best visibilty possible on the Internet and offline as well.  It is, also, one more way we give consumers the floral information they need to make their lives easier.

Flower Shop Network would like to join the nation in recognizing October as the official Breast Cancer Awareness month. Many here at Flower Shop Network have been affected very deeply by breast cancer. Having known both the pain of loss and the joy of survival, we are very aware of the sympathies that mean the most during the troubled times of dealing with the disease.

Often it is the simplest expressions of support that mean the most to those battling cancer. Read the rest of Flower Shop Network Celebrates National Breast Cancer Awareness Month »

Are you a florist or floral designer who thrives on the thrill of a deadline? Do you enjoy the opportunity to challenge your creativity? If you answered yes to these questions, you may enjoy the live floral design competition at the Society of American Florists annual convention in Palm Beach. Florida florists aren’t the only participants in the fast-paced and exciting competition. Whether you are a small-town florist in Laurel, Delaware or acquired your skills as a big city florist in Redondo Beach, California, the contagious excitement is perfect for you. Read the rest of Who Is Daring Enough To Challenge The Iron Florist? »

At Fuqua and Sheffield Florist in Richmond, Virginia,  we strive to have the best flowers, arrangements and customer service around. All of my associates are happy when they come to work, and it reflects that when they speak with customers. I try to keep a light and humorous atmosphere and let people be who they are.

Every customer has a unique story or reason for sending flowers. We need to capture that moment and emotion.  My Staff and I feel privileged knowing that our customers are trusting us to send their expressions of love, sympathy, celebration and many other occasions through our shop. From the moment we answer the phone until we deliver the flower arrangement, it should be a wonderful experience for both us and the customer. Read the rest of 5 Fabulous Customer Service Tips »

Though many have been tragically affected by the hurricane, florists are looking to flowers as a reminder of the power and beauty of nature. Florists are able to help their customers (and themselves) maintain a bit of normalcy by delivering flowers that would otherwise have been lost during electricity outages and other effects to victims affected by Hurricane Ike.

The kind words and good thoughts associated with receiving flowers never fades. They cannot be marred by misfortune but instead provide tender relief as nature’s band-aid. Florists across the south and even as far north as Illinois were recently given an opportunity to remember this phenomenon as Hurricane Ike struck a powerful blow in Galveston on September 13. Read the rest of Florists Powerful Resolve As Effects of Hurricane Ike Blow Over »

Avoiding fraudulent orders is not always as easy as it seems. Just ask Lorie at My Flower Shop in Cambridge, Ontario who recently had an encounter with a fraudulent order. Thanks to her diligence and attention to detail, Lorie was able to abate the results of her experience and walk away clean. To avoid fraudulent orders in your flower shop, use these tips from Flower Shop Network.

• Scrutinize unusually large or hurried orders. Almost all fraudulent orders tend to be larger than average. Though some instances call for large orders, note particularly large and hurried orders.
• Pay attention to the signature on the card. Make sure that the signature on the card matches

Read the rest of Quick And Easy Ways To Spot Fraudulent Orders »

Flower Shop Network is continually searching for new and creative ways to further develop a community of florists and flower buyers. Presence on social networking sites such as the Flower Shop Network myspace.com profile, FSN facebook.com page, and others is helping Flower Shop Network and friends build relationships with other fascinating people with a love for beautiful flowers. Many of our Flower Shop Network friends have joined us on the social networking site Myspace.

One of the best things about social networking sites is Read the rest of How Myspace Helps FSN Friends Reach New Heights »

Have you heard the one about the florist who gave away flowers and turned a horrible situation into wonderful act? Well I did and the story happened Monday to a Walnut Ridge Florist.

Karen Williams of Flower Basket in Walnut Ridge, AR just turned lemons into sweet, sweet lemonade. Karen is an expert designer who won several awards at the AFA Convention this past weekend including 1st place in the wedding design category and 2nd place in Read the rest of Florist’s Disaster Turns Into Benefit For Community »

Alright. Who wouldn’t want to hang out with other florists in Hot Springs, Arkansas? I know that I would! Fortunately for people like me, the Arkansas Florists Association is hosting their 2008 convention and trade market in Hot Springs from August 14-17. Sweet!

Flower Shop Network’s network coordinators will be at the show this year ready and raring to talk to our friends in the floral industry. Stop by booth Read the rest of Join Us In Hot Springs At The 2008 AFA Convention! »