We are excited to share with you our very first Florist Story submitted by Lori Mudge of De'Vine Floral Design & Gifts in Granville, IL.

For the past 3 years, Lori and her team at De'Vine Floral Design & Gifts have taken the floral design contest at Bonnett's Wholesale's by storm.

Lori tells us all about it here:

"Floral supplier, Bonnett's Wholesale in Milan, IL always has there annual open house in August. They host a big design contest for all of their mid-west customers, guest designers and floral professionals, which we enter every year.

Bonnett's Design Contest has three design categories to enter:

• Anything Goes (anything you want in fresh, silk or whatever, with a wholesale price of $50.00)
• Corsage + Boutonniere
• Surprise Box

Florists are able to enter all three categories. The winner of the competition is determined by votes from Bonnett's staff, as well as florists and industry professionals from all across the mid-west. I feel it is more of an honor to win here because it is judged by florists from Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Iowa."

Lori shared these photos with us of her winning entries for the past 3 years in a row:

The first year, Lori received two 1st place awards in the Anything Goes and Corsage + Boutonniere categories. Her out-of-the-box designs set her apart from her competition.

Continue reading "Florist Stories: Memories From Design Competitions" »

Yesterday in the blog we shared a little bit about our recent trip to the  Tennessee State Florist Association Convention, but today we're taking you along for the ride!

I (Mandy FSN) kept my video camera with me as I strolled through the convention. I set out to make a video for our florist friends who couldn't make it to this particular convention, so they could be part of this event too. Hope you enjoy!

Would like to say a special thanks to everyone who helped out with this video!

Terry Chapple
Karen Ramsey from Miller's Florist in Madison TN
Janet Frye from The Enchanted Florist in Asheville NC
Rae Roberts-Griffith from True Colors Artistry in Springfield IL
Regina Berryman from Horn Lake, MS
Roddy Bird from Roddy's Flowers in Johnson City TN

And EVERYONE else who was at this year's Tennessee State Florist Association's Convention! Hope to see you next year!

I just got back yesterday from the Tennessee State Florist Convention in Franklin TN, and what an amazing show! My head is still spinning with all sorts of floral design inspiration which I will do my best to share with our awesome followers and friends! But first, let's do a quick recap of the show!

This is the show-stopping design that greeted you as you walked through the doors of the convention. I can't even describe to you how big those lilies were, and the bells of Ireland looked as if they were waving "hello" to newcomers, inviting them to join the fun!

Continue reading "FSN Events: Tennessee State Florist Convention 2011" »

Just last weekend, a few from our team had the opportunity to attend the 20th annual Texas State Floral Association Convention in The Woodlands, TX!
The theme of the show this year was "FLOWERS… The Opportunities are Alive" and really emphasized taking the opportunities and chances with your work to make it over-the-top extraordinary.

Here is Rebecca from the FSN team in front of our booth. She really enjoyed meeting everyone who stopped by!

 
A BIG CONGRATULATIONS to Texas Cup Winner Shellie Jacobs of Fresh by Brookshire in Tyler, TX.

The FSN Team, Rebecca and Amy, with one of our great members, Martha Krause of Autumn Leaves Florist in Cypress, TX.
Continue reading "2011 Texas State Florist Association Convention Photos & Recap" »

Written by member florist, Shirley Carmack of Shirley's Florist in Birmingham AL:

I have not been home from AIFD Symposium in San Francisco a week, and my head is spinning from the magnificent floral displays presented! Being a "white knuckle" flyer, it was a pretty big deal for me to get on a plane and fly across the United States to attend this — my first AIFD Symposium. I can not describe the excitement I was feeling by attending this event!

The theme of symposium this year was all about 60's Flower Power. I am old enough that I actually lived through this era as a young teenager. The hotel, every restaurant, walkway, doorway, you name it was covered in flowers! Flowers were inside bookcases, stairwells, landings — even the back wall of the check-in desk was covered in foliage and anthuriums! I have honestly never seen anything like it.

The first reception I attended, everyone was dressed in 60's hippie garb. Tie dyed T-shirts and pants, denim and leather jackets complete with fringe, bell bottom pants, and flowers, literally everywhere. I was dressed in jeans, tie dyed T-shirt, leather sandals and peace sign earrings. Continue reading "Southern Florist Recaps Biggest Floral Event of the Year – AIFD's National Symposium" »

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)

Flower Shop Network had the wonderful opportunity to visit the Northeast Floral Expo recently. This is the nation’s 4th largest florist trade show, serving all the floral industry in New England, New York, New Jersey, and beyond. It was jam-packed with great programs and events.

The 2011 Northeast Floral Expo was March 12-13 at the Sturbridge Host Hotel in Sturbridge, Massachusetts.

Find your next florist convention here! Check out our pictures below! Continue reading "Photos From The Northeast Floral Expo" »

Last July, when Janet P. Frye AIFD, CFD of The Enchanted Florist, Asheville NC was asked to join Schaffer Designs’ team of floral artists for the Philadelphia Flower Show, she never imagined the experience would be so grand.

The Major Exhibitor's (category) entry won Best In Show; Display Gardens-Floral with an amazing 106 points, out of a possible 100! (The judges were so impressed they awarded the flower decked vignettes extra points.) The exhibit also took the Emile H. Geschick Memorial Award for distinctive orchid display, held for 191 years by horticulture groups. An amazing 3^rd prize was the Society of American Florists Flower Show Award, given for best artistic presentation of flowers and plants for public enjoyment..

Frye was part of a dream-team of 28 floral artists from across the US who converged on Philadelphia to create a floral fantasy. Working with gloved hands, bundled in layers to withstand the cold environment needed to keep the blooms at their freshest, Frye and the rest brought the vision to life.

Schaffer Designs' owner Bill Schaffer, AIFD and partner Kristine Kratt interpreted the show’s “Springtime In Paris” theme with an exhibit celebrating a movie classic, An American in Paris, on it‘s 60^th anniversary. Show-goers experienced the classic movie in a way never seen before. The exhibit interpreted four, magical scenes of the film through a 360-degree diorama of vignettes. The true-to-the-period set added life to the spectacular floral designs. Designers created magical elements in moving, over-scaled designs, colors and incorporated original audio and video of the movie.

Most of the designers, including Frye, are Accredited and Certified with the American Institute of Floral Designers. To obtain Accreditation a designer must pass written and rigorous hands-on testing. Only the best of the best qualify to be inducted into full membership. Frye is the only Accredited AIFD designer in the Asheville, NC area. (More info at AIFD.org)

Frye also got news the same day that The Enchanted Florist Asheville had again received the Readers Choice Award for Brides Book magazine (for WNC area). This award is chosen totally by North Carolina brides and is awarded in each of NC’s major destination wedding areas. Continue reading "Local Florist on Winning Design Team at Philly Flower Show" »

While we were at the Illinois State Florist Convention, we had the pleasure of meeting some of our wonderful member florists. One of our most memorable encounters was with LaRonda Lambert of Country Creations Floral & Antiques in Marion IL. LaRonda does flowers a little differently than most florists. Her shop features floral and antiques, so she uses the vintage theme throughout her creations. She even uses some of her antique items as vases for flower arrangements.

It's no surprise LaRonda put her own, classic spin on this years Land of Lincoln Cup competition. The theme was "Let It Rock!" and, while most people used actual rocks or went with a rockin' music theme, LaRonda's entry was completely out-of-the-box.

To LaRonda, rock is the slow creaking sound of her grandmother's rocking chair on a country porch, and this is just what she created. LaRonda's entry was more than just a pretty flower design, it was a true work of flower art that really made viewers think. The first thing to catch your attention was the screen door in the very front of the design. Looking through the screen you see the side view of a full-size rocking chair (It was actually cut in half to fit dimensions of the competition). Draped over the arm of the chair was a gorgeous, spring-color, patchwork quilt all made of flowers. For me, this floral work of art sparked great memories of going to Grandmas. She could always be found on her front porch knitting or crocheting something.

Watch The Video:

One thing about being a florist that is different than most professions is we get to mix business with pleasure. Incorporating our favorite hobbies into what we love further strengthens our passion for flowers and the business.

This post is brought to you by Flower Shop Network, your source for finding a REAL local florist.

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! Continue reading "Behind The Scenes At The Illinois State Florist Convention" »