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FSN Member wins Second Annual Buckwald Scholarship!

We would like to congratulate Lavender Hill Florals of Jeffersonville, IN for winning the second annual Buckwald scholarship! Way to go, ladies!

About the Buckwald ScholarshipLavender Hill Floral

The Gary Buckwald Scholarship for Excellence in Floral Sales and Service consists of $10,000 worth of training, coaching and mentoring over the course of a year for a florist and her staff. This scholarship, the result of a collaboration between the Society of American Florists and Floral Strategies, has an application process open to any retailer who has been in business for at least 18 months. Tim Huckabee, president of Floral Strategies, says that they attempt to discover a retailer who “genuinely wants and needs the training, and is willing to put what they learn into practice.”

It is a recent award, but its lack of age is no knock on its incredible value. The tremendous benefit of having the opportunity to receive top-notch personal training from Tim Huckabee cannot be overstated. Tim will be making several trips out to Lavender Hill Florist over the next year to work with the staff on their sales and customer service skills.

Congratulations Lavender Hill Florals

This is both a great honor and great opportunity for FSN member, Lavender Hill Florals. We are excited for them and know that Tim will lead them down a path toward even greater success!


Friday Florist Recap 10/12 – 10/18: Pumpkins, Kitties and Guitars!

This week’s Friday Florist Recap features a creative mix of images from florists across the country! Seeing the interesting things florists choose to do with flowers is half the fun of these posts, and this week is no different. You will be enchanted by the pumpkin, enamored with the kitty and the guitar may pluck your heart-strings. Scroll on down and see what’s on offer!

Stunning Wedding Flowers

Brilliant bouquet by Monday Morning Flower and Balloon Co. in Princeton, NJ

Brilliant bouquet by Monday Morning Flower and Balloon Co. in Princeton, NJ

Bridal bouquet by Tattered Leaf Designs Flowers & Gifts in Lyons, WI

Bridal bouquet by Tattered Leaf Designs Flowers & Gifts in Lyons, WI

Fall bouquet by Honeysuckle Lane in Aurora, NE

Fall bouquet by Honeysuckle Lane in Aurora, NE [Read more…]

Avoid the Hidden Cost of Online Images

Hey, isn't that our image?Just like everyone else, I like to spruce up my blog posts and news articles with a few images. After all, who wants to read block after block of text with no visuals to break it up? Nobody, that’s who.

So after I compose a brilliant (even if only to me) article, the next logical step is to search for an equally brilliant image to complement. Easy right? Not exactly. While Google has made things simple by adding an images archive for us to pour through, those images are often copyrighted, and using them without permission could result in some stiff penalties!

Online Does Not Equal Free

Just because an image is posted online does not mean that it is free and clear to be used. Contrary to popular belief, that is not what the law means when it says “public domain”. In this context, public domain means that the copyright has run out and was not renewed or was inapplicable to begin with. It has no bearing on where the image is located or discovered. A photographer who posts his pictures online has just as much right to be compensated for their display as one who sells them in a gallery.

This means that it is NOT okay to right-click any image you see, save it to your hard drive and upload it to your blog or website. If you do, the copyright holder can request you take it down, send you a bill, hire a lawyer to draft a cease and desist order and/or take you to court to sue for damages! And no, attribution* will not save you. Nobody wants to be stuck paying hundreds or even thousands of dollars for use of some erroneous image they only snagged because it looked good and helped illustrate their point.

Is There No Such Thing as Free Images?A stiff penalty.

Do not despair; there is hope! I’m not going to slap your hand and walk away, that’s not how this blog operates. Now that I’ve told you why it’s bad to grab random images, let me tell you where to go in order to find some images you can use. I should first say that these sites are not perfect and it’s possible to run across a copyrighted image here. However, your chances of avoiding them are much better than just pulling something you found randomly.

Also, it is a good idea to attribute back to the site you used at the bottom of your post. Some of these sites don’t require attribution*, but it’s just polite. You should ALWAYS read any disclaimers or policies around the photo or site you are using. They are pretty short, and it will be time well spent.

Free Images Online

  1. morgueFile – Free photos. Need I say more?
  2. Creativity103 – Photos, designs, and videos.
  3. pixel perfect digital – Free stock photography. This site does require attribution*!
  4. Photo Pin – Free photos!
  5. openclipart – Free clip art!
  6. pixabay – An outlet to both share and find free images.
  7. stock.xchng – Free photos!
  8. Creative Commons – This site is a collaborative page for creatives of all types. You can find images, text, and even videos with a varying level of copyright. Creative Commons offers free copyright licenses to creatives who would like to share their work on limited terms.

Don't be this guy.As you can see, there are plenty of places you can go online to find what you need. It’s true that many of these sites post images by amateur photographers or have photos that the pay sites have already rejected. That doesn’t necessarily mean that these images are bad, but they may not be up to the same level of quality as images for which payment is required. You know the old saying, “You get what you pay for.” Still, there are some good amateurs out there, and every professional started out as one, so don’t discount the option of finding something you can use here.

Using online images is a dicey proposition, but hopefully this post helped you to see some of the pitfalls and provided you with a few options to avoid them. If you have any suggestions or know of another quality free site I didn’t list here, put it in the comments below!

All images are courtesy of morgueFile.

*Attribution is the act of giving credit to the site from which you uploaded your photos. The morgueFile link is an example of attribution.

Friday Florist Recap 10/5 – 10/11: Fantastic Florals

This week showcases some truly brilliant arrangements from florists all across the country! North, South, East or West, it doesn’t matter. Talented florists will express their creativity in the most gorgeous ways! Scroll down to see some of the most beautiful arrangements of the week!

Stunning Wedding Flowers

Wedding Bouquet from Deep Roots Floral and Wedding Design in Grovetown, GA

Wedding Bouquet from Deep Roots Floral and Wedding Design in Grovetown, GA

Corsage from Jocelyn's Floral, INC in Cedar City, UT

Corsage from Jocelyn’s Floral, INC in Cedar City, UT

A cascading bouquet from Wilma's Flowers in Jasper, AL

A cascading bouquet from Wilma’s Flowers in Jasper, AL [Read more…]

Friday Florist Recap 9/28 – 10/4: Chock Full of Floral Goodness

From rustic wedding photos to party themed and fall arrangements, this week’s recap is chock full of floral goodness! As always, Flower Shop Network is pleased to showcase the hard-working men and women who design and create these masterpieces on a daily basis. Our member florists are some of the best and most talented florists in the business. So come on in and take a look around. You’re gonna like what you see, guaranteed!

Stunning Wedding Flowers

Bridal bouquet by Monday Morning Flower and Balloon Co. from Princeton, NJ

Bridal bouquet by Monday Morning Flower and Balloon Co. from Princeton, NJ

Beautiful wedding arrangement by the Flower Patch & More in Bolivar, MO

Beautiful wedding arrangement by the Flower Patch & More in Bolivar, MO

An excellent bouquet by Cary's Designs Floral in Spanish Fork, UT

An excellent bouquet by Cary’s Designs Floral in Spanish Fork, UT

“Fall Weddings are the best!” [Read more…]

Quick Tips: Sanitizing Those Old Vases

If there’s one thing with which every florist is more than familiar, it’s a dirty vase that seems impossible to get clean. Most of the time, they come to you as part of a vase recycling or re-purposing program, and we all know how important it is to get those vases completely disinfected and sanitized. The bacteria and mildew growing in an old vase can wreak havoc on anything you might wish to place in it! But regardless of its origins, nothing is more annoying than a disgusting vase that just will not come clean!

A Cleaning “Solution”

Crystal Flower Vase

Well, no need to fret. Amy Bishop of Amy’s Flower Basket in Albion, NE has found a brilliant solution! The next time you find yourself with a vase that resists the ministrations of soap and water, just fill it to the brim with hot water and drop in a couple of denture cleaning tablets. Give it a full 24 hours to soak, and then simply clean as normal. The end result will be a bright and sparkling vase, completely sanitized of any residual mildew or bacteria and ready for use!

Thanks Amy, that’s a fantastic idea!

Amateur Application

Of course, this will also work at home. So for any of you non-professionals out there, go grab that old vase from under the sink or off the top of the refrigerator and give this tip a try! Or, if you’d prefer not to reuse your old vase, you should definitely check with your local florists to see if they have a recycling/re-purposing program available in your area. Some even offer a discount on your next flower purchase, so you can get rid of the old, empty and busted to make way for some new hotness!

Do you have an idea or tip that you’d like to share? We’d love to hear from you! Just leave your idea in the comments below, and who knows, it might be the subject of our next blog post! Also, if you’d like more information on creative ways to use vases, check out this previous post!

Florist Friday Recap 9/21 – 9/27: Fall to Bursting!

This week’s recap is full to bursting with fall flower arrangements! The weather is beginning to cool and these florists are getting into the spirit of the season. Scroll through and see samples of some of the best arrangements we received for the week! No matter what part of the country they choose to inhabit, these photos prove that all florists are overflowing with talent and creativity. Let’s show them some love in the comments below!

Stunning Wedding Flowers

Beautiful bouquet from Monday Morning Flower and Balloon Co. in Princeton, NJ

Beautiful bouquet from Monday Morning Flower and Balloon Co. in Princeton, NJ

“Loved the texture of this bouquet …”

Gorgeous bridal bouquet from A New Beginning Florist in Moore, OK

Gorgeous bridal bouquet from A New Beginning Florist in Moore, OK

Fall wedding bouquet by Robyn at Flowers and More in Fresno, CA

Fall wedding bouquet by Robyn at Flowers and More in Fresno, CA [Read more…]

Flowers, Florists, and Random Acts of Joy

Bouquet on a Park BenchAll florists face the challenge of getting people to visit their shop outside of traditional flower-giving holidays. It’s standing room only on Valentine’s and Mother’s Day, but at other times of the year, manning the counter is akin to running the second most popular hotel in a ghost town. It’s not that flowers become any less beautiful, delicate and amazing, it’s just that, without the commercialized holidays or traditional events to remind them, people tend to forget.

It’s not hard to see why. In this world of hurly-burly hustle and bustle, it takes a rare person to stop what they’re doing and smell the roses. And yet, that’s what is being promoted in a new movement. People are being asked to not only smell the roses, but pass them on to others!

The Lonely Bouquet – Spreading The Love of Flowers

This movement, with roots sunk deep in the soil of the Netherlands, is called the Lonely Bouquet. The original idea was to leave a bouquet of flowers on a park bench, or any other public area, with a visible note attached saying, “Take me.” The point is to spread joy and happiness to some unknown stranger through the anonymous gift of flowers. This idea has gained traction quickly and is now grown into an international event! If you want to leave a lonely bouquet of your own, any day is good, but June 30th is the official day all across the globe!

Although not intended as marketing for florists, the awareness raised by anonymous bouquets found around town has proven very beneficial. In fact, many newspapers, blogs and television stations covered the event this past year, spotlighting individuals who organized groups to place bouquets in public. As you know, anything that puts flowers in the spotlight is valuable to everyone. Florists get much needed business, and more people get to open their doors to a vase full of fresh and beautiful blooms.

Even so, this event only happens once a year, and though annual events are nice, they are limiting. So what can florists do to make an idea like this work for them?

Spreading JoyBouquet on a Table

Leaves Floral Design and Gift Boutique in Greendale, WI chose to place multiple gorgeous and well-arranged bouquets around the city, but instead of the single note that says, “Take Me,” she added a second note encouraging the finder to take a photo and share his experience of finding the bouquet on the florist’s Facebook page. Excellent idea!

For each person who posts on her page, she gets a photo of her arrangement and a touching story of how the finding of it improved the recipient’s day in some fun way. She knew that whoever found the bouquet would be thrilled because flowers are alluring, peaceful and offer she who holds them a chance to reconnect with the natural world. Something that is increasingly more difficult to do every day. Those testimonials are guaranteed to be interesting and touching to both the florist and her readers.

On the business side, quality content on her site will ensure more and frequent traffic. Also, each of the poster’s friends see the post and have the opportunity to like and/or share it. Not all will of course, but of those that do, all of THEIR friends now have the same access. This florist was lucky enough to have a newspaper article published about her campaign. Because it was original, the local paper was interested in the concept. For the cost of a handful of bouquets, she has brightened the day of the few people who found her flowers and the multitudes who read about them after the fact. Her business has been advertised far and wide, and the potential results can be significant.

This same idea is already being implemented by multiple florists across the country, including MaryJane’s Flowers & Gifts in Berlin, NJ who was kind enough to submit all the photos you see in this post. Thanks MaryJane’s!

Letting Joy Spread ItselfBouquet on a City Bench

Another florist chose to use Twitter for his marketing campaign. His idea was to give away a bouquet with the stipulation that the person he gave it to could only keep it for one hour. Once the time had passed, and that person had now had time to be seduced by the intoxicating aroma of flowers in her work space, she had to then pass the flowers on to another person with the same stipulation. She would then post about the experience on Twitter using the hashtag #passthepetals.

Again, this florist chose to use the awesome power of flowers to do his marketing for him. He didn’t have to mount a large campaign, he just had to give someone a bouquet of flowers. Everyone who received the bouquet was overjoyed, took pictures of the flowers and had a wonderful time doing so. Receiving flowers is special; it shows that someone cares about you and wants to bring you joy. If you’re curious what kind of response this florist received, go to twitter and type #passthepetals in the search box to see the results!

Ideas of this nature are excellent grass roots marketing campaigns, and the incorporation of social media offers even more potential exposure. Don’t forget, Instagram also uses hashtags and Pinterest is a visual format as well, giving you the opportunity to share photos of your creations.

It’s not necessary to duplicate what the people above have done, feel free to explore your own ideas and use all that social media has to offer. And there’s no need to limit this kind of outside-the-box thinking to one day a year. If you’ve been in business for long at all, you know when your downtimes are. Don’t be afraid to generate some buzz with a well thought-out and fun event when things are moving slow.

But it’s not all about business. We know that though florists deal with flowers, they’re real business is that of making people happy. Flowers are as much a tool to accomplish that end as they are a source of revenue for the men and women who choose to operate in this industry. The giving and receiving of flowers is a long-held tradition for a reason, it never gets old. If you’re not a florist, but want to spread the joy of flowers to those you love or maybe as a random act of kindness, partner with your local florist to see what’s available.

It’s a concrete jungle out there. So much of life is lived away from nature and its wondrous bounty. Sometimes people need to be reminded that flowers are available and that the local florist is still there, offering fragile beauty and contagious smiles with each purchase.

 

Florist Friday Recap 9/14 to 9/20: Accent-uate the Positive

We have some gorgeous photos for you this week! Our florists have really outdone themselves, sending us examples of their finest work and allowing us all to see the beauty they have created. I know some of you reading this do amazing work yourselves. Don’t be shy, submit! We would love to showcase your best arrangement of the week in our next Florist Friday Recap. I even included a link at the bottom of the post which will inform you of how to get your photos to us! C’mon florists, let us see the WOW!

Stunning Wedding Flowers

Bouquet from Designs by Sandra in Kearny, NJ

Bouquet from Designs by Sandra in Kearny, NJ

Wedding bouquet by Monday Morning Flower and Balloon Co. in Princeton, NJ

Wedding bouquet by Monday Morning Flower and Balloon Co. in Princeton, NJ

“One of this weekends wedding bouquets. We loved how simple it was!” [Read more…]

So You Think You Can Design?

We’ve already brought you highlights from our time at the convention as well as some nice shots of the Arkansas and Mid-America Cup competitions! This post is bringing you some photos depicting the competition actually sponsored by Flower Shop Network at the AFA convention this year. It was called “So You Think You Can Design?” and rewarded the winners with cold hard cash!

Floor View

A view of the setup before the beginning of the competition. Looks like they had plenty of seating!

Team Spread

A look at the design teams as they sprawled across the stage! [Read more…]