We had a similar update earlier this week about a florist talking to their local news station about the obstacles of ordering flowers online. Well, we've spotted another one. This florist is also one of our great members, Hawley's Florist in Rutland, VT.

This video explains more specifically how an order gatherer takes their cut of the order before sending it to a local florist to fill. An order gather is a kind of middle man for florists, taking their cut before sending the order to a real florist.

Searching for a local florist isn't as easy as typing "City, ST Flowers" into Google. You might live in a town with only 1 flower shop, yet thousands of results are found. Many of these are deceptive middle-men who (1) take your order, (2) take their cut, and (3) pass on an order of lesser value for your local florist to fill. Ordering from a real local florist will ensure you receive the best flower arrangement at the full quality of your purchase.

Why You Don't Have To Worry

It's actually really easy to ensure you get the best bang for your buck — buy local! By calling a florist or using their website directly, you can rest assured you will get the full value of your flower order.

Flower Shop Network is here to help! We are an advocate of real local florist and our site is designed to help you find a local florist in your area. Flower Shop Network has never, and will never take a flower order, or percentage of, away from a local florist.

For more tips on protecting yourself from order gathers, check out this post.

Click Here To See The Video!

Can you imagine the look on your sweetie's face when everyone at the office has gotten beautiful bouquets of flowers for Valentines Day and hers come delivered in a box? She even has to assemble them herself! Your romantic gift backfired, and even though you remembered Valentines this year, you're still ending up in the dog house.

Don't Let This Happen To You!

It's SO easy to avoid this big mistake on the Day of Love! Send flowers from a REAL local florist. I know we've been preaching local shopping for Valentines Day for weeks now, but it's SO important! Not only do you get great service, quality flowers, but also the personal touch of a real florist in your community.

Also, the delivery services of a local florist can't be beat! Your flowers are hand-delivered to your honey, already assembled by an expert florist with a whole lot of TLC! The water has been pre-mixed with preservatives (if needed) to help extend the life of your flowers. The flowers are fresh and perky. You can know for sure they've never been left upside-down in a hot delivery truck, inside a box with no water. So remember: Shop Smart, Shop Local.

If you still haven't order your flowers, check out our post from yesterday:
4 Tips For Ordering Last-Minute Valentines Day Flowers!

Continue reading "What Do You Think She'd Rather Get On Valentines Day?" »

WOW! Valentines Day may have sneaked up on us fast, but don't fret. There's still time to send flowers and spark some romance!

While ordering early is ALWAYS best when ordering flowers during such a busy holiday, it's not always convenient. Now that it's getting closer, we want to make it EASY for you to get your flowers ordered and keep your sweetie happy!

Simply follow these easy steps and you'll be all set for Valentines Day!

1. Be Ready With A Great Card Message

Valentines Day card messages should be from the heart. Sometimes when we're put on the spot, it's so much harder to think of just the right words. Think of how your sweetie has impacted your life and just what she means to you. If you need help, check out this list of Valentines Day Card Messages.

2. Choose The Right Arrangement

There are so many options out there for Valentines Day arrangements. However, as it gets closer to the big day, options grow more and more limited. Don't worry, we're here to help! There are only two things you need to consider when choosing flowers: (1) her favorite color, (2) her favorite flowers. If you don't know these, go for something classy, like roses. Check out these recent posts for even more ideas:

• Romantic Valentine Ideas For The Six Phases of Love
• Top 5 Trendiest Flowers This Valentines Day
• Send Her Wedding Bouquet on Valentines Day(May be too late for this one, depending on how complex her bouquet was)

You can also browse our Shop Flowers section for more great Valentines Day arrangement ideas. (Choosing an arrangement from Shop Flowers will connect you to a local florist in your area to take care of your order. We believe in local business and do not take orders away from real local flower shops.)
Continue reading "4 Great Tips For Last Minute Valentines Day Flowers" »

Spotted one of our great members on the local news warning of the threat of gatherer scams and had to share. (Video Above) Thanks so much to Chappell's Florist in Burlington VT!

Protecting Yourself From Gatherers on Valentines Day

When it comes to sending flowers, it's always best to send from a real local florist. Not only do you receive the freshest quality flowers, you are also helping your community thrive. Also, by using a local flower shop directly, you can rest assured you are getting everything you paid for.

As the video points out, searching for a local florist isn't as easy as typing "City, ST Flowers" into Google. You might live in a town with only 1 flower shop, yet thousands of results are found. Many of these are deceptive middle-men who (1) take your order, (2) take their cut, and (3) pass on an order of lesser value for your local florist to fill. Ordering from a real local florist will ensure you receive the best flower arrangement at the full quality of your purchase.

Flower Shop Network Is Committed To Local

Flower Shop Network is an advocate of real local florists across the US and Canada. You can use the search box at the very top of our site to find a real local florist, we list all of their contact information, as well as links to their website. We do our very best to verify each florist listed on our website is a real florist in a real city, selling real flowers (you'd be surprised).

If you shop via our Shop Flowers, you will be transferred to a local florist's website to complete your purchase. We have never and will never take a flower order (or any percentage of) away from a florist.

No matter how you find your florist this Valentines Day, just make sure they're local. Check to see if their address is a real local address. Give them a call to see if they are really in your community. It only takes a few minutes and will ensure you're Valentines Day flowers are just the way you wanted.

Video via www.fox44now.com

Pantone has just announced the color of the year for 2012, Tangerine Tango! What an exciting color to feature for the new year.

“Sophisticated but at the same time dramatic and seductive, Tangerine Tango is an orange with a lot of depth to it,” said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®. “Reminiscent of the radiant shadings of a sunset, Tangerine Tango marries the vivaciousness and adrenaline rush of red with the friendliness and warmth of yellow, to form a high-visibility, magnetic hue that emanates heat and energy.” Over the past several years, orange has grown in popularity and acceptance among designers and consumers alike. A provocative attention-getter, Tangerine Tango is especially appealing in men’s and women’s fashion.

This color works well because of it's versatility for both men and women. Dress it up for an exotic look, but can also work for a casual, friendly design. Tangerine Tango is full of energy just waiting to perk up your flower arrangements.

Celebrate this beautiful color choice with flowers!

Here are our favorite arrangements that use this hot color of the year: Continue reading "2012 Pantone Color of the Year – Tangerine Tango" »

Flowers and Photography

It seems like the two just go together. We buy flowers based on photos in a book or online, we photograph them at weddings, and florists brag about their talent with pictures of prior work. Most florists would like to have a portfolio, but don't feel confident enough to do it themselves. It's not hard to make professional-looking flower photos, but it does take practice.

Here are a few hints that will make your photos sparkle.

• Use natural light. That means sunlight coming into your shop. Many shops have fluorescent lighting, and believe it or not, your camera will see it as ugly, green light. Cameras see incandescent lighting as harsh yellow-red. If you have fluorescent or incandescent lighting, turn it off and just use the light coming through the window. Experiment by placing the arrangement closer or farther away from the light source, and by turning the arrangement until the light produces the most flattering effect. Side-lighting from above produces a nice effect. Continue reading "6 Quick Flower Photography Tips For Florists" »

Christmas seems to come earlier and earlier ever year. If you haven't already got your tree up, here are a few easy tips to make your Christmas tree look extraordinary.

• 'Fluff' all of the limbs on your tree. If your tree is fake, take the time to ungroup all of the branches on every limb, try to fill in every hole. Yes it takes time, but it will make your fake tree look fuller, and more real-to-life.
• Extra 'fluff' the bottom limbs. Don't let your tree just cut off at the bottom, pull branches down with limbs pointing slightly upward to make it look rounded and natural.
• Inside out. Add shiny, 'filler' ornaments to the inside first to make it look more full.
• Let ornaments hang. Do your best to let your ornaments hang naturally and not get caught up on limbs below. Even if you have to adjust the wire-branches around each ornament, it will look much better than if it was stuck on a branch. Also, the branches you adjust will fill in more holes.
• Adjust ornaments with faces. If you have ornaments with faces, point them in a natural position. Example: little bird clip-ons – adjust the wire in the tree branches to have them sitting straight and looking in the direction you want.
• Use garland in new ways. Garland doesn't have to be the same old tinsel wrapped around the tree over and over again. Try using beads, ribbon, pearls, etc instead of traditional garland. Hang it in new ways, such ans vertically down the tree, or weave it in-and-out in big loops. Continue reading "10 Easy Christmas Tree Decorating Tips" »

You might have caught our post on trendy Pocket Squares a while back. Well, Libby's Flowers, Gifts & More in Elberton, GA has taken it to a whole new level. We love this idea and had to share with you all!

As you can see, the florist carefully attached a photo of the groom's sweetheart to the pocket square insert. This would then be placed in the tuxedo pocket, and although you cannot see the picture when it is in place, the groom will always remember he has her next to his heart.

Click For More Floral Pocket Square Ideas

I know around here we are always repeating "local local local!" but just what is the importance of using a local florist when ordering flowers?

Best Deal In Flowers is Local

Did you know by finding and using a real local florist you could ADD as much as 30% MORE to your flower order? Many websites online promise flowers, but take a large percentage of your order for their own pockets before they send it to a florist to be created. (Not FSN of course!)  This is not a good deal for you OR your florist.

How to tell if a florist is local:

• Local Physical Address
• Phone Number To The Shop Directly

Flower Shop Network makes it easy for you to buy online from a real local florist. When you select a flower arrangement from our Flower Gallery, you will be instantly connected to a REAL local florist in your community. You can also visit our directory and choose your own florist anywhere in the US & Canada!

Best Quality Flowers & Flower Delivery

Your local florist will have the freshest and best selection of flowers, hands-down. When you send a friend flowers from a local florist, you know they will be fresh and beautiful. A local florist would never dream of delivering your flowers in a box for your friend to put together themselves. (Yes, it happens!) Also, a local flower shop in your city will know the area and won't get lost when delivering your important order.

Local Quality

Florists in your area will have expert knowledge of what flowers work best and last the longest in your area. Some florists even use locally grown flowers when available. If you host a lot of outdoor events, a florist local to the area is going to know the ins and outs of keeping your flowers looking their best throughout the entire occasion. You just can't go wrong with a good local florist.

What if I want to send flowers to a friend who is not in my city? How do I find a local florist?

This is exactly where FSN's local florist directory comes in handy! Here you can find real florists, as well as reviews, maps, and more!

So remember, for the best quality, service and freshest flowers — when you think flowers, think local!

Are you looking for something new to do with your kids? A new project that will showcase their creativity and imagination? Why not introduce the art of flower arranging? Flowers are bright and beautiful, with so many different characteristics, shapes and scents, your child will be captivated by the experience!

• Arranging a basket with fresh cuts to spruce up the kitchen.
• Creating beautiful potted plants to sit on the front porch is a great project for little hands.
• A heart-felt arrangement made especially for grandma and grandpa.

Each season brings a different variety of flowers to pick from, each with their own special needs. Your local florist will be able to share with you the most appropriate flowers-types for children to handle. With some being more durable and sturdy than others, your florist will guide you in the process of choosing the most suitable flowers for your project. Letting your child pick out the flowers is a great way to get them going. Daisies, carnations and sunflowers are always a big hit. Whether you are picking from a garden or from your local flower shop it is a sure way to put a smile on their face.

Tip: Most local florists also sell loose flowers by the bunch. Take your children on a short trip to meet their florist, and be introduced to all the great flowers this season has to offer. Let them pick out their favorites to use in creating flower arrangements at home.

Now Let's get started!
Continue reading "Flower Arranging With Children" »