I tend to talk a lot about what I like and what works for me and mine. However, I’m much more concerned with what you like and what works for you and yours. This month I would like to see what really tickles you about flowers. If you are a florist, please share what you like about or what made you choose the floral industry.

I want to know what moves you, what drives you, what about your area drew you to flowers, what makes your local flower shop stand out, what makes your area stand out in the floral industry, and what makes your heart skip a beat when you see or hear it.

Though these are not the boundaries by any means, here are some examples:

• Funny/sentimental card messages
• (Florists) Stories about sweet customer interactions
• Design techniques that catch your eye
• Something nice that you did to counteract the effects of a natural disaster
• Anything happy that makes you feel good.

It’s not just the opportunity to put words on a page. It’s not an attempt to fill space on the Internet. It’s a chance for you to BRAG about yourself. Keep points! Take score. You’re at the top of your game or climbing there fast for a reason. Want to share a great idea with others? Find something that you like and you’re sure someone else will love it? Share it with us. You may even see a whole blog or Networker article about what peaks your interest.

Let the world know what moves you. Log in to comment below or email me at bjackson@flowershopnetwork.com

Ok, small or hybrid vehicles.

Thankfully, some very efficient florists have found a clever way to save money and go green at the same time. Many florists are turning lemons into lemonade by switching to smaller or hybrid delivery vehicles. These smaller vehicles save on fuel costs for day-to-day deliveries. This also makes it very cost effective to simply rent a large van for major events.

The ability to save money by lowering fuel costs is a huge advantage for any florist. Consider the amount of fuel used to power a large van during the course of a year. Even a five or ten mile-per-hour (mph) difference can add up to hundreds of dollars during the year! That’s reason enough to switch to more fuel-efficient delivery vehicles.

Just as many local florists want to “green” their flower shops. The trend toward smaller delivery vehicles is one that can be adapted rather quickly and with little more hassle than any similar activity for the shop. With all that extra moolah at stake, switching to fuel-efficient delivery vehicles is well worth the consideration!

I recently spoke with David Strong of Piano’s Flowers & Gifts in Memphis, Tennessee about his recent switch to a more eco-friendly delivery vehicle. According to Mr. Strong, his customers have only rave reviews about the new van, citing things like “Leave the van. Keep the flowers.” Mr. Strong was very pleased to be getting 29 miles to the gallon for his in-town deliveries. Having spent a significant amount of time in Memphis traffic, I would be too!

What I found very interesting was that the design of Piano’s new vehicle was actually a customer’s idea. Knowing a little bit about your customers is what keeps them coming back, and apparently creating fantastic designs for each new delivery vehicle!

Have you already adopted these trends in your flower shop? Tell us some of the ways that you are reducing your fuel costs with “green” vehicles or send pictures of your hybrid delivery vehicle.

Ask the Expert: What flowers/colors will be in for Jan weddings
What flowers and colors will be “in” for January weddings?

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 that these sites enable users to interact with friends, family and acquaintances across the country and even the world. Florists continue to use social networking sites to showcase premium designs, contact other florists, and post contact information for other users. In this way, the florist’s profile becomes a high-tech billboard but with a much greater amount of information. Just look at these Flower Shop Network members that decided to get the word out via Myspace.com.

Live large with flower arrangements from Apple Blossoms Floral Design.

Scott Darhower of Apple Blossoms Floral Design is one of the premier Tampa, Florida florists. Having worked with flowers and floral design for more than 25 years, Scott is ahead of the game with creative flower arrangements, gift baskets, and even interior decorating skills that set apart every customer’s special event. Just as the website boasts, look to Apple Blossoms Floral Design for “designs for a lifetime…one seed at a time.”

PJs Flowers turns life’s lemons into…flower arrangements!

PJ’s Flowers and Events sets the bar for great flower arrangements and an eco-friendly mindset in Phoenix, Arizona. Florists are easy to find in Phoenix but PJ’s Flowers and Events goes above and beyond to ensure a quality customer experience. The team at PJ’s deliver unique and beautiful flowers to Phoenix and Maricopa County. Don’t believe me? Sneak a peek at the citrus collection, western styled gift baskets and more. Better still, if your conscience has you going green this year, trust the team at PJ’s Flowers and Events to go the extra mile for you and for our planet.

Life is beautiful with flowers from The Plant Bazaar!

The Plant Bazaar applies creativity to more than just their name. A full-service florist in Westborough, Massachusetts, you can’t go wrong with the 100% customer satisfaction guarantee. Although, with more than 24 years experience in the floral industry it’s unlikely that such a guarantee would ever be tested. The premium quality floral designs offered at The Plant Bazaar have customers walking out of the flower shop grinning. Delivering flowers with a smile, the great people at The Plant Bazaar take customer service to a new high.

Everyone loves pretty pink and purple flowers from Floratique.

Mountain View, California florists are well aware of the colorful designs and quality fresh flowers delivered from Floratique. Serving a vast local area that spans four counties, Floratique is a well-known fixture in the Mountain View area. Enthusiasm and creativity are written all over the faces of the team at Floratique who works—though this much fun is almost playing—to make each experience as much about their customers as possible.

It’s time for Vibrant Violets from Piccadilly’s Flower Shoppe.

When searching for Burnsville, West Virginia florists, look no further than Piccadilly’s Flower Shoppe. One of my personal favorites, it is hard to find a sweeter disposition on any florist in the quaint Southern town. Don’t let the size of the town fool you. This flower shop boasts “small town personal touches with the floral experience of major cities.” For great gifts and masterful flower arrangements, call on Piccadilly’s!

Things sure have changed since my prom days. My sister-in-law just sent me pictures of my nephew’s prom. Oliver went to prom last week with his girlfriend Courtney and as the custom these days it was a group affair with a Hummer limousine to boot. When I say things have changed I mean everything: hair styles, dresses, formal wear for the guys and even the flowers. When I was in school the pin on corsage was the only option we had for prom flowers. Now prom flowers are a fashion accessory not just a nice gift from your date.

Prom goers embellish their purses, shoes and necklaces with flowers for prom. They use the wrist corsage like a piece of jewelry. In fact one of the girls in my nephew’s prom group had a flower ring. Not a ring in the shape of a flower but a flower ring.

I have never really wanted to relive my youth. But, I wish I could go to prom just so I could wear one of these cool wrist corsages and flower rings.

The transportation to prom is another thing that is completely different. I rode to prom in a Toyota corolla, not the most prestigious of vehicles in 1983. Now they arrive in limos and not just any limo but a hummer limo.

My nephew Oliver is on the right side with his girlfriend Courtney and his friends Whitney and Dustin are pictured on the left. I think the colorful prom dresses, fantastic tuxedos, amazing prom wrist corsages and the limo are a huge part of the whole prom experience. But the most important thing last weekend was the memories Oliver and friends made that will last him a lifetime.

If you want to see more pictures of the gorgeous prom dress and prom flowers, I know that several are posted on Wedding and Party Network. If you have prom pictures you would like to share, Wedding and Party Network lets users submit pictures to their site.

It’s hardly news to anyone that prom remains one of the biggest events in a teenager’s life. These young adults, with their mass of disposable income, spend months planning the perfect evening for themselves and their prom dates. To them, prom would be incomplete without the perfect dress or tuxedo, shoes, hair, ride, and matching corsages and boutonnières. This is where the florist can make the difference between fancy trimming and shabby accessories.

Florists often pass on prom business while many realize this sudden inward cash flow to be a profitable staple from year-to-year. The March 2008 issue of Floral Management includes an article that showcases some of the reasons florists may want to reconsider this youthful venture. Teenagers still have extreme purchasing power and choose to spend a hefty chunk of it on prom and homecoming. Being the chosen local florist is not only a profitable honor in that year but for the remainder of that teenager’s life. Taking the time to nurture the desires of your young customer will bring him or her back for their wedding, birthday, anniversary, and other floral needs.

Now that you are assuredly on the prom flowers bandwagon, here are some tips for making this prom season a big hit.

• Be prepared! Phone a contact inside the local schools for the event dates, colors and themes, and other things that may make preparing easier.
• Get a head start! Take advantage of a spring event by ordering accessories and gift ideas in the summer or early winter.
• Make the most of the Internet! This generation’s prom goers are increasingly tech-savvy. Most are more comfortable shopping online initially. This is a convenient trend as it reduces many costs to the florist including manpower and sales tracking.
• Spice it up! Proms and prom attendants are now decorated to the hilt with lavish colors, sequins, glitter, boas, anklets, jewelry, and other accessories to make every vision of the evening a creative statement about themselves.
• Show off your ideas! Let your customers see a line of possibilities first then sell a more personalized version if necessary. Be creative! Make it fun!
• Get your customer involved! A popular practice among florists is to let the females bring in their dresses to get a better match or to test different ideas.
• Get to know formal wear and dress shop owners! An alliance with local dress shop owners is a fabulous way to get your name known. The customers are already in prom shopping mode and reminding them about their need for prom flowers while in the store can’t be beaten as the way to stand out.

When attracting prom customers be sure to capitalize on word of mouth. Parents, siblings, neighbors, and friends have a huge impact on who the teenager is likely to choose. You’re likely already the best around so let them know! Also, great tips for targeting young people in your area may come from the same people that give you the color scheme, themes, and dates of the proms. These people are sure to know where these young people hang out and where they’re going for their prom needs. Now you’re ready to take center stage as the go-to florist for prom and homecoming needs!

Flowers empower according to recent studies published by Prevention magazine and Redbook magazine. While an old adage has long suggested that stopping to smell the roses will brighten one’s day, new evidence concludes that even casually glancing at flowers has the same uplifting affect.

According to Prevention magazine’s April 2008 publication, a study at Texas A&M University compared the productivity of two women in a room decorated with abstract sculptures versus the productivity of two women in a room embellished with two potted plants and a floral bouquet. The women in the room with flowers produced 13% more ideas than the women surrounded by abstract art.

April 2008’s edition of Redbook magazine cites a study conducted by Harvard University that asked 50 female participants to keep mood journals during a single day. Half of these women were sent flowers. The leader of the study, Nancy Etcoff, Ph.D., noted that—not surprisingly— these women began the day anxious, nervous, and worried but those who had received flowers noted elevated and more compassionate moods throughout the rest of the day. Ms. Etcoff goes on to suggest that having a visual reminder of life and health “may have a calming and positive effect on the brain.”

With these and other studies suggesting flowers as a way to boost productivity, lift and brighten moods, and put a positive spin on the day, it is no wonder that so many people surround themselves and loved ones with beautiful bouquets, colorful blooms, and decorative green plants. Imagine the smile on the face of a child who receives a birthday blossom at school or the debonair gentleman who places a small flower in his lapel before presenting his beloved with a loving bouquet. The spring in the young man’s step and the glow of the child’s heart are simple expressions brought to life by flowers. Let flowers like these invigorate your day today.

Tickle Me Pink Bouquet.

Want to send someone a little FLOWER POWER? Click Here to find a local florist and send flowers today!

Brynn - FSN Support Staff

Prom is almost here. You have the date, the dress, the shoes, the hair, and the car. What’s missing? The prom flowers!! The perfect corsage or boutonnière makes the difference between a fun yet elegant statement and a shabby accessory. Here are some tips for finding the perfect floral decorations for your night!

• Find a decorative, matching corsage wristband! Diamonds are a girl’s best friend, but funky sequins, elegant gems, coral, and pearl with your corsage make just as beautiful a statement.
• Small flowers or floral hair accessories are definitely an up-DO! These become an eye-catching way to show off the hair and makeup you worked so hard on, not to mention the aromatic fragrance they give your date when you’re dancing cheek to cheek.
• Talk with your florist! These experts are sure to have creative ideas and unique arrangements to bring out even more beauty.
• Know your budget! Don’t risk spending too much or passing over the perfect bouquet because you don’t know how much you would like to spend.
• Doll up your date also! Matching boutonniere and cummerbunds not only are a stylish look but announce to prom guests that you and your date are the perfect stylish prom couple!
• (Guys) Surprise your date with a bouquet! It’s an unexpected twist that your date will remember and probably brag to her friends about for days. Face it; she’s expecting the corsage. Go the extra mile for a date that she’ll love!

Find a local florist to design your perfect corsage or boutonniere.

Create a Unique Prom with Flowers in this Flower Shop Network newsletter you’ll find a variety of ways to make your prom special.

Chocolate that tasty little mood-lifting relaxing treat seems to be the focus of everyone’s attention at the moment. In fact, the latest issue of Fine Cooking has an interesting article featuring the pairing of wine and chocolate.

The combination of wine and chocolate creates a sensuous pleasure for our taste buds. A little port wine with a piece of dark chocolate is a culinary experience that shouldn’t be missed and one of my favorites. Fine Cooking pairs different kinds of chocolates with the appropriate wine to ensure a delicious experience. But, wine isn’t the only thing you can pair with chocolate to create a sensory delight. Pleasure is multiplied when you include more than one sense. Pairing flowers with chocolate involves our sense of smell, taste and sight – a triple indulgence.

The Flower Shop Network February newsletter, The Mystique of Chocolate & Flowers, describes the allure of pairing flowers with chocolate particularly for Valentine’s Day. Guys or gals looking for Valentine’s Day gift ideas will find a multitude in this newsletter. Creating the ultimate romance with chocolates and flowers is detailed in length; all you have to do is go for it.

With all this talk of pairing chocolate with flowers and wine, it occurred to me the ultimate Valentine’s Day gift lies somewhere between the Fine Cooking article and the FSN newsletter. Flowers, wine and chocolate - what more could your sweetheart ask for? You might ask, shouldn’t the ultimate Valentine’s Day gift appeal to all of the senses? With the right combination of wine, flowers and chocolate - bells will go off and hearts will be touched. So, here are three ways to combine wine, flowers and chocolate to achieve the ultimate Valentine’s Day gift this year:

The ultimate luxury Valentine’s Day gift idea – Send a dozen red roses and a large box of milk chocolates to your sweetheart; include a note suggesting an evening sharing the milk chocolates over a bottle of Pinot Noir.

The ultimate dreamy Valentine’s Day gift idea – Send a bouquet of ‘Stargazer’ Lilies to your sweetheart; include a note suggesting an evening viewing the stars while sharing a semi-sweet chocolate mousse and a bottle of Shiraz.

The ultimate romantic Valentine’s Day gift idea - Meet your sweetheart at the door with a silver tray containing a vase of tulips, two glasses of a fine ruby port and a bowl of gourmet bittersweet truffles. Be sure to whisper, “Just a little something for the finest two lips in the world”.

With these ultimate Valentine’s Day gift ideas, amore will definitely be in the air along with the aroma of fresh flowers, the taste of chocolate and wine, the expression of love and the warmth of the heart. The possibilities are endless and I’m sure everyone has their own ultimate combination. So with Valentine’s Day just around the corner – let your imagination go wild with flowers, chocolate and wine.

It may seem a little early to talk about poinsettias. After all poinsettias are a seasonal plant used as Christmas decorations. Or are they? This past July, Florists Review had an interesting article called 21st Century Poinsettias. Accordingly, this lovely Christmas favorite is making a showing year round. In fact, in Japan and Korea a significant quantity of poinsettias are sold year round as potted plants. Poinsettia visibility is on the rise in the United States as well. Spring and early fall availability is increasing as poinsettia color choices reflect the season rather than the Christmas holiday. Look for pastel colored bracts in the spring and intense orange, red, purple and yellow colors in the fall.

As a complement to seasonal decorations or even as an alternative, non-traditional poinsettia holidays may see a new face emerge with these color choices. Picture Halloween decorated with ghosts, witches, hay bales, and orange poinsettias. If poinsettia colors and blooming times change, allowing us the opportunity to use poinsettias year round, think of the possibilities. For example, during Breast Cancer Awareness Month (October) pink poinsettias could be sent to survivors as a symbol of their cause.

If you believe poinsettias should only be used during the Christmas season, but feel that they don’t reflect your holiday color theme, there is hope. Another 21st Century Poinsettia trend is customization. A poinsettia can be customized to fit your décor and color scheme. There are several types of spray dyes, translucent colorants, glitter sprays, shimmer sprays and floral fragrances that are safe to use on poinsettias.

The 21st Century Poinsettia trends are not just about color change; form and uses are also changing. Poinsettia hanging baskets, miniature poinsettia trees and column shaped poinsettias are taking their place beside the traditional ones. One of the most successful trends for the 21st Century Poinsettia is cut flower production. With the Paul Ecke Ranch ‘Winter Rose Renaissance’ and ‘Jester’ series poinsettias, consumers will see more cut poinsettias used in floral arrangements.

So for consumers and florists, the 21st Century Poinsettia trends should provide an exciting and thrilling potential for the future.