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62nd Annual Arkansas Florist Association Convention

The Arkansas Florist Association is throwing their 62nd annual convention “The Splendor of Christmas” this August 15-17 in Hot Springs, AR at the Hot Springs Convention Center!

The Classes

splendor2You will definitely want to attend this year’s convention for the educational opportunities. There are some incredible designers on tap this year, including Marie Ackerman AIFD, PFCI; Tom Bowling AIFD, PFCI; Jackie Lacy AIFD; Ann Jordan AIFD, Mandy Majerik, AIFD, PFCI and the 2013 Arkansas Cup Winner, Kathy Rodocker. The shows will include hands-on prom designs, Christmas, sympathy, and many other topics.

There will be something for everyone!

The Company

Beyond the numerous opportunities to learn from some of the best in the industry, you’ll also have the chance to meet other florists from around the state and surrounding areas. You can reunite with old friends as well as make some new ones.

And speaking of friends, don’t forget to go by the FSN booth to chat with Shelley and Krystal. I’m sure they’ll have some goodies for you as well as all the information you might need on Flower Shop Network.

The outside temperatures may be high, but the beauty of the Christmas season is sure to keep things cool. Come on out for a great time!

AFA Convention: Arkansas and Mid-America Cup

The Arkansas Florist Association’s 61st Annual Convention and Trade Show was held this year August 16-18 in Hot Springs, AR, and if you missed our previous article detailing FSN’s presence at the show, check it out here! Two of the major events at this convention are the Arkansas Cup and Mid-America Cup. The winner of the Arkansas Cup this year will have the chance to represent the state of Arkansas in next year’s Mid-America Cup. The Mid-America Cup is a competition between winners from state-wide competitions. All winners are invited to attend, and this year the competition consisted of representatives from 14 different states! So, without further ado, here are some awesome photos for you to peruse!

Karen Williams

A beautiful and elegantly designed arrangement! Great job to Karen Williams, one of our member florists!

Katherine Rodocker

Another gorgeous arrangement, and this one also from a member florist. Well done Katherine!

 Patricial Upshaw

Excellent job on running with the Celebrate America theme. Very patriotic!

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FSN at the Arkansas Florists Association Convention

If you didn’t get a chance to make it to the Arkansas Florists Association 61st Annual Convention and Trade Show, you missed quite an event! Not to worry, FSN was present and accounted for and is here to delight and entertain you with our experiences from the weekend. So sit back, relax and enjoy these gorgeous photos detailing all the fun we had in Hot Springs, AR!

FSN Booth

A fantastic job on the booth setup, say it with swag! Who doesn’t like bags full of free stuff? I certainly do, that’s for sure.

New FSN Apron

Check out that apron! I don’t think it’s telling us anything we didn’t already know right? The best florists are local florists. Thank you so much for doing what you do!

Patriotic Display

This is a display put together to illustrate the convention theme: Celebrate America! Nice shot of Old Glory.

Patriotic Display Bike

Reminiscent of bygone days with the old-style bike. Celebrate America is alive and well in this picture! We always applaud a judicious use of flowers to make a point.

Signage

The sign for a brilliant talk given by Rick Rivers and sponsored by Flower Shop Network! Rick had a lot to say about marketing and how to do it successfully. This was one presentation you did NOT want to miss!

Rick Rivers Close-up

Here’s Rick detailing some important points to his audience.

Patriotic Arrangement

Now I’ll leave you with this last photo, and what’s a Flower Shop Network booth without some flowers? This is a lovely patriotic arrangement put together by two of our talented member florists to help us Celebrate America! A special thank you to Rebecca and Larry Beckwith of Beckwith Visions Florist in Hot Springs, AR for providing such a lovely piece. You guys rock!

FSN had a great time at the AFA convention, and we aren’t even close to showing you all the pictures that we took! Come back soon for a pictorial tour through the Arkansas Cup, the Mid-America Cup, and the FSN sponsored event: So You Think You Can Design! We’ll see you then!

FSN Booth Flowers at the Arkansas Florist Convention

FSN Booth Flowers at the 2012 Arkansas Florist Convention

Aren’t these flowers beautiful? When FSN has a booth at a florist convention or show, we always order display flowers from a local florist in the area. This arrangement was for the 2012 Arkansas State Florist Convention‘s Diamond Jubilee by Terry Bates of The Arrangement in Hot Springs AR. The white and silver arrangement is filled with subtle details that hint at the show’s theme — diamonds!

Diamond inside calla lily. Diamond inside calla lily.

Can you spot the diamonds inside these calla lilies? Absolutely beautiful details.

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FSN At the 2012 Arkansas Florist Association Convention

2012 Arkansas Florist Association Convention Entry Way 2012 Arkansas Florist Association Convention Entry Way

Last weekend, Flower Shop Network attended the Arkansas Florists Association‘s 60th Annual Convention – the Diamond Jubilee! AFA took pride in their past as they remembered their long heritage of florist greats.

Flower Shop Network's gorgeous booth flowers. Flower Shop Network's gorgeous booth flowers.

Speaking of diamonds, the Flower Shop Network booth was full of shimmer with this gorgeous silver and white arrangement by Terry Bates of The Arrangement in Hot Springs AR. Everywhere you looked there was new details to see: silver leaves, shimmery wire, and even little diamonds were used on the flowers themselves to look like water drops. It was truly something special. Thanks again, Terry!

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Floral Design Competitions: 2010 Mid-America Invitational Cup

Yesterday we talked about the 2010 Arkansas Cup Competition, so today it’s an even BIGGER competition. The 2010 Mid-America Invitational Cup took place at the Arkansas Florists Association’s Annual Convention. The prestigious floral design competition challenged State Cup winners from 7 states: Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas.

Who was this years winner? Kay Schaefli from Expressions Flowers in Fort Smith Arkansas! Kay was competing as Arkansas’ State Cup winner. Congratulations Kay!!

Flower Shop Network’s headquarters are in Arkansas, and although we are big fans of all local florists, we are VERY excited Kay won the cup representing Arkansas!

This post is brought to you by local Fort Smith AR florists.
Not in Fort Smith? Use Flower Shop Network’s handy directory of real local florists to find a flower shop near you!

Arkansas’ Next Top Designer: The Arkansas Cup Competition

2010 Arkansas Cup

The 2010 Arkansas Cup Competition at the Arkansas State Florist’s Convention in Hot Springs AR is just one of the many State Cup competitions going on this summer. Winning your state’s cup earns you the title of Designer of the Year and is a high honor for any local florist!

In this video, we take you on a brief tour of the entries for the 2010 Arkansas Cup. Each participant this year was asked to create a wedding package, a surprise package and a sympathy package using the tools and flowers available. Although there can be only one winner, all of the floral designs looked remarkable!

Bitsy Carter of Hope Floral, Arkansas’ Floral Designer of the Year and winner of the Arkansas Cup, will go on to compete for Arkansas in the 2011 Mid-America Invitational Cup. The Mid-America Cup competition challenges state cup winners from 7 states to find out who will be Mid-America’s Next Top Floral Designer… (Sounds like an interesting reality show to me!)

Competing in your State Cup competition is easier than you’d think! The competitions usually take place at your state florist association’s convention. Find your your state florist association’s website and look for upcoming competitions to find out how YOU can be in the running for next year!

This post is brought to you by local Hot Springs AR florists.
Not in Hot Springs? Find your real local florist with Flower Shop Network‘s handy local florist directory.

54th Annual Arkansas Florists Association Convention – Drawing Winners

Arkansas Florist Association Logo ImageAt the 54th Annual Arkansas Florists Association Convention and Trade Market on August 18-20, 2006, visitors to the Flower Shop Network booth registered for a drawing for a complimentary florist listing and a complimentary eCommerce website package. Retail florists registered to win the Grand Prize eCommerce Package or First Prize Listing package by filling out a small registration card or leaving a business card at the booth. The drawing was open to both existing Flower Shop Network members as well as nonmembers that registered at the booth on either Saturday or Sunday of the convention.

This was the first appearance by Flower Shop Network at the Arkansas State Florists’ Association Convention and it was a tremendous success. The convention, which was held at the Hot Springs Convention Center located in Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas. The convention was extremely well attended by retail florists and exhibitors from Arkansas and the surrounding areas.

Grand Prize Package – Florist Listing + eCommerce Website

Congratulations to existing FSN Member North Hills Florist & Gifts of Sherwood, Arkansas as the Grand Prize winner at the Arkansas State Convention! The grand prize consists of a premium florist listing in the Flower Shop Network online florist directory as well as one of our fully eCommerce enabled florist websites.

North Hills Florist & Gifts
7311 North Hills Blvd #15
Sherwood, AR 72116

(501)835-1367 – local
(800)678-4458 – tollfree
(501)835-1380 – fax

North Hills Florist & Gifts of Sherwood, AR is the winner of the Grand Prize drawing. The Grand Prize consists of a complimentary listing in Flower Shop Network’s online florist directory as well as a fully eCommerce enabled website for one full year!

As an existing FSN member, their membership services have been extended for an entire year! Congratulations, we look forward to continuing to serve you as a Flower Shop Network member!

The complimentary listing and website will run for a full year on Flower Shop Network. Located in Sherwood, Arkansas, North Hills Florist & Gifts also provides floral delivery service to the following areas:

Sherwood, AR Flower Delivery
Jacksonville, AR Flower Delivery
Little Rock, AR Flower Delivery
North Little Rock, AR Flower Delivery
Maumelle, AR Flower Delivery

First Prize – Florist Listing

Congratulations to Shirley’s Flowers & Gifts, Inc. of Rogers, Arkansas as the winner of our First Prize package. The first prize package includes a premium florist listing in the Flower Shop Network online florist directory for one full year.

Shirley’s Flowers & Gifts
128 North 13th Street
Rogers, AR 72756

(479)636-0118 – local
(800)624-7225 – tollfree
(479)636-4619 – fax

Shirley’s Flowers & Gifts of Rogers, AR is the winner of the First Prize drawing. The First Prize consists of a complimentary florist listing in Flower Shop Network’s online florist directory for one full year!

Congratulations to Jo and the rest of the staff at Shirley’s Flowers & Gifts and welcome to Flower Shop Network!

Located in Rogers, Arkansas, Shirley’s Flowers & Gifts, Inc. also provides floral delivery service to the following areas:

Rogers, AR Flower Delivery
Elm Springs, AR Flower Delivery
Pea Ridge, AR Flower Delivery
Bella Vista, AR Flower Delivery
Lowell, AR Flower Delivery
Bentonville, AR Flower Delivery
Springdale, AR Flower Delivery
Cave Springs, AR Flower Delivery
Centerton, AR Flower Delivery
Johnson, AR Flower Delivery

Flower Shop Network would like to thank our current members that stopped by the booth at the Arkansas State Florists’ Association Convention as well as the many new shops and nonmember florists that took the time visit with us. Flower Shop Network would also like to thank the AFA for the invitation to the convention and the opportunity to exhibit our services at the convention – the AFA staff and membership did a wonderful job in making all of the exhibitors and attendees feel welcome. We appreciate your support as we continue to provide affordable, quality services to the floral industry.

Flower Shop Network staff attending the Arkansas Florists Association convention are pictured below from left to right:

Cathy Condray, Network Coordinator
Shelly Condray, Network Coordinator
Cindy Prichard, VP Sales
Joe Hays, Network Coordinator

ar - fsn staff