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Shop Talk: Marketing On Wheels

Marketing is an important aspect of flower shop sales. It’s what gets your name out there as a business and what keeps customers coming in and remaining life-long friends. Lora’s Flowers and Gifts of Muenster, Texas has taken their marketing to the streets as a van wrap advertisement on their delivery truck.

Wrapped Delivery

Just as it is important to have your employees look presentable when delivering blooms, that should also go for the delivery truck. Making an impression and looking professional is also an important marketing tactic. The more a customer sees the business logo on the vehicle, the more excited they will be when it pulls up on their driveway for a special delivery.

Marketing To A Huge Audience

It’s no surprise that wrapping the delivery truck is an easy way to market your business. It makes deliveries look professional and everyone within sight of the van will see the business name and the phone number. Also, if you add your website URL, prospective customers will know where to find you easily from their phone. You can reach an enormous audience with a variety of ages and what’s more, they won’t be able to miss a beautiful bouquet during heavy traffic.

There are many different types of marketing and the limits are endless when you have a big surface to present your business name. Don’t hesitate to showcase your business on any and every surface. Check back with the Bloomin’ Blog for more great marketing tips and ideas!

TSFA Convention and Texas Cup Competition

The Texas State Florists’ Association held its 99th annual Convention and Trade Show July 12-14 in Mesquite, TX located just east of Dallas. That’s right, the 99th annual convention, and you know what that means, folks. If you missed this year, there’s no way you can let next year slip by as it will be the annual Convention and Trade Show’s centennial celebration! If you were looking for the right year to go, next year is definitely the one! As usual, Flower Shop Network will be there and is always excited to bring you the highlights! Here are some pics from this year’s show.

Flower Shop Network Booth

 

First off, a photo of our booth. Isn’t that awesome? We’re so organized with our little gift bags in a line around the tables. Good job, Joe Hays! It looks like he’s done this before, doesn’t it?

As with any convention, booths were a big part of the main floor, but it was the amazing classes on offer that really got people excited. With instruction in everything from how to increase business, to Texas-style designs and even how to grow your revenue stream, there was a lot of great information to be had! Still, the free loot you could rack up on booth row was pretty impressive too.

Texas Cup Competition

The event no florist worth her pruning shears would dare miss was the Texas Cup competition. This is an annual part of the show where florists from across the state are given a certain period of time to design and create an arrangement worthy to be crowned the Texas Cup winner! Flower Shop Network slipped in and snapped some candid shots of the top three designs!

Third Place

Third place was claimed by Flower Shop Network member Martha Wiggs-Aaron of Clear Lake Flowers in Houston, TX. As you can see, she made a beautiful arrangement using sunflowers and yellow roses to give a nod to the rustic roots of Texas. The basket is an excellent touch, and the bird’s nest as well as the wire formed into the state of Texas add all the accent needed. Gorgeous Martha!

Second Place

Second place was also snagged by a Flower Shop Network member! Man, are our members talented or what? Alan Masters of Compton’s Florist in La Porte, TX submitted this elegant arrangement that almost looks good enough to eat! Are those mushrooms? Wow!

So, who won first place? Drum roll please …

Texas Cup Winner

First place was claimed by none other than Flower Shop Network member Rebecca Sherman AIFD of The Blooming Idea in The Woodlands, TX. Rebecca also chose to go with sunflowers, and her creative arrangement turned out wonderfully! Amazing job Rebecca, and congrats on winning the Texas Cup!

Is it just me, or was that a Flower Shop Network trifecta?! Wowza! If you went to the TSFA convention, let us know all about it in the comments below. If not, there’s always next year!

 

Big Congrats – FSN Member Florist Wins 2013 Houston Cup

Big congratulations to Rebecca Sherman, AIFD in taking home the 2013 Houston Cup! Rebecca is a floral design artist with The Blooming Idea in The Woodlands, Texas, and a 20 year veteran of the floral industry.

The Houston Cup is an annual floral design competition for the members of Allied Florists of Houston. The winner of the Houston Cup advances to the preliminary phase of the  Texas State Florists Association‘s prestigious Texas Cup Competition.

Rebecca Sherman - Houston Cup Winner

From the Allied Florist of Houston:

“…the competition featured 10 professional floral designers in this year’s Great Gatsby themed competition. Each person brought 1 Interpretative Design following the Great Gatsby theme and during the hands on competition completed a floral wedding bouquet and a surprise package arrangement of a large arrangement for a grand foyer for a party. Grading is completed by a panel of 3 top rated floral Judges based on the principles and elements of design.”

 

Great Gatsby Themed Flower ArrangementWith F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Great Gatsby at the heart of the competition, decadent beauty abounded in all the contestants designs. Flowing feathers, lush greens, dramatic textures and delicate blooms reflected the glitz and glamour of the roaring ’20s and made for opulent results. Visit The Blooming Idea’s Facebook page for more great photos.

The Blooming Idea has been a FSN member for 13 years and we are very proud of Rebecca for winning this prestigious award. Her fabulous creative designs, inspired by the Great Gatsby theme, are truly breath-taking.

Best of luck at the upcoming Texas Cup Competition!

 

Photos courtesy of The Blooming Idea, The Woodlands, Texas


Interview With Mary McCarthy From The Blooming Idea, TX

Recently, Flower Shop Network attended the Texas State Florists Association‘s annual convention in San Marco Texas. While there, we had the wonderful opportunity to meet and mingle with some fabulous local florists — including one of our favorite FSN members, Mary McCarthy from The Blooming Idea in The Woodlands, TX.

Mary and her team are great examples of local florists working hard to promote themselves online. Check out The Blooming Idea blog where they post incredible photos of their recent floral design work. Not only do they keep their customers informed on their blog, but their Facebook is blooming as well! Keep up the GREAT work guys! Thanks for being great members!

This post was brought to you by local San Antonio, Texas florists.

FSN Congratulates Megan Rudloff — Winner of Texas Cup

Meghan Rudloff - Winner of the Texas Cup

Flower Shop Network would like to congratulate Texas floral designer, Megan Rudloff for taking home the prestigious, Texas Cup for floral design.  The Texas State Florists Association’s Texas Cup is an annual floral design competition.  The winner of the Texas Cup is awarded entry to the Society of American Florist’s Sylvia Cup Competition and the National Alliance of Floral Association’s Designer of the Year competition.

Congratulations again, Megan! We know you’ll go far!

This post is brought to you by Texas’ local florists.

Did You See Flower Shop Network At The 2009 TSFA Convention?

Flower Shop Network representatives Amy Hall and Rebecca Speer recently attended the 2009 Texas State Florists Association Convention. I was amazed at all of the wonderful stories that they brought back! I felt like I was there laughing with all of the wonderful florists too when they showed me pictures of the convention at its peak. What a fun time for Texas florists!

Special thanks go to Judy at Loki Gardens in Houston Texas and Gail at G. Johnsons Floral Images in Houston. Amy and Rebecca couldn’t stop speaking pleasantries about the warm, friendly nature of these great women. Though Amy and Rebecca love speaking with florists and enjoyed the convention, Gail and Judy helped put an extra spring in their steps. Their “they can make you smile from across the room” personalities were very appreciated during the very busy but wonderful weekend!

Another story that Rebecca and Amy shared with me pertained to the beautiful floral displays at the convention. After reviewing photos with them, I’m amazed by some of the incredible designs that were featured at the show! It’s hard to choose a favorite! All of these photos have been included at the bottom of this post. Feel free to comment on your favorite.

Special thanks to florists from Designs By Gail in Justin Texas for posing with Rebecca Speer at this year’s TSFA convention (see picture #1).

Special thanks to Darla from Designs By Darla in Junction Texas for posing with Amy Hall at this year’s TSFA convention (see picture #2).

Special thanks to florists from Amarillo Rose Floral Extravaganza in Irving Texas for posing with Rebecca Speer at this year’s TSFA convention (see picture #3 & #4). [Read more…]

Flower Shop Network Announces Florists Convention Winners

Flower Shop Network recently enjoyed a trip to the 2008 Arkansas Florists Association Convention in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Florists attending displayed their designs, network with other florists, and learn more about the latest tips and trends in the floral industry. While visiting the Flower Shop Network booth, visitors were given the opportunity to win either a free premium listing in Flower Shop Network’s online directory of florists or a complimentary website package to accommodate a directory listing. A drawing was held Monday, August 18 to determine the winners.

Flower Shop Network would like to congratulate DeAnna Allgood at The Morning Glory Flowers & Gifts in Lake Village, Arkansas on winning the complimentary premium listing. The premium listing includes a one-year membership to Flower Shop Network. Located in Lake Village, AR, this florist also delivers to Eudora, Arkansas as well as Dermott, Arkansas.

Congratulations to Carrie Skolarski at Buzy Bee in Ozark, Arkansas for winning the complimentary website package. Each e-commerce enabled website allows the holder to receive orders via the Internet. Customers also gain 24-hour access to information about the flower shop such as contact information, delivery location information, flower arrangement design styles and more. The Ozark, Arkansas florists at Buzy Bee also delivers flowers to these cities: Coal Hill, Arkansas; Cecil, Arkansas; Charleston, Arkansas; and Altus, Arkansas.

Each convention is a fun time for florists as well as Flower Shop Network representatives. Annual florists and flower shows are great times to renew friendships as well as make new friends in the floral industry. Joe Hays, one of the network coordinators representing Flower Shop Network, returned the day after the show with a particularly amazing story of goodness and generosity from one of Flower Shop Network’s kind friends in Walnut Ridge, Arkansas.

2008AFAConventionFriends.jpg

Rhonda Sade (left), Joe Hays (center), Karen Williams (right).
Read how Karen Williams florist’s disaster turned into a benefit for the community.

It is easy to make quality friends such as Karen Williams of Flower Basket in Walnut Ridge, AR who met Ms. Rhonda Sade at the conference and immediately became friends. Ms. Sade is a floral designer for Northwest Arkansas Florist in Fayetteville, Arkansas. She, along with many others at the convention, was taken by the outgoing nature and shared interest in flowers of Ms. Williams. These kinds of connections are common occurrences at the annual florists conventions which is why Flower Shop Network proudly attends these conferences each year.

Flower Shop Network also visited the Texas State Florists Association Convention in July. Congratulations to Nora Anne’s Flower Shop in Sugar Land, Texas who won a complimentary one-year listing in the Flower Shop Network online directory of Sugar Land, Texas florists. Nora Anne’s Flower Shop also delivers flowers to: Southwest Houston, Texas; Missouri City, Texas; Richmond, Texas; Rosenberg, Texas; Stafford, Texas; and Meadows Place, Texas.

Flower Shop Network Attends Texas Florists Convention

Representatives from Flower Shop Network attended the Texas State Florists Association Convention in League City Texas on July 11-13th.

Flower Shop Network Coordinators Amy Hall, Joe Hayes, Rebecca Speer

Above: Network coordinators Amy Hall, Joe Hays and Rebecca Speer take a moment to pose for a picture in front of the Flower Shop Network booth. Over the course of the three day florists convention, they met with several interesting Texas florists including, Mary McCarthy at the Blooming Idea in The Woodlands, Texas.

Florists conventions are a fantastic place to meet associates face-to-face. In fact, Amy Hall was excited to finally meet Mary in person after years of communicating via the phone. According to Amy, Mary has a wonderful approach to designing flower bouquets. She creates many beautiful arrangements, but her specialty is a unique, European-style, hand-tied flowers-in-foil bouquet. In fact, creating a European flower market feel is the basic philosophy of the Blooming Idea and is the essence of their wedding flowers. Mary and Amy are pictured below.

Mary (Blooming Idea) & Amy (FSN)

Blooming Idea is one of many great florists serving The Woodlands, Texas. But, other areas of Texas also have wonderful florists like Connie from Plant It Earth in Webster, Texas. Connie is pictured below with Joe Hays and Rebecca Speer.

Connie of Plant It Earth with Joe Hays & Rebecca Speer

Laughter and good times radiated from the booth as Joe, Amy and Rebecca visited with several of our members and introduced new friends to the benefits of being a Flower Shop Network member. Joe (who loves to participate in florist conventions) is seen below explaining to a couple of new friends what Flower Shop Network does to help florists achieve success.

Joe Hays at the Texas Florists Convention

The convention wasn’t just about fun. Floral design, business and technology seminars got down to serious business for many of the Texas florists. Wedding flowers and sympathy flowers innovations were the focus of the floral design series. From the talk on the trade show floor these programs were very well received.

So, as my grandmother would say, “A good time was had by all.” If you missed this year’s convention mark your calendar to attend next year’s convention.

Of course a florists convention wouldn’t be complete without flowers. Amy snapped a few shots of the unique flower arrangements found at the convention.

Unique Flower Arrangment With Ginger

Flower Arrangment From Texas Florists Convention

Flower Arrangement with a Tropical Flare

Hot Pink Flower Arrangement

Colage of Flower Arrangements