Tips & Tricks – Page 5

Buy Yourself Flowers – You Deserve It!

June 15, 2016 by Rachel Brantley Leave a Comment

Flowers are not reserved for holidays and special occasions, but are used to celebrate life! Give yourself a pat on the back by buying yourself a beautiful bouquet of flowers. Before you brush off the idea, skim through this list of reasons why you deserve flowers and try to think of the last time you did something special for yourself to lift your spirits.

1) You work hard
It took hard work and dedication to get where you are today. Whether it was long nights at the office, staying up with a newborn child, or saving money to buy a new house, be proud of your current situation how you got there.

2) You have conquered challenges
Life always comes with twists, turns and trials that are usually unexpected. You have not only survived but have conquered every challenge that has come your way. This type of perseverance deserves special recognition.

3) You need to celebrate yourself
In the busyness of life we often forget to stop and think about all of the wonderful things we have accomplished. You deserve to celebrate yourself for the many things you have achieved in your family, career, and life.

4) Give yourself motivation for the days to come
Prepare for the difficult weeks in life by giving yourself some inspiration. Every time you look at your beautiful bouquet of flowers your motivation to tackle the day will increase.

5) You deserve to be happy
You don’t need someone else to raise your self-esteem or lift your spirits. You just need to realize that you are special and deserve to feel happy. Buying yourself flowers is the perfect way to practice self-love.

Don’t wait until your birthday or a holiday to splurge on yourself, there are so many reasons why you deserve to send yourself flowers today! Find a florist near you to order your beautiful bouquet.

Find A Florist

Filed Under: Gift Ideas, Tips & Tricks Tagged With: Buy Flowers

Your Guide to Graduation Flowers

April 22, 2016 by Rachel Brantley 1 Comment

Graduation is a milestone event that is celebrated by family and friends. This special occasion calls for a special gift. What better way to say congratulations to a loved one than with a beautiful bouquet of flowers!

Here are some answers to frequently asked questions about graduation flowers. Hopefully these answers will guide you in the right direction to create a lasting memory for a loved one.

1. When should I give the flowers?
If you are attending the graduation ceremony give the flowers right after the ceremony ends. Right after the ceremony everyone will be rushing to see their graduate. Among the hugs and the tears, your flowers will stand out in the crowd. If you are only attending the graduation party then give the flowers during the party.

All the Rage: Floral Culinary

March 30, 2016 by Rachel Brantley Leave a Comment

Bring the garden to your kitchen this season! Switch up your normal cooking routine by trying some of our favorite fresh flower recipes. Cooking with flowers has been around for decades but has become very popular over the last few years. There are even several cookbooks specifically for floral culinary. These fun recipes are guaranteed to take your cooking (and your taste buds) to a whole new level.

A few popular edible flowers are: lavender, thyme, dill, cilantro, day lily, squash blossom, lilac, Nasturtiums, chives and basil.

Start creating meals that look as delicious as they taste with these fun edible flower recipes.

Blooming Popsicles
Flower popsicles are the perfect summer treat. Not only are they beautiful but they come packed with natural flavor. Have fun getting creative with your flower choice and enjoy your tasty creation!

Find this recipe and more beautiful photos on Honestly Yum’s site.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Flower Suggestions, Tips & Tricks Tagged With: Flower Trends, Tips & Tricks

Woman Disappointed With Flower Order

March 9, 2016 by Rachel Brantley Leave a Comment

Suzanne Bradish ordered a bunch of spring flowers from Sainsbury’s to brighten up her home, and was sent 100g of spring onions instead, according to a delivery note she tweeted Monday.

Sadly, Bradish’s boyfriend wasn’t aware she’d ordered flowers so he happily took the delivery without returning the onions.

Suzanne shared her misfortune on Twitter and others were quick to sympathize with her, adding their own tales of disappointment.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Flower Suggestions, Tips & Tricks Tagged With: Flower Delivery, local florist

4 Plant Decorating Tips

February 29, 2016 by Rachel Brantley Leave a Comment

If you are tired of the crisp winter weather and are looking forward to brighter sunny days, we have a suggestion for you! Spring is right around the corner but why should you wait for it? Transform your home today into a blossoming space full of life and energy by simply adding some plants. Choose some of these low-maintenance plants to brighten up your home and create your very own natural haven.

1. Add Color
Instead of repainting the walls, give your living areas a face-lift by adding some beautiful flowering plants. We suggest trying a Phalaenopsis Orchid. This long-lasting flower blooms perfectly for up to three months and comes in a variety of colors. Choose a color that will not only compliment your home but also your mood! Showcase your orchid on a windowsill or kitchen table where it can be admired by everyone.

5 Reasons To Send Flowers For Valentine’s Day

January 29, 2016 by Rachel Brantley 2 Comments

As you begin to think of the many gifts you could purchase for your significant other this holiday season, don’t forget about the classic floral arrangement. Flowers make it easy to convey your feelings with one special gesture. Here are five reasons to send flowers this Valentine’s Day.

1. Tradition
Traditionally flowers are considered the most romantic and ideal Valentine’s gift. The tradition of sending flowers dates back to the 1700’s. Express your sentiment of love through the classic gift of flowers.

2. Reflection Of Significant Other’s Beauty
Receiving flowers is one of the highest forms of flattery. Sending flowers will help you communicate the admiration and attraction you have for your loved one.

3. Romantic Gesture
When extravagant romantic gestures are performed by heroes in movies, flowers are always used to express great love. Be a hero this holiday season by giving flowers that will add romance to your special day.

4. Accessibility
If you’re away from your loved one this Valentine’s Day, flowers are the perfect way to show your thoughtfulness from a distance. Flowers can last for days or weeks, and are a constant reminder of your presence and love.

5. Uplifting
Flowers bring warmth and comfort into an environment. This holiday season, consider sending flowers to someone who might need emotional support. Flowers are shown to boost morale and bring positive feelings. Show your support to those in need through the uplifting gift of flowers.

Head to your local florist and find the perfect flowers to convey your feelings for your loved ones!

Filed Under: Tips & Tricks Tagged With: 5 Reasons To Send, admiration, Romantic, uplifting, Valentines Day

5 Tips To Decorate Your Shop

March 9, 2015 by Tanya Giraldo Leave a Comment

Sometimes it’s easy to forget that the quickest way to market your shop is from the sidewalk. Customers are drawn in from the first look of your shop’s front window display and will remember your store from the chic interior. With that creative mind, you can make your shop look as beautiful as your designs with some easy tips! Sherwood Florist from Dayton, Ohio has shared with us 5 great tips for florist on how to make your store enticing for customers!

The Basics

Who is the main shop decorator?
Jessie Wright, Co-owner of Sherwood Florist is the main decorator and display designer in our shop. However, the team at Sherwood all tend to follow suit and put their own spin on certain displays.

How do you get inspired?
My inspiration comes from so many different outlets. The building in which our shop is located is inspiration itself. From the exposed brick to the original hardwood floors and the large open space in general. Social media also plays a huge factor for inspiration. Most of all, I like to find fabulous old pieces that are worn or bound for the trash and reinvent them or group them together for an impact display. Most of our display tables, counters and shelves are all from reclaimed wood and salvage warehouses.

Why is it important for a florist to make their flower shop look nice?
Keeping up with trends and reinventing your space is half the battle, but definitely most important for your brand and will absolutely pay off in the long run. Keeping a clean concise shop is appealing for the eye and will draw customers to want to walk through and browse your space.

Do you have a decorating mantra?
Our decorating mantra is keeping it simple. There is no place in a successful shop for clutter. We find it is good to have a few core display areas and keep the rest of your space simple and clean.

Can you tell us about your focal piece chalkboard wall?
Our chalkboard wall came about when we moved into our new space nearly two years ago. It is a wall that we built to hide our walk-in cooler. It is the first thing that your eye is drawn to as you walk into our shop because it is directly 60 feet across from the front door. So we knew we wanted something on there that was bold and a focal, but not too busy. We decided to paint it with chalkboard paint. Our main design table is right in front of the chalk wall so it just made sense to add a few bar stools at the end of the table so that our clients wait on their design to be created at the “Flower Bar.” Not to mention a few tips for them to help decide what type of arrangement they would like to order.

Sherwood Florist’s Top Decorating Tips

Photos courtesy of Sherwood Florist

1. Keep it Clean!

Anything too busy or cluttered is a turn off to customers.

2. Use What You Have

Your shop is probably filled with items that are just waiting to be reinvented.

3. Keep Up with the Trends

I’m not saying completely redecorate your space with each changing season, but certainly add or update a few core “statement” pieces.

4. Identify Who You Are Trying To Appeal To

For instance, it’s the New Year, which means booking season for weddings. We’ve added a soft hint of gold with a bit of eye-catching bling to a portion of our front window for this season.

5. Step Out of Your Box!

Do something that would never normally do. You will end up surprising yourself!

From Left: Jessie Wright, Co-owner and decorator, and Bev Guy, Co-owner.

Thank you Sherwood Florist for these great tips! Check back with the Bloomin’ Blog for more great ideas!

Filed Under: Tips & Tricks Tagged With: Decorations, Flower Shops, Tips & Tricks, Tips For Florists

Preparing for Valentine’s Day

January 21, 2015 by Tanya Giraldo Leave a Comment

Valentine’s Day is quickly approaching, which means it is almost time for one of the busiest holidays of the year for flower shops. To help you get ready for the flower-frenzy, we have reached out to a few florists across the country to tell us how they are preparing for the lovey-dovey, weekend holiday!

“Be sure to get the sender and recipient’s home phone, cell phone number and their email. That way, you’re able to get a hold of them at some point in the day since people travel on the weekends.”

-Heather McMinn from Heather’s Way Flowers and Plants in Jonesboro AR

“Get orders early and market early. We make sure to have an in-house special for Friday. There is nothing like a woman getting flowers at the office, so we run a ‘Honey, I couldn’t wait until Valentine’s Day Friday special. What I find works best is spreading our marketing message through many outlets–radio, social and FSN email campaigns.”

-Rodney Canady from Blooms A Million in Pensacola, FL

“We make sure and prepare our vases ahead of time, get our orders in, and come up with a delivery plan.”

-Carolyn Yancey from Your Floral Bouquet Florist in Valdese, NC

“We put out our displays always a month in advanced. That way it reminds the customer, puts it in their face, and tempts them to order now. As the holiday gets closer, we strip the leaves, de-thorn stems, re-stock plush and balloons, and get our extra staff prepared. We make sure to let our customers know it’s never too early to order..”

-Heide Parker from Babe’s Flowers, Inc. in Sheridan, WY

Tell us how you are getting ready for Valentine’s day and check back to the Bloomin’ Blog for more great ideas and tips!

Filed Under: Holiday Info, Tips & Tricks Tagged With: Tips & Tricks, Tips For Florists, Valentines Day, Valentines Weekend

Suggest an Article: Hydrating Hydrangeas!

March 19, 2014 by Ed Belly Leave a Comment

In this edition of Suggest an Article, we have a fantastic tip from Jo Ann Evans of JoAnn’s Flowers and Gifts in Indian Trail, NC. Take it away, Jo Ann!

“To keep Hydrangeas hydrated:

Wet tip of stem and place in alum powder, then put the flower in the water bucket. You can also put a small amount of alum powder in the water bucket itself. This simple application keeps the flower fresh. It really works!!”

Discovering Alum

If you aren’t big into cooking, pickling in particular, you may not be familiar with alum powder. It’s a primary ingredient in the pickling of fruits and vegetables to help maintain freshness. It would stand to reason that if it can keep these items fresh through the pickling process, it could help prolong the life of your freshly cut hydrangeas!

Because alum powder is used in cooking, it can easily be located on the spice aisle of your local grocer. It’s a cheap additive to keep Hydrangeas happy, so there’s no excuse not to use it.

I hope you enjoyed this edition of Suggest an Article, and I can’t wait to see what kinds of ideas we’ll find in our comments section. Remember, your ideas do not have to be limited to flower care tips or marketing techniques. If you think something is happening in your local community deserving of an article by Flower Shop Network, let us know!

Filed Under: Tips & Tricks Tagged With: Flower Suggestions, Hydrangeas, Tips & Tricks

January is Houseplant Appreciation Month!

January 6, 2014 by Juli Jackson Leave a Comment

Leafy Friends Who Love You

Houseplants are wonderful additions to your home. They add color, life and a touch of nature everyday. They give off oxygen that helps purify your home and they ask for so little care in return. This is the month to give them a little extra love and attention. Now that the holidays have passed, find a moment to check in with your plants and give them some TLC.

Plant Care Tips

Make sure your plant is getting enough light! Check to see if leaves are still a nice dark green. Yellowing and dropping leaves can be a sign of not enough light. Also if new leaves are thin and small, you might need to find a new brighter place.
Rotate plants that are leaning or growing towards their light source. Increasing the amount of light will stop uneven growth.
Trim dead leaves with clean shears or by carefully pinching them off with your fingers.
Gently wipe dusty leaves with a soft damp cloth. Don’t use commercial plant shine products as certain types can damage the plant over time.
Water plants slowly and thoroughly. Stop when water comes out the drainage holes. If water runs out the holes immediately when watering, there might not be enough soil and too many roots. Time to re-pot!
Overwatering is the biggest problem for indoor plants. Use your finger to gauge if you should water plants or not. Stick your finger 2 inches in the dirt of each pot. If it is slightly moist 2 inches down, wait another day or two. If it is completely dry, water away. If you find it is very wet, cut back on watering.
It is best to water plants in the morning. Use tepid, or slight warm, water for best results.
Add in fertilizer if needed and consider re-potting any plants that need it.

Give The Gift of Green

Share the joy of beautiful indoor plants with a friend or loved one. Even if someone claims they don’t have a “green thumb” there are so many easy-to-care-for plants available at your local florist. Work with a florist directly and they will help you select a wonderful plant that will be enjoyed for years to come.

Filed Under: Tips & Tricks Tagged With: Houseplants