Bloomin' Blog

Fourth of July Flowers

June 26, 2015 by Tanya Giraldo Leave a Comment

This summer, the heat is on and there is no better time to get the friends together for some barbecue than on Independence Day Weekend! Here are some great ways to include some floral into your festivities!

Patriotic Blooms
Throwing a summer bash in the backyard? Consider making your picnic table centerpiece a Fourth of July bouquet with a combination of red, white and blue blooms.

Host Florals
Have a friend who is hosting a barbecue? Bring her the finishing touch! An arrangement with white lilies, red gerberas and blue delphinium.

Simple Card Messages
Wanting to add a note to a Fourth of July gift? Here are some ideas!

For a most patriotic host, Happy Fourth of July!

Hope this is one of many more summer parties! Happy Independence Day!

So happy we get to watch the fireworks with you! Thanks for the celebration!

Head to your local florist and get a patriotic arrangement! Independence Day is Saturday, July 4, 2015.

Filed Under: Holiday Info Tagged With: Holiday Flowers, Holiday Gift Ideas, Holiday Info

Wedding Trends: Floral Wedding Favors

June 24, 2015 by Tanya Giraldo 1 Comment

Sometimes brides want their wedding favors to have a natural flair. Perhaps they want an ode to mother nature or they want a favor that compliments their floral theme. Here are some trending floral wedding favors that make a beautiful living gift to all wedding guests!

Sweet Succulent

Succulents make a great favor for a rustic wedding theme. No need to have a green thumb! These plants need little maintenance and look great on a windowsill. A potted herb or flower works as well!

Seed Confetti

Trade in the traditional rice for an eco-friendly option. Guests can celebrate the new nuptuals by throwing seeds after the ceremony or planting them at home.

Floral Bulbs

Consider flower bulbs as a wonderful favor that guests can take home and enjoy (especially if it’s the same flower as the bridal bouquet)! Wrap in a kraft box with instructions and guests will have a unique flower favor!

If flowers are the wedding theme, get as creative as possible and guests will enjoy the simple details! For more great ideas and tips, visit the Bloomin’ Blog!

Seed Confetti photo accreditation to: weddingandpartynetwork/gallery/8861

Floral Bulbs photo accreditation to: weddingandpartynetwork/gallery/8851

Filed Under: Wedding Flowers Tagged With: Wedding Favors, Wedding Flowers, Wedding Tips

FSN at FSFA Conference

June 19, 2015 by Kelly Curtis Leave a Comment

We had the pleasure of attending FSFA’s Annual Convention this past weekend and had an unforgettable time. Our FSN Account Manager Irving Casiano Flores had a wonderful time. Here are a few pictures.

Irving Casiano Flores with FSN Member Joyce Petty from Atmore Flower Shop of Atmore, AL. She also won 3rd in the design competition, congratulations Joyce!

What an amazing design for the theme of the convention, Carnevale Di Venezia.

A creative centerpiece with purples, pinks, and greens.

A beautiful pink centerpiece accented with feathers.

A green and ivory design.

We had a great time at this convention and enjoyed talking to so many great people. It was a great event! Check back with the Bloomin’ Blog to see where we go next!

Filed Under: Floral Conventions & Flower Shows Tagged With: Conference, Florists Conventions

Flower Spotlight: Heather

June 17, 2015 by Miroslava Casiano 2 Comments

Summer is here and so are this season’s flowers! Heather is a beautiful and versatile evergreen shrub whose blooms look great in any arrangement. Here is a brief history about this lovely plant.

Origins and Symbolism

Colluna vulgaris, better known as Heather, is native to Scotland, Ireland, Scandinavia, Russia, and northern North America. In Scotland, however, Heather is one of the national flowers, growing across an estimate of five million acres of moorland and hills. Legend has it that Heather only grows on land where blood hasn’t been shed.

Heather is the flower of unbridled passion and protection. White Calluna is a symbol of luck and known to be very effective. Often it is said that Heather opens portals to the faery world and that Fae of this flower are attracted mostly to shy people.

Medicinal Properties

Heather isn’t just beautiful to the eye, but a very effective herbal medicine too! Here are some of its benefits:

Add the flowering tips to a bath to tone muscles and soothe rheumatic pain.
Heather has antiseptic and diuretic properties.
Treats nervousness and anxiety, cardiac palpitations, migraines, digestive issues, poisoning, blindness, arthritis, coughs and problems associated with menstruation.
Because of the diuretic properties, it serves as an internal cleanser and detoxifier.

Availability

Heather blooms in pink, white, lavender, magenta, purple, amethyst, red and many shades of green. Tones of copper, gold and silvery gray are not too common, but are also available. This shrub gives a boost of color to any wedding centerpiece. White Heather is commonly used by brides on their bouquets as a token for good luck.

Heather is one of those plants that does a little bit of everything! Head to your local florist and fall in love with the beautiful tiny blooms on this delicate plant.

Filed Under: Flower Identification Tagged With: Flower Spotlight, Heather, Summer Flowers

Pinterest for Florists

June 15, 2015 by Tanya Giraldo Leave a Comment

When it comes to promoting your shop, social media does a fantastic job of growing your viewership through content sharing. But one social media platform that increases viewership well past your initial post is Pinterest. Here are three ways to incorporate Pinterest into your marketing strategy.

Pinterest + You

Pinterest is a huge content sharing social platform used for sharing ideas and tips. Linked heavily to blogs, this is the perfect way to promote your shop’s blog. What makes Pinterest really unique is that your posts can resurface on Pinterest periodically, long after you published them on your blog or Facebook.

Photo Op

Similar to Instagram, Pinterest heavily depends on photos for their sharing platform. This works perfectly because photos are the best way to promote your arrangements. During prom season, take a few pictures from customers or even within your display case of your corsage and boutonniere designs. If you have a unique design, customers will flock to your store wanting a creation they saw on Pinterest.

Social Promotions

Offer customers a discount for following your shop on Pinterest. During holiday seasons, promote your Pinterest by offering a giveaway to a random customer who shares a holiday pin from your page.

Don’t hesitate to use different social media platforms to get your business name out there! Check back with the Bloomin’ Blog for more great marketing ideas!

Filed Under: Marketing Tips Tagged With: Marketing, Marketing Tips, Pinterest

FSN at SAF Mini Conference

June 12, 2015 by Tanya Giraldo Leave a Comment

We had a fantastic time at Society of American Florists’ mini conference “Retail Growth Solutions.” Our FSN Account Manager Irving Casiano Flores enjoyed the conference immensely. Here are some pictures from the wonderful weekend.

Irving Casiano Flores with FSN Member Anne Siu from Abigail’s Flowers of San Francisco, California.

A great turn out to a very informative mini session.

A lovely design for the competition.

A beautiful arrangement with pops of color.

Thank you to everyone who stopped by our booth! We also want to thank all who made it a great weekend! Check back with the Bloomin’ Blog to see where we go next!

Filed Under: Floral Conventions & Flower Shows Tagged With: Conference, SAF, Society of American Florists

Card Messages: June 2015

June 10, 2015 by Miroslava Casiano Leave a Comment

It is often that we find ourselves unable to transcribe feelings. It is easier to let others know the way we feel with actions rather than written words. If this is the case for you, below are a few things to say for different occasions in June.

Birthday Wishes

For Mom: You are the sunshine that brightens our lives. The light that shows us the way. Happy Birthday Mom!

For Dad: Mom is the core of the flower, we are the petals and you are the stem. Always supporting and providing our needs with the most loving care. Happy Birthday Dad!

For a Friend: A year older, a year wiser! Happy Birthday!

Wedding Notes

To Both: New beginnings are always good, especially when that new beginning is the one you love. Congratulations!

For Her: Wishing you a lifetime of love and happiness with the luckiest man in the world!

For Him: Some people spend their entire lives looking for love. Today, you are forever with yours. Congratulations!

Sympathy Thoughts

This is the beginning of immortality for she/he will forever live in our hearts.

Let the joyful moments of yesterday be a reason for smiling today, tomorrow and always.

Thinking about sending flowers? Head to your local florist and use one of the messages above. Let the lovely people in your life know how much you care!

Filed Under: Card Messages Tagged With: card messages, Gift Ideas, June

Summer 2015 Floral Wedding Trends

June 8, 2015 by Flower Shop Network Leave a Comment

The season of weddings is upon us and that means summer brides are out in full force to take advantage of this year’s hottest styles. Take a look at what we believe will be the five most popular trends for brides’ 2015 summer affairs.

Large-Blossomed Flowers

To create a romantic and luxurious atmosphere, large-blossomed flowers will be trending. Blooms such as hydrangeas, peonies and garden roses will be used to make bold statements in a variety of wedding decor, from bouquets to the table centerpieces. Blossoms are versatile for many occasions and can fit right in with a variety of wedding styles.

Lush Greenery

Inspired by the natural essence of a garden, many are opting to bring in lush greenery, such as mixes of herbs or garlands often made from varieties of ferns or leafy foliage, to complement to center piece wedding day blooms. Herbs like rosemary and mint are used primarily for their shape and rich aromas, while ferns are taken for their lacy delicate textures. Consider bringing in greenery for a more natural feel to any wedding theme.

Cascading and Teardrop Bouquets

Cascading bouquets have a 100-year history. Seen as a very classic arrangement, the style has come and gone several times throughout the last century. The height of its popularity occurred when Princess Diana walked down the aisle with her own cascading bouquet, the teardrop bouquet is much more streamlined with its shorter drop. Both styles are perfect for the classic bride.

Heirloom Elegance

Another trend you can expect to see in summer 2015 will be heirloom and vintage incorporated into many bridal styles. “Bejeweled accents” will be strategically blended into bridal bouquets and on bouquet handles. Other approaches for adding “bling” into a wedding include family jewelry, such as earrings necklaces, crowns or brooches, which gives the event a personal touch and a twist of modern sophistication.

Re-purposed and Up-cycled

Suggested for weddings with a more rustic ambiance, re-purposed and up-cycled elements bring a simple, natural feel to a couple’s big day. Not only budget-friendly, wedding decor like centerpieces, signs and vases created to accentuate floral arrangements mix well into a natural atmosphere. Mix-and-match pieces also give the perfect “homey” feel to an intimate affair while maintaining a strong theme throughout the event.

Check back with the Bloomin’ Blog for more great wedding flower trends and ideas!

Filed Under: Wedding Flowers Tagged With: Summer Wedding Flowers, Wedding Flowers, Wedding Trends

A Floral Milestone

June 5, 2015 by Tanya Giraldo Leave a Comment

In the flower shop business, it’s hard to lose sense of time. Each season brings in new decorations and new floral occasions, but sometimes one can realize out of the blue that time really goes by fast. This is the case with Bloomingtons Flower Shop in Universal City, Texas who are celebrating 10 years with Flower Shop Network this year.

Experience in Design

As a full service flower shop, Bloomingtons has experience in a variety of design types, but specializes in funeral flowers.

With 25 years of combined experience, this team has designed for weddings, special events, and has created wonderful works of art for sympathy tributes and funerals.

Their creative talents definitely show through their intricate memorial designs and this shop also carries a variety of gift options to pair with a bouquet.

A Shop To Count On

While their design is easy to admire from their many pictures on their website and Facebook page, what makes Bloomingtons really stand out is their phenomenal customer service and attention to delivery. One customer was amazed their flowers were delivered just in time for the holiday.

“This was the first year in a long time that a florist actually delivered, on time, what they promised. The arrangement was big and beautiful and full of excellent quality flowers. The driver actually called before delivery and was very polite. I could not have been more happy with the flowers that were delivered.”

With great service and a talent for design, Bloomingtons Flower Shop will continue to provide Universal City, Texas with quality arrangements for many years to come!

Filed Under: Florist Spotlights Tagged With: Florist Spotlight, Texas Florist

Shop Talk: Marketing On Wheels

June 3, 2015 by Tanya Giraldo Leave a Comment

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!

Filed Under: Marketing Tips Tagged With: Marketing, Marketing Tips, Texas Florists