Battle of the Flower Designers- March Madness Tournament 2010

[CHR]

It's a yes from us.

No matter the criteria, IMO we need some sort of theme, a limit on the amount of flowers, or a price target. Otherwise it will just come down to who can make the biggest and/or who can present with the best camera shots.

Every successful competition has a theme - materials, interpretation or budget. Think Iron Chefs, Chopped, Project Runway, etc.....

 

[RWK]

I agree with you Cathy......However, rather than a specific list of flower choice per se......I like the idea of some sort of theme specific design. For example.....A spring wreath/wall design using a birdhouse in the design, or perhaps an Easter specific design without using an easter lily, or something along that line. Something ordinary......but with a twist.

 

[master J]

If anyone else is interested, I have 1-3 more spots open , and it looks like we will be using the same flowers in each design, I will be posting official rules & details by end of this weekend hopefully, and entries will be due March 11th.

Sorry to Mocha and a few others, if this makes it harder for you to enter, I understand the cost of having to buy the whole bunch on all flower types and not being able to use the extra flowers leftover.

We can always do another contest next time, where its a free for all, anything goes, designers choice

 

[hollyflr]

I would like to do this.

 

[master J]

So far I have confirmed with 8 florists including myself-
(this is all we need to do this little tournament but will take a few more if you're interested)


Twigs- representing NV
Anytime Flowers- representing MN
Everyday Flowers- representing CA
Belvedere Flowers- representing PA
Mums & More- representing SD
Anthony's Florist- representing FL
Avante gardens- representing CA
Hollyhocks Flowers- representing MO

 

[Palms]

I would have liked to do this but i feel that a video camera is a bit restrictive for me. I have no idea how to use you tube either.

On the flower front i think that a list is a good idea, one suggestion i have is that rather than the designer having to use all flowers, that the restriction is that they cannot use more than that. If they want to leave some out and do a more limited design, this would be accepted. Just an idea, that way the designs can differ more.

Other than the video thing, I would have been in

 

[RWK]

Well, Since this particular criteria negates the use of permanents, I can't do this one.

But there will be others and I will get my chance to WOW ya'll.

 

[master J]

I would have liked to do this but i feel that a video camera is a bit restrictive for me. I have no idea how to use you tube either.

On the flower front i think that a list is a good idea, one suggestion i have is that rather than the designer having to use all flowers, that the restriction is that they cannot use more than that. If they want to leave some out and do a more limited design, this would be accepted. Just an idea, that way the designs can differ more.

Other than the video thing, I would have been in

Sorry Paula
would have liked to have some English flavor in the contest.

Maybe next time......we need to get you up on youtube I would be glad to help you out with that sometime if you want

 

[Carol Bice]

I think this whole idea is stimulating and wonderful.

It makes me think back to the time I was testing for AIFD years ago. Every person could do their own arrangements with the flowers they brought with them and their own props and vases. It sometimes got bizaar with designers getting hung up on their props instead of their design.

Now, everyone gets the same flowers and containers and it is amazing to see how each designer's mind works differently. This method is so much better.

I will be happy to judge the entries.

 

[Palms]

Is there any particular reason why this has to be videod or put on you tube btw... I am probably missing something obvious but if we are all members of fc and there is a gallery here, why cant we use that? It would perhaps open it up more?

 

[master J]

Is there any particular reason why this has to be videod or put on you tube btw... I am probably missing something obvious but if we are all members of fc and there is a gallery here, why cant we use that? It would perhaps open it up more?

No particular reason Palms, just one of my stupid ideas...LOL

Feel free to start up anything you want as far as ideas or contests, I think posting to the FC gallery is a great idea, I always try to leave something on there.

I'm just continuing what I tried with Eric last year, and at the time I was a flip video junkie, I have since cut back a lot on it, and was just trying to get back out there and try it again

Maybe we could do the overseas version next, England, Australia, etc. The winner of USA goes against you guys! LOL Paula, I would send you my flip to use, no prob, and help you get that youtube channel going

I'm sorry if I am rushing this idea along and leaving a few out, I just wanted to get it moving before it becomes another idea that gets nowhere...We can always do other contests that involves just pictures, and no video.

 

[Palms]

Hey dude, thats not fair... I am the only regular English poster lol.... It would be me, todd and Karla vs everyone else lol x

Only joking, i think its great. If only i was not so technologically challenged!! I might just do it anyway and put mine on here... (obviously not an official entry).

As for me starting a contest... I am a big scardy cat really and could not cope with the pressure.. I would rather do 7 weddings in a weekend than head a contest

Good Luck to you all, i will enjoy watching you all on you tube!!

 

[Sarah Botchick]

I'll talk to my dad about donating a prize package. He just might do it for the fun of it. Did you have a dollar amount in mind for the prize?

Side note - Ricky, regarding those butterfly bushes, we have FLORISTS buying them like mad. It's not my place to say whether they are self respecting or not... and I certainly don't care for them my self. BUT THEY SELL. Back to the never ending discussion of how to buy... for preference or what sells... when in business, must go for what pays the bills...

 

[RWK]

Sarah, Can't argue with you there.......we got in three cases each of pink and white butterfly bushes and yellow and white butterfl bushes......144 bushes to each case. That was a little over a month ago........in that time, we are down to less than 1 case quantity combined.

We just got in four cases of that old, ugly standby bush of red tulips, yellow daffodil, purple hyacinth, blue iris and white daisy. 120 bushes per case. I unpacked and priced them day before yesterday...........I called the store today to check on something and was told that about a 1/3 of those bushes had gone out the door already.

It goes back to what I tried to tell a new shop owner......He was insistent that "If I don't like it, I'm not selling it' - I told him on more than one occasion......"What we like or don't like means less that a pile of poo...........it's what the customer likes that matters"

 

[Sarah Botchick]

For what it is worth Paula, the YouTube aspect will help drive traffic to the competitors websites. It creates excitement OUTSIDE of the industry. FC is a private community (which is great) but anything in the galleries on here don't help drive traffic to your websites.

 

[master J]

http://www.belvedereflowers.com/blog/2010/02/battle-of-the-flower-designers--march-madness-2010.php

Ok I posted the details and recipe to my blog-
Here are the rules and details-



--- The Recipe ---



-5 tulips

-7 carnations

-5 gerbera daisies

-3 hydrangeas

-7 roses

-5 snapdragons

-3 dendrobium orchids

-1/4 bunch of statice

- 4 types of greens (foliages of choice)

-1 twig type (birch, curly willow, pussy willow, flowering branches)



- Container of your choice


- Colors in your choice



- The designer MUST use all the flowers on the list.

- No add-ons like beads, gems or other decorative hardgoods.

- Must be a single unit deliverable in one piece.

-Design must be shown from all sides on the video.
(you can do a one-sided design, you just need to show it from all sides on the video)



All entries are due Thursday March 11th.



Videos must be less than 3 minutes. Feel free to show the designer creating the design if you want to, if not just showing the flowers from all sides is OK too. You can talk on the video if you want to, or feel free to just add music.

There will be a poll set up for public voting, and we will also have a special judge for this tournament.

Ricky W. King AIFD, SCCPP, NCCPF, CFD


Ricky will also have to make a video with comments and the final word on who wins.



There is a $100 Gift Card Prize for the winner of the tournament thanks to FloristWare.
I use the FloristWare POS & love it! If you are looking for a point of sale system that is affordable and easy to use, with great marketing features, I highly recommend this system.

Check out their website for a free demo version of FloristWare.



Here are the Round 1
Match Ups - (randomly picked out of a hat by my son Max)




1- Everyday Flowers in Tustin CA Vs. Mums & More in Wagner SD


2-Twigs in Yerington NV Vs. Hollyhocks Flowers in St. Louis MO


3- Belvedere- Havertown PA Vs. Anytime Flowers in Saint Paul MN


4- Avante Gardens in Anaheim CA Vs. Affairs to Remember in Melrose MA



Again, All entries due on Thursday March 11th. Public voting on Round 1 will begin March 12th through March 20th and Ricky will announce the winner by YouTube video on March 22nd.


Round 2 -
(between 4 florists left) will start March 23rd & ends March 28th.

Round 3 -
Championship between the last 2 flower designers standing will be on March 29th & ends March 31st.

(more details to follow on round 2 & 3)

Please try to spread the word by Blog, Facebook, Twitter, or any other way you can. Also feel free to take pictures too, and put these on your websites & blogs when done. Good luck everybody!

 

[RWK]

OK - Now that Adam has kicked this thing off........There is another judge..........This judge is more acidic, ascerbic, and more experienced in what pleases an audience than me.......Her name is SIMONA COWELLIE.

( No, for a bit of ribald humor, Adam wanted some of the commentary to be in the style of Simon Cowell on Americal Idol. I loved the idea, but needed to find a way to 'seperate' the commentary. So, Simona's critiques..........are not to be taken seriously........just in a spirit of fun. So, It's as though Simon has gone out in drag for this one )

 

[master J]

Update, I have a few more florists who want to get in on this, I thought 8 was a good easy number, but I am willing to stretch it to 12 if we can get more commitment. You must let me know by today if you are serious and can upload video to youtube.

Also, anyone else on Fc that would like to just create a design with the recipe and take a picture, I will absolutely add it to my blog, etc, and I am sure we can create a FC gallery for these too.

 

[peggy70130]

This sounds like so much fun! I'm just itching to enter, but I don't dare commit right now, but I'll be cheering you all on from the sidelines, and hopefully get in on the next competition.

Good luck all!!

 

[twiggy]

I just updated my facebook page with a link to your blog Adam- I think this could be fun, not only for us but our customers/fans as well!