Can We Discuss the Anti-Carnation Thing?

[OB1]

Lots of good points here, and I agree with most of them. Just for the record I love carnations also.
The reason I don't carry them in the shop is because I decided to eliminate a few very common ingredients from my menu...just like a restaurant does, so that each design is more unique than my competitors. So no liatris, no glads, no carnations, no mums,gyp,lumonium,or leather. ( just as, say, Gordon Ramsey doesn't use Frenches prepared mustard, hot dogs, or canned peas) It may sound elitist but that's not the reason. If I had those ingredient in my cooler, I can assure you that someone would make a hand tied bouquet of those flowers (either because they wanted to, or because a customer asked them to because they didn't know what else was available them to) and the branding between my shop and another shop would begin to blur.
This is not to say I won't special order them in, but only in specific cases, and for specific uses. And never in combination with each other.
Works for me at work. But often at home, all I want is a bunch of annual gyp in a glass vase, or a pave of green carnations with limes. Yum.
I guess what ever works in each shop, right?

 

[Connie]

It was stiking how many of the designers at the SCFA convention last weekend spoke about how much they loved carnations, and of all the ones who did programs with fresh flowers, only the designer from FTD did not use carnations. He did, however, make a couple of designs which were totally Baby's Breath. In fact, one of the programs was named "Carnations Reinvented" or something similar.

The color, fragrance, and texture of all flowers are exciting. (Does poison ivy have a bloom? I don't love that stuff!) As has been already said, it's not the flower so much as how that flower is used.

Why has the thanks button disappeared from the above posts in this thread?

 

[Tuberose]

I don't take it personally at all, but you can't reasonably put a blanket blame on all florists if something isn't popular like carns. I rarely get anyone in to buy a bunch of wrapped carns, they want roses or a nice looking mix of flowers. People at the grocery store can grab a bunch of carns for $5.99 on the way home along with their milk and meat. Why would they make a special stop at a florist for that, they're cheap and handy at the grocer?

Convenience has become all important these days, I would have to give them away or start selling milk to get them in here for that. The grocers made them available for super cheap and convenient, we didn't give them that business, they stole it. Unfortunatley, since carns are a cheap commodity and widely recognized by the buying public, they became fair game for them to carry.

Hence, carnations have gotten a bum wrap as a cheap flower, not desirable for someone with "taste". If you're sending a bouquet trying to elicit an emotional response, on average would you want to send flowers that have a cheap or funeral association? A doz carns in a vase with BB to most customers is cheap looking, and unimpressive.

We carry a mix of flowers for the general buying public which includes a limited selection of carnations along with a variety of other flowers, it makes sense for our area.

My apologies if I seemed harsh, perhaps looking at this with a broader perspective is needed than blaming the florists.

Trish

 

[RWK]

It was stiking how many of the designers at the SCFA convention last weekend spoke about how much they loved carnations, and of all the ones who did programs with fresh flowers, only the designer from FTD did not use carnations. He did, however, make a couple of designs which were totally Baby's Breath. In fact, one of the programs was named "Carnations Reinvented" or something similar.

The color, fragrance, and texture of all flowers are exciting. (Does poison ivy have a bloom? I don't love that stuff!) As has been already said, it's not the flower so much as how that flower is used.

Why has the thanks button disappeared from the above posts in this thread?

In my posting, I wanted to post some pictures of Madeline's program - Re-Inventing carnations, but the attachments pane would not load earlier.

I spoke in my posting about us a 'PROFESSIONAL, TRAINED, EDUCATED, DESIGNERS' in order to re-introduce the carnation, we need to use them in new, different, and exciting ways.....Hopefully, these few images will help to inspire.

The pictures were from the program presented by Vonda LaFever AIFD and Madeline Presler-MacDonald AIFD

 

[RonBeyer]

Carns are a useful flower. I think our shop uses too many but they do lend themselves to a couple of niches we exploit.

We stay open until 7pm and have a lot of guys stop on their way from work to pick something inexpensive up for wives or girlfriends. Since a lot of them are construction workers this business has declined with the recession but they still stop , just not as many of them and not as often.

Our first niche is selling carns, cash-and-carry, for $6.99/doz. or $9.99 with greens and filler, have for years. The low price allows room to upsell by adding a stuffed animal, balloon or candle. Cheap enough to get most of them coming back again and again, some frequently. And since they get to know us we're the first place they'll come when they want the nice stuff.

The other niche is their use in a simple, inexpensive, long lasting topiary of alstro with carns and maybe daisies at the base. We try to keep one in the cooler at all times for that someone who comes in looking for something a little different. Pretty popular seller. Those that like the idea of a topiary but don't like carns quite often will order one made up with more expensive flowers.

Personally I like carns, as long as they are not white, pink or red.

 

[Rhonda]

I'm a big florigene fan. Kids love purples and they absolutely adore the florigene in all colors, mixed colors, standards and minis. They take them but the bucket loads even with the higher price and I've had nothing but kudos on the longevity of them.
Our standard base sympathy arrangement is still a dozen carnations with baby's breath..........lots of the older generation want carnations for their lasting quality. I buy more unusual colors rather than the plain red, white and pink.
Combining florigene eggplant with natural green.......lots of comments - but I'm a "green gal" and use it lots ...

 

[Johan]

I love green carnations. They the only carnation we stock on a daily basis and burgundy at Christmas and Valentines. Our customers are in general quiet affluent and of very mixed age range and are green carnations are rather popular. I love the grouped look and the carnation spheres and wonderful. Simple but very stylish.

 

[TGDragonfly]

Who first said Carnations were passé? It wasn't me. I remember in the late 70's carns were consider trash, in the new enlightened world of design. By the way, not to long ago eating a lobster was like eating a shoe crab, trash bottom mud sucking cretations.

I still use carnations in abundance as a texture and not focal. It has the texture of none other to me. I especially thank the brilliant people who bred the green. It's funny that Carnations are being used in the event world more and more especially when a pop feel is required. Maybe when consumers start seeing them used more in creative ways we will start winning them over to acceptance.

 

[goldfish]

The reason I don't carry them in the shop is because I decided to eliminate a few very common ingredients from my menu...just like a restaurant does, so that each design is more unique than my competitors. So no liatris, no glads, no carnations, no mums,gyp,lumonium,or leather.

Same reason here. We also don't carry alstro and daisies except gerbers (we do carry glads, BB, and leather). To us, it's just one way to make our products look distinctive from mass marketers.