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FloralFantasies
New Member
Welcome to FlowerChat. I'm sure you'll enjoy exploring - lots of information, ideas and sharing here.
Hi,
I am looking forward to learning from all of you. Thanks so much.
Chris
If you have any ideas I could use instead of a "bow" in a vase arrangement that would set us apart from others but also does not cost too much I would greatly appreciate any ideas you come up with or have seen. Thanks again.
Chris
I am looking forward to learning from all of you. Thanks so much.
Chris
If you have any ideas I could use instead of a "bow" in a vase arrangement that would set us apart from others but also does not cost too much I would greatly appreciate any ideas you come up with or have seen. Thanks again.
Chris
FloralFantasies
New Member
Chris,
What I use for arrangements $60+ is a color coordinated Tulle Bow around the neck of vase. I make a simple shoe tie bow with tulle and puff it out.
What I use for arrangements $60+ is a color coordinated Tulle Bow around the neck of vase. I make a simple shoe tie bow with tulle and puff it out.
Is it as easy as I think? Do you have a picture????
Sorry, I am just learning!!! And learning a lot since we started this a year and a half ago knowing nothing, had a full time florist hired, she stayed 2 weeks and got an offer to go back to school and work starting at $20 an hour!!! Yes, it was up to us!! Us who knew nothing!!
So we are learning and learning and still learning!! LOL
Sorry, I am just learning!!! And learning a lot since we started this a year and a half ago knowing nothing, had a full time florist hired, she stayed 2 weeks and got an offer to go back to school and work starting at $20 an hour!!! Yes, it was up to us!! Us who knew nothing!!
So we are learning and learning and still learning!! LOL
wildflowerschicago
New Member
Hi Chris, Welcome!
Does your shop have a website? You mentioned having been in business for 9 years, but later mentioned having had your shop for a year. Did you work in a shop prior to buying one?
As for your vase/bow question, try the decorative aluminium wire, you can make some very pretty accents with it.
Once you have gained full access, you can look around in the member gallery, there are some very inspiring photos there.
Does your shop have a website? You mentioned having been in business for 9 years, but later mentioned having had your shop for a year. Did you work in a shop prior to buying one?
As for your vase/bow question, try the decorative aluminium wire, you can make some very pretty accents with it.
Once you have gained full access, you can look around in the member gallery, there are some very inspiring photos there.
I have had a gift shop for 9 years and then added a floral shop
We started out as a antique/gift shop. Since we are raising a son with disabilities (autism) working right down the driveway from my home is great. We started out as an antique/gift shop, but with economy we ended up adding more gifts each year and less antiques. About 16 months ago our downtown floral shop was going to close because the owner wanted to retire. Friends told me to add a floral area in the gift shop so we found a florist to run it, and yes- we added it. Two weeks into opening it, our florist decided to go for her masters degree and had a job offering she could not refuse. We could not blame her. So my daughter and I did some classes on line, attended classes and seminars etc. etc. and are learning every day!! Thank goodness GOD created us with some talent!! We love flowers as well as I love working with my daughter full time in our gift/floral shop. We like to use our creativity and love trying and learning new things. I am hoping joining this community we can learn from all of you.
We started out as a antique/gift shop. Since we are raising a son with disabilities (autism) working right down the driveway from my home is great. We started out as an antique/gift shop, but with economy we ended up adding more gifts each year and less antiques. About 16 months ago our downtown floral shop was going to close because the owner wanted to retire. Friends told me to add a floral area in the gift shop so we found a florist to run it, and yes- we added it. Two weeks into opening it, our florist decided to go for her masters degree and had a job offering she could not refuse. We could not blame her. So my daughter and I did some classes on line, attended classes and seminars etc. etc. and are learning every day!! Thank goodness GOD created us with some talent!! We love flowers as well as I love working with my daughter full time in our gift/floral shop. We like to use our creativity and love trying and learning new things. I am hoping joining this community we can learn from all of you.
Welcome to FlowerChat! Good luck with the floral portion of your business. There is a lot of valuable information in this forum.
roysecityfloristand gifts
Well-Known Member
Vase treatments would depend somewhat on the vases form. Is it a cylinder, gathering, pilsner, standard rose vase with hip??
Proper design and consistency will set you apart, as will excellent customer service and professionalism.
There is a boutique type floral shop in the new york area that uses vintage containers. Since you started with antiques, you probably are familiar with milk glass footed urns, teapots, wateringcans, soda glasses, pitchers,floral teacups/saucers,even some of the old Haeger and Floraline ceramics(by McCoy) would make interesting containers. Old good condition straw or patten leather purses, think outside the box, frequent flea markets, thrift stores for the vintage items.
You after a year in business should know what your area is used to, probably daisys and carns, huh? You need to slowly introduce better flowers. Lilys (Asiatics for color variety), lizzy, bells of Ireland, Fugis,Leucodendron, roses of course, liatris, limonium (Caspia) etc.
Your prices are way way too low. If you want to be around next year you need to get in line with more standardized pricing. Most shops have a minimum order of about 39.00. A casket piece for 100.00 is not the norm. Of course I don't know what you did for that amount, but that's too low.
What form do your fresh arrangments take typically? Round, three sided (also called flat back). Round vase arrangements are not meant to have a front so don't need a bow. Baskets often have bows in a #3 or #5 ribbon.
Our customers love our very full and puffy #9(some would say old fashioned) florist bows on plants, while many on this forum use raffia, tulle, wire, in a shoe lace tie on vases. At Vday I buy inexpensive heart charm braclets for the necks of the standard rose vase. Also multi colors of curling ribb. tied on the neck of vase for the less expensive items to dress them up.
There is much for you to learn, and you won't get it all here. You need a trainer. Did you start from scratch or buy an existing shop? Are you in a wire service? Can you afford a website? Don't promise more than you can deliver, especially at a major holiday. For now, stay within your knowledge/ability. The public will not forget you screwed up their VDay.
If there is a Dollar Tree store in your area, they have vases, but don't pay 1.00 for a budvase worth 39cents.
Two shops for a small town of 2,400 is going to be a battle, one of you will probably not succeed. Who is your competition? How long have they been there? are they connected to the funeral home (if there is one there),
NO, do not give things away, and don't advertise in the yellowpages Book, or any paper advertising.
It constantly amazes me that there are so many newcomers to this very hard business, in these economic times.
Best of luck.
Proper design and consistency will set you apart, as will excellent customer service and professionalism.
There is a boutique type floral shop in the new york area that uses vintage containers. Since you started with antiques, you probably are familiar with milk glass footed urns, teapots, wateringcans, soda glasses, pitchers,floral teacups/saucers,even some of the old Haeger and Floraline ceramics(by McCoy) would make interesting containers. Old good condition straw or patten leather purses, think outside the box, frequent flea markets, thrift stores for the vintage items.
You after a year in business should know what your area is used to, probably daisys and carns, huh? You need to slowly introduce better flowers. Lilys (Asiatics for color variety), lizzy, bells of Ireland, Fugis,Leucodendron, roses of course, liatris, limonium (Caspia) etc.
Your prices are way way too low. If you want to be around next year you need to get in line with more standardized pricing. Most shops have a minimum order of about 39.00. A casket piece for 100.00 is not the norm. Of course I don't know what you did for that amount, but that's too low.
What form do your fresh arrangments take typically? Round, three sided (also called flat back). Round vase arrangements are not meant to have a front so don't need a bow. Baskets often have bows in a #3 or #5 ribbon.
Our customers love our very full and puffy #9(some would say old fashioned) florist bows on plants, while many on this forum use raffia, tulle, wire, in a shoe lace tie on vases. At Vday I buy inexpensive heart charm braclets for the necks of the standard rose vase. Also multi colors of curling ribb. tied on the neck of vase for the less expensive items to dress them up.
There is much for you to learn, and you won't get it all here. You need a trainer. Did you start from scratch or buy an existing shop? Are you in a wire service? Can you afford a website? Don't promise more than you can deliver, especially at a major holiday. For now, stay within your knowledge/ability. The public will not forget you screwed up their VDay.
If there is a Dollar Tree store in your area, they have vases, but don't pay 1.00 for a budvase worth 39cents.
Two shops for a small town of 2,400 is going to be a battle, one of you will probably not succeed. Who is your competition? How long have they been there? are they connected to the funeral home (if there is one there),
NO, do not give things away, and don't advertise in the yellowpages Book, or any paper advertising.
It constantly amazes me that there are so many newcomers to this very hard business, in these economic times.
Best of luck.
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