Garden Club Presentation

[lori042499]

So I have been working on a garden club presentation for tomorrow...I am really happy with what I have designed...I am happy with what I am showing, but I am totally winging it with the actually speaking part of the presentation...I tried like heck to write a script and practice it, but then the product wasn't available that I planned on or the colors changed or something else was different and I had to start out all over again...

I am one of those people that lets the flowers guide me through and then make up the story as I go along..I am also a big adlib kind of person...I guess it is a rare talent to be able to get up in front of a room of people and just talk about smething without a plan, I just find it works better for me and feels more natural...

How do others prepare for a presentation of this sort???

 

[lil_goldie]

I'm an ad-libber, too. I always have a list of bullet points of topics I want to cover and then I just talk about each one. I do sort of run thru in my head what I might say about each bullet, but it's never written down or scripted.
I've used a little clock at the podium or table that way, if I've allotted 3-5 minutes for each point, I won't go over.

 

[concord]

I find I do better with out practice or planning. At least when it's a subject I'm knowledgable about. Usually Garden club ladies have a ton of questions which keeps the converstaion going. Good luck!

 

[KABERS]

I admire all of you public speakers. I tried it once and i swear to god i was so nervous my voice totally disappeared. It was horrible! You couldnt pay me enough to do it again and i sure wouldnt do it for free.

 

[lori042499]

I truly have the gift of gab when it comes to a subject I either know about or a subject I feel I can BS my way through...

I am doing this program on fall color..i am starting with the traditional stuff with a twist, some unexpected tidbits, but not over the top, porch decor, and house arrangements with fall leaves, reds yellows and orange, and then coming out of the box and showing the green burgundy and pink fall with a topiary/phoenix design, orange and teal fall with peacock feathers, teal oasis wire, and angel vine in a bird's nest design and a dellarobbia, style arrangement with garden herb clippings done in purples and orange...

My plan is to get them thnking out side of Shaw's and big boxes...I am using cocks comb, artichokes, gourds, wheat in different ways, wire, little added accents that you just don't see elsewhere that I am hoping will force them into actual flowers shops, hopefully mine to get this stuff in the future...at least to get them wanting more than just daisy baskets and giving florists more trust...My customers usually once they know me and my skill, just tell me what they have in mind and then let me add in the accents to my will, I want all people to know that if their florist of choice isn't showing this stuff, that there are florists who do it and all florist should be...we are supposed to be different, I'll show them different..

 

[Carol Bice]

When I had the guts to throw away my notes, my presentations improved measurably. If you know your product, it just comes naturally.

Garden club people love to ask questions which fills in a big gap if you forget part of your presentation.

 

[lori042499]

Presentation went grand...what a load off my mind..

I was able to talk about my new CFD certification and teach the general flower buying public a bit about the difference between florists and flower sellers without being obnoxious..I was able to get them to think outside the box...The big hit was my dellarobbia style arrangement...They loved the use of my actual garden clippings...I made them feel as if they should use their garden flowers and fill in with flowers from my store...Gave a 20% off coupon good until Dec 31st...

All in all a great time...I enjoyed it and so did they...Although I think we talked more on the side about my 210 lb weight loss and how I did that than my flowers...but what a difference in my reception from a big person to a smaller person...not that the reception wasn't warm before, but just a bit different now..

 

[OB1]

I must say that, like many others here, I have great admiration for all of your achievements, Lori.
To turn a flower shop around the way you have done is an amazing accomplishment, and to do that while facing another scary challenge at the same time is totally unbelievable.
I don't have any idea how you have managed the weight loss thing...to me that is unimaginable...but together with everything else you have done...You are a total rock star to me.
I am not at all surprised that your presentation went well.
The only thing you lack is the confidence that you really can do it all, and then, do even more.
I never, ever, doubted that you would succeed at this.
Well done!
JP

 

[lori042499]

Joanne, you have made me blush...Thanks so much...

Now funny you should say all that, my therapist say I don't give myself credit for the extrodinary things I do...I really think she might be onto something there, I really don't look at anything you have laid out as anything but a days work...and I don't even feel like I am working hard..I always say, if only I worked harder and applied mysef more, I could be like so and so...aand really be like a rock star...maybe I should just start relishing in my own accomplishments..again thank you for your confidence boost it really is appreciated and reminds me to stop and appreciate what I have done which is so important..