on facebook save the local florist

[lori042499]

Yeah yesterday Tim made two innuendo comments and pissed myself and mark off because it was flame dig toward either Shannon and Sarah from 3 days ago stuck into a completely unrelated post..that crap makes me nuts...is he so petty that a disagreement from days ago still lingers and is he so blind when his words affect people he doesn't even mean them to hurt do hurt even when told straight out..I let him now privately in a not so nice way I won't be spoken to like he speaks to Shannon and Sarah..I also said he and Andrew were gonna ruin the board..I am afraid they already have because we are now left with very few conversations and more flames..I think it is time to spend less time there...not worth it to me anymore..if I was helping florists learn, if I was learning useful stuff,I might stay, but to be told that I don't matter as a small shop and should go out of biz and that I am a witch or a know it all by a troll...just doesn float for me...and Bloomz boy he sure does enjoy seeing people fight..I swear he gets his jollies sitting at his screen watching the psuedo drama...yikes..

 

[BOSS]

Several of the "children" on those forums have been members here at FC over the years....

While I miss some of them, I for one am glad the "drama" has left the building and we're focused (mostly) of forward movement here....

 

[secretgarden]

I agree. I will scan those boards for marketing tips and advice. Frank Blachard is doing great things teaching people about using facebook as a marketing tool. I read up on that type of stuff because I want to make sure I'm not missing anything. Other then that I stay away. It's toxic. Also NEVER read it in the morning, it will sour your cream in your coffee.

 

[RWK]

Time for me to chime in here as well. I too am a part of that group.I do get useful information. You may notice that I don't post too often, but when I do, it's usually something good and thought provoking. The majority of the junk is not worth posting a reponse or commenting on. just like my comment on babies breath. it's always been my contention, that we as florists and businesspeople should put our personal likes and dislikes aside and do what is best for our business and if that is using leatherleaf and babies breath.....so be it. Who am I to dictate what my customers will and won't buy?

 

[BOSS]

BOSS's Quote of the day!

it's always been my contention, that we as florists and businesspeople should put our personal likes and dislikes aside and do what is best for our business and if that is using leatherleaf and babies breath.....so be it. Who am I to dictate what my customers will and won't buy?

YEP~! It'd be a real @@@@@ to make any money if all I sold was Gerbera and tropical's....

 

[Flowermomma]

YEP~! It'd be a real @@@@@ to make any money if all I sold was Gerbera and tropical's....

yep and that tacky giftware that i get back to the store and think what the hell did i buy that for?? only to have it sell out in a month!

 

[Tuberose]

Have to agree that I'm glad we don't have people stirring things up just because they are bored. Maybe they could do something useful, like wash buckets instead. I want to learn more, I wish we had more going on in the design forum. Any ideas?

 

[lori042499]

Have to agree that I'm glad we don't have people stirring things up just because they are bored. Maybe they could do something useful, like wash buckets instead. I want to learn more, I wish we had more going on in the design forum. Any ideas?

Shannon was talking to me yesterday about starting up a board for design..Our vision is to create a safe place for all people to ask design questions, show their work, get critique on how to make it better, stuff like that and such without feeling like they are not worthy, stupid, bad designers etc...we would love for people to be able to grow and get advice without feeling inferior..It would be a private board and I believe we will admin it to keep out trolls that have nothing nice to say...

 

[RWK]

I would welcome a board like that........even though we have one here on FC already......however, design is just one small part of the business of flowers. Speaking for myself, as a designer, I have to know if my designs are profitable and money-makers......the grandest, greatest, most creative, artisitic design in the world is not worth much if it can't go out the door as sold.

 

[Tuberose]

This board would be worth it's weight in gold if I can get ideas for everyday designs that are not just mixed flowers crammed into a vase, something slightly different but able to sell at a good price point, not too far out but would appeal to folks. Our use of river rock is one thing that has caught people's eyes, just as an example. Anything in a $30 to $50 price range that gives perceived value to impress the receiver and sender, has to work in the cooler and online in pictures.

 

[RWK]

Well, If things work out the way I hope they do, I should soon be in a position to do just that. I am contemplating a potential move from Texas to Florida where I am hoping to be involved as the lead designer for a quite progressive, very business oriented shop. Until the details are worked out, I won't reveal the particulars...name, shop, geographic area, etc. as of yet. Part of the job description will be to create designs that fit that category.....30 to 50 average cost, creative, unusual, unique.

I can tell you one recipe that I plan to introduce that has been a real moneymaker. It's called the BRIGHT AND CHEERFUL VASE. It is a vase arrangement that should sell for anywhere from the 40 to 60 price range. Uses NO carnations, baby's breath, or leatherleaf. The container is a 6 1/4 ginger urn, the foliage is pittosporum, the flowers are 3 gerbera, 3 alstroemeria, 2 roses, 1 asiatic lily, 2 stems button poms, 2 stems stock, 3 stems waxflower. Fragrant, colorful, longlasting, great visual value, and modern enough to meet a wide range of client needs.

 

[KABERS]

Sounds Great Ricky, I've been using a lot of pittosporum lately. Salal and leather has been horrible. I have to also say gyp and carnations have been big and beautiful the last few weeks, while the stock and wax - not so great.

 

[RWK]

The best part about that particular recipe is that you can vary the flower content.....if wax is not the best, then use montecassino or solidago, if not stock, then maybe a couple smaller snaps. The important thing is that groups of similar flowers have a similar price. For instance......basic flowers like carnations and pompons......similar use flowers....similar price point ( in the texas area, they hover around the 1.50 stem price point) fillers usually hover around the 2.00 price point.

alstroemeria and pompon daisys are same price point.....wide range of color, mutliple florets, similar uses.

 

[Lizi]

I have a yard full of Pitt, variegated and solid. Comes in handy, especially when I forget to order ruscus for wedding work. And speaking of alstromeria, had a bridal consult today. The Bride made a comment that she hated alstromeria, I asked why? She said all the petals fell off within just a few days. I told her they are one of the more hardier flowers, long vase life. After asking her where she purchased flowers from, she stated Wal-Mart, Costco, Grocery Stores. We had a nice conversation about the cold chain, processing and proper handling of flowers. Education for the consumer is something that our industry desperately needs. So now she realizes that a florist is a little higher in price for a reason.

 

[shannonlovesflowers]

The page I intend on creating on FB is going to be all about design. Big grand design and little stuff as well. Somebody posted beautiful photos today od a vase full of white phals... I almost peed my pants! So beautiful. Will I ever get to sell that to my customers here in ABQ- I'm not holding my breath- but the over all grandure just made me happy. AND it's inspiring. I love to be inspired and that is what I hope the simple little page will be- an exchange of ideas, tricks, tips, and inspriation.

Confession- up until 2006 pretty much all the foliages I used, mainly leather leaf, emerald palm, little bit of myrtle, little bit of pitt, little bit of seeded euc, little bit of plumos, little bit of tree fern, once in a while bear grass and once in a blue moon, italian ruscus.


Up until 2007- never even touched a monstera leaf, never heard of Fatsia Japonica, never heard of isralie ruscus, never heard of lily grass,
never touched hanging amaranthus, never used daliahs, never used mini callas, never heard of moccara or vanda orchids, I thought dendrobium only came in purple (bombay) or white, Never heard of ribbon grass, never heard of steel grass, never even knew you could buy commercially grown zinnias, never used aspidistra (had only used ti leaves and very rarely), never heard of phoenix palm, never heard of euro palm, never heard of brezillia berry, rarely used craspedia, never used uluhe, I could go on and on.....

I was still a pretty good designer, but very limited in my skills.

I started watching shows like "platinum weddings", reading Flowers& and started seeing Hitomis article, etc and really wanted to be a more (what I thought was) polished designer. So I set my mind up that I wanted to be more than what I was (designer wise) and went for it. Because I got inspired! If I didn't know how to do something- I asked! I'd even e-mail Hitomi questions- and she'd answer me! I never met her before- she didn't know me from Adam! But I learned.


Anyhoo- thats all...Thanks for letting me ramble.

 

[RWK]

Shannon, That's what we do as AIFD members and as fellow florists, we help by educating, answering e-mails, giving tips and tricks, I love to share my knowledge and skills with others. That way we all grow. Everyone in this entire world has two things that everyone else has......one of them is something they can learn and the other one is something they can teach someone else. Just as designers learn from me, I learn from them. If I were working beside you, I am sure I would learn something new and wonderful.......just as I am sure you would learn something new and wonderful from me.