What ever hapened to..................

[MANORVILLE]

Who's here.....Who's Not ?
Who's surviving,,,,,,,Who's Not ?

Who died, who's sick, who had problems ?

Who is about to close their doors ?

FC is about sustaining in the industry that we believe in, but where are we,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,in real time ?

FC is just like apple pie and Chevrolet, the real deal, yet we falter and linger, believing the misconception that it's all gonna be OK !

It's Not !

Either we move as one or we will be talking about all who did, for years to come, and complaining that they have become everything that we have fought against.

The Real Florist Nation does exist.................now is the time to step up and take it to the next level !

Just my humble opinion !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[lori042499]

I am here, Kevin....Reading, learning, teaching, posting, helping, but trying like heck to keep my head above water....

Some moths the rent is hard to pay some moths it is the electric, others it is the insurance, but evry month I am scraping up enough to pay them and keep just above water.....I am still seeing new customers and am feeling the regulars loosening up on spending, but still crawling out of the hole dug the last 10 months is going to prove difficult....

I am working very hard within my community, donating and letting people see me on the forefront, which leaves little time to post here, but I do pop on several times a day to keep abreast of what is going on...There are many here that are doing good work getting the word out about flowers and the importance of them to us as our livelyhood(thanks, carol, ivygreen, cheryl, clay, lisa, etc) and to the people that would be our customers....there are many here that are promoting to buy local and using the social networks to spread the word to the 20-40 year olds....I am one of those, and many, many others are as well...Maine, as a state is going big time with promoting of the locals, kudos to them....Massachusetts has a very small but hopefully growing number of florists trying to follow Maine's lead and get more florists concerned, excited and motivated to take cahrge of their industry and help themselves instead of sit by and wait for demise....

All of this does cut into FC time but at least it is all very necessary work on the front lines to really save the florists....The WS are working very hard to get all the orders for us, and that is very noble of them, but we must work even harder to keep the customers from being lured away from us and to them....In their process of trying to keep and steal away consumers from each other as big companies, if we sit idle, they WILL, in fact, steal even more of our valuable customers away from us just to hand them back at a huge discount...We cannot, as an industry, survive much more of our customers being lured away from us and given back to us with the fat taken off the top....we need that fat just to survive the lean times......

All florists, even if you are stuck in your shop and are small should be promoting local shopping at the very least, it helps you and your fellow main street vendors. This is the simplest form of being proactive and if you are not the self promoting type it is easier because it isn't all about you, it's about community and home....If we all help our home communities it will strengthen our country as a whole by ripple effect....Please do not sit by and wait for your friends and neighbors to buy from you, give them a reason to, tell them why you need them, ask for their business this holiday season, they don't want to see you close, but if you don't tell them that you need them to buy, they may not think about you...

Ok, off soapbox, have said enough for one day, hope it resonates with some if not all.....Thanks for listening.

 

[roysecityfloristand gifts]

Your reading my mind for this thread.

I tried to find www.deannastexasblooms.com yesterday and couldn't.
She had the cutest shop. So I'm wonering if anyone knows what happened to her?

Also BikerLady, are you still around?

FC is a real resourse, and when a member goes missing I wonder how they are.

Has anyone heard from Navy Brat lately? I think about her often.

There are others as well. There are shops closing almost over night everywhere.

Maybe we need to start a "Family News" sticky thread. That way those that have news can post it there, as well as inquirys about FC members.

My best to everyone, hope your all doing well, and hanging in there.

 

[OB1]

Yes, I agree, even though I am relatively new here, I too, wonder about those who were once here all the time, and now not so much, or not at all.
I like to think that everyone is so busy working to stay strong in our communities that we have no time...
But a new "Family News" thread area sounds good to me too.
No @@@@@ing or whining or politics or arguing...
Just a great way to keep us all informed about the ever changing world around us
as it pertains to where we are now, or where we are going to be found tomorrow.
Any thoughts, Ryan?

 

[Lady Biker Florist]

I was drowning my sorrows playing Sims 2 & Facebook games but quit cold turkey a few weeks ago!

I would love to be DONE with this flower shop once and for all. June will be my 30th year doing this. It's still just mom (86 yrs old), Neal (hubby) and me here all day every day. Neal & I still live here in the flower shop.

Mom and I have not had a paycheck for two years and that is getting old. That has NEVER happened before - we have ALWAYS received a full paycheck from day one. I have been selling things on Craigslist for personal money. Mom has SSI & a small pension from my dad and barely makes it. Neal gets paid since he has bills and no other income.

I let us get up to $34K on credit cards again over the last 3 1/2 years after rolling all our credit card debt between mom, me, Neal, the biz and the building llc into one home equity loan on this building after we had just paid off the building a year prior. Does the word stupid come to mind? And the cc debt grows almost every month.

My MS of 19 years is affecting me more, my left knee and right hip are so bad that together with the MS I can barely walk. Can't afford to see a doctor so haven't.

We try to implement new ideas to get more biz but responses to marketing are so slow and few and far between it's just not enough.

I decided it's time to apply for disability. I've worked all of my life and never asked for a dime from the government. Now I am! It's pretty bad when your 86 year old mom has to gather your pot and flowers for you. Holidays? Forget it! I called the lawyer today.

My mom has a very nice basement that my niece lived in for a few years one time when she was finishing college. I don't like the idea of stairs but there is a bathroom down there so I'll take it. We can live there for a while or as long as it takes.

What will Neal do? His MS limits his job choices also so maybe he will end up on disability too, I have no idea. He'll have to figure it out.

Hopefully you won't get freaked out about this, but we are followers of Jesus Christ, our precious Lord and Savior! We have an eternal perspective on life and we believe God has an agenda for us - we are just in a transitional part and that's always a weird place to be.

It's quite trying emotionally and really challenges us in many ways. It's so easy to give in to bitterness but we fight that with a vehemence. It's humbling when people give you money when they hear you're struggling and others bring you food from their church's food pantry when they hear you sold an amp for food money. I'm so grateful for them and thankful for anything I receive. It makes me cry.

This is just an honest assessment of what's going on with us and I hope it doesn't sound depressing or bitter.

I've loved Flowerchat since the beginning and Floristboard before that. Many of you have won your way into my heart. Some of you intrigue me and many of you are so smart I am dumbfounded. Others are so friendly and kind I am challenged to be more so myself.

I think when we started not getting paid is when I would come here and get depressed because I just felt like I had such a burden and just could not share in flower shop talk.

My sister in Florida has been of great support to me. We email each other once a week - the same day each week and share all our burdens, successes, advice, etc. with each other.

We have to be able to share here and not feel ashamed. Doing this helps to counteract that pesky shame that tries to sneak in and tell us we're losers, etc.

I am so NOT a loser and I will never give in to that kind of thinking. Looking forward to life's next chapter!!!!!!

Thanks for being here!

 

[blumen]

Patty,

Thank you for sharing. You are not alone. I'll keep you and your family in my prayers.

Linda

 

[RWK]

Happy to say I am still here, posting, reading, and surviving this crazy world we live in. I am fortunate to be working in my chosen career......thought not in the traditional flower shop.....but still with flowers. Being in a retail home decor superstore, working exclusively with permanent botanicals now and with residential home decor is nothing like I am used to and With over 20,000 square feet of merchandise, most would say "What a dream job to have so much product to work with" and my answer to that is not so much as you would think. Having so much product to choose from can be a bit overwhelming.

Happy to say that I too follow my Lord and Saviour Jesus and in particularly since the passing of my Mom on September 8th 2009, He is sustaining me daily.

Happy and glad to say that the auto accident that hurt Mom and I on January 13th 2008 was a blessing in disguise as we both won substantial settlements that have enabled me to say today that in this wild and crazy economy, that I am debt-free. I have no mortgage or house payment, no auto-loan or payment, less than 700 dollars in credit card debt, and just my normal monthly bills to worry about. I have a nice house......at 1200 square feet it is enough for me and the dog. Two good running vehicles, not new but dependable.

Happy and glad to say that I am in good health, I have lost weight, going from over 260 pounds down to 235 and still loosing. I will be buying a home gym before too long with the intent of getting myself in better physical shape and leading a healthier lifestyle.

Am I still first and foremost a florist? I answer that with a resounding YES. Do I still love my chosen career of a florist? I answer that with a resounding YES. Do I still love and appreciate everyone of my fellow florists, fellow AIFD members, and fellow FlowerChatters? I answer that not just with a resounding yes but with a shout from the rooftop of the world.......YES !!!

 

[Connie]

Patty, just so you know, you have been an inspiration for as long as I've known you here and on Florist Board.

 

[Mikey the Flower Guy]

Patty....turn this around...
What you see depends on what you're looking for.

what you are looking for, depends on what you see!!
Thankfully, you've "seen" for what it is, and are SO, NOT a loser, that you can share so explicitly!!
We're "supporting" my parents, one set of kids, a tenant upstairs, and ourselves, do we HAVE to, of course not, BUT, we do it, just like YOU do it.....revelations are just that!!
​

 

[roysecityfloristand gifts]

Thanks Patty for the update. You are in my thoughts and prayers. I know, we all see those words on the enclosure cards, or write them everyday, but here and now those words are from my heart for you and yours.

I know that working with illness is so hard, we have dealt with that and understand how you feel.

As I told another flowerchatter, a shop is just a thing...you are so much more important so do what is good for you. Find time in your day to take care of yourself, no one else will.

You know, the only time a customer inquires about a florist is when they ask why weren't you open at 7AM when I needed you? In other words they really don't care about us the people.

Definately get your Social Security, you more than deserve that. You have paid into our society for many years. It took me about 6 months to get SS for my disabled husband. SS is sneaky though, and will try to trick you out of your benefits so be on your toes. But do it!

Oh yeah, strike the word loser from your mind, that has never been you and never will be. PM me anytime you want to talk, or complain or whatever.

Carolyn

 

[Lady Biker Florist]

What an encouraging read tonight! I appreciate every comment!!!

The attorney meeting was postponed until today. The main advice is that I MUST have current medical records. I am glad that I have at least the Blue Cross Blue Shield plan I do have even though my annual maximum out of pocket is $5800.00.

So that is the next obvious thing to do so I will.

A bit discouraged at the length it takes but I'm tough and in the grand scheme of things one day I will look back and see the big picture with clarity.

I'm actually excited to see what the Lord has planned for me/us even though it looks dismal to the naked eye.

Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things unseen. So says God's Word!!!

Merry Christmas to all my Flowerchat buds!!!
My love to you all................:scooter:varoom...varoom...