Last month I had the pleasure of traveling to Holland with Joost, the owner of Florabundance, and attending the IFTF show (International Floriculture and Horticulture Trade Fair). The show was fantastic – aisles and aisles filled with huge displays of flowers. Seriously, I felt like a kid in a candy store!! The booths are all decorated differently, some do large floral arrangements and some keep it simple and fill containers full of flowers and let them shine. Either way, there is a lot to peruse and take notes on. A good portion of the displays are by flower breeders so this is the chance to see what is coming to market – a lot of these flowers will be grown by farms around the world, including farms here in America.

For those of you are interested in attending an IFTF show — good news — their next show is scheduled to take place in Los Angeles, California!! They are expecting a large turnout of California Flower Growers. The show will take place March 11-13 at the Los Angeles Convention Center – you can read more about it here.

Here are some of the highlights from the show (more images can be seen on my instagram account)

Heart of Red Naomi Roses

Arch of all lilies

Joey, Paula and Joost

You never know who you might run into at IFTF – here Joost is showing David Austin how cool Instagram is!

DeRuiter Rose Display

DeRuiter Rose Display

Alexandra Roses

Yves Piaget and Princesse Charlene de Monaco by Meilland

Sissi Mikado by Rosen Tantau

Silver Rain by Rosen Tantau

Reflex Spray Rose

Qualisa Roses

Madame Bombastic Roses

Kahala Roses

Glory Days by Schreurs

El Fuego Garden Roses

Combo Rose

Purple Vanda Orchid

Lisianthus

Display of pink flowers by Ball

White and pink striped lisianthus

Orchid Display

Lisianthus

Chrysanthemums

Carnation

Antique collection of carnations

At the end of the show attendees could be seen carrying out huge bouquets of roses. If I hadn’t been catching an early AM flight back to the states I would have grabbed an armful of roses, too!!

Jay Archer Floral Design

I took a peek around online to see what various wholesalers are currently offering — definitely some gorgeous flowers & foliages available, check them out-

Festival Bush by Florabundance

Green Ranunculus by Dutch Flower Line

Heavenly Yearning Amaranthus by Mayesh

Hellebores by G Page Flowers

Peppermint Montoya Carnation by DV Flora

Red Brunia by Mayesh

Scabiosa by G Page Flowers

Seattle Wholesale Growers Market – Winter Foliages

Hello dear flower friends,
Well it’s that time of year, time for my two week holiday blogging break. I am taking an extra day this year, hope you don’t mind! I’ll be back here blogging on January 5th.
I will keep sharing pretty pictures & other floral industry news on our facebook page during my blogging break, so be sure to pop by there to get your flower fill!!
Also, I am working on the spring schedule for floral design classes – will be posting those classes soon.

And if you are looking for a treat for yourself or another flower friend — order a copy of our first magazine here

Well, it’s that time of year again – Valentine’s Week! Wishing all of you who do offer Valentine’s arrangements good luck and a very profitable holiday! As for me, I’ll be helping out my friends at Fiori in Seattle – I have a feeling I’m about to be knee deep in pink & red roses!

Today I gathered some Valentine’s inspirational images —

Awesome online reminder ads -

Love the subtle hint of this ad by Sachi Rose Floral Design!

Love the simplicity of this ad – an eye-catching red rose arrangement with a sweet xoxo by Belle Fleur in NYC. Plus, they have a hashtag #FleurtWithBelleFleur – how cute is that?!

This ad says – pay attention and order flowers! Definitely an eye catcher in the Facebook New Feed.

Pretty arrangements that I’d love to receive! -

Roses Squared by Empty Vase in LA — unique and eye-catching!!

I’d love to receive this pretty arrangement from Hidden Garden in LA!

Great tip for florists! -

Great advice from Leanne at Floral Design Institute! I’ll be trying this trick myself this week!

Memorable Deliveries are Smart! -

Fun & memorable floral deliveries by Cupid in by Stems in Evergreen, Colorado!

Of course, I must have a heart floral design! -

Nothing says Valentine’s like a heart made out of red roses! Very intricate design by BLOMST.

As for me, I’ll pass on the roses for the holiday. Instead my hubby planted 500 peach & white daffodil bulbs in the front yard and those are popping open this week!
Happy Valentine’s Day/Week friends, hang in there!

Your name: Cristina Barragan
Your Business name: Posh Peony
Your Location: Rancho Cucamonga, CA (service all of southern CA)

How did you start your business and how many years have you been in business?
I have been in business since 2005 and it started as a household hobby doing flowers for family and friends for all the special occasions year after year. My mother has always been a creative and together we were inspired to continue creating beautiful arrangements. Soon after, we were getting busy through word of mouth and decided to establish the business. Posh Peony just blossomed after that!

What is your design aesthetic and what inspires you?
My personal design aesthetic is modern and sophisticated and I gravitate toward designs that are flowing with foliages and clusters of blooms. However, my business design aesthetic is completely different as it is inspired by each client. We attract clients with various styles ranging from glam to vintage, rustic to eclectic, and traditional to organic. It is important to us that each event reflects our clients and that designs are never “cookie cutter”. Our designs are also inspired by art, fashion, textiles, books, colors, and the beauty in nature itself. A simple fabric swatch or dress on the runaway can spark many floral ideas!

What is your favorite part of being a floral designer?
My favorite part of being a floral designer is the design process. I love getting to know a client and creating something completely unique and inspired by their personalty and style. Sketching and pulling images and other inspirations is were I get to be an artist and try new things. I am fulfilled with pride and joy when I see every piece come to life the day of the event.

What is the most challenging aspect of being a floral designer?
The most challenging aspect of being a floral designer are the logistics and time required to do everything. The ordering, cleaning and preparation of flowers, handling and care, hours upon hours of creating, installation and set ups, and the late night strike. This part of the business isn’t so glamorous and fun as most people might assume. Although the labor is hard and must be carefully planned and executed, it is so worth it in the end!

What advice would you give to aspiring floral designers?
Aside from the technical advice like build your brand, network with colleagues, and work ON your business from time to time, the most meaningful advice I could give an aspiring floral designer is to LOVE what they do and never give up. There will be times when you may get discouraged due to lack of business, finances, or just plain ol’ life getting in the way. Just keep pushing through to achieve the goals you set because all the sweat and tears you put in, will come back ten fold with dedication.

What are the trends, flowers & colors that are unique to your region?
The trends, flowers, and colors that are unique in my region tend to be blush and cream events with crystal, gold, or silver accents and the abundance use of peonies, garden roses, dahlias, and hydrangeas. These floral selections make up the bulk of our most sought after designs and the brides here in CA tend to want the glam and sparkle. Occasionally, I will get a bride who wants to go in the complete opposite direction…which is very exciting!

What tool in your toolbox can’t you live without?
Zip ties! These work great last minute if a wire snaps or if something needs to be secured tightly. They are lifesavers!

What’s your favorite Social Media platform and why?
Instagram has been the best social media platform for my business because I get the most traction and leads. The best part is that it is FREE to use and I am also inspired by all the florists and creatives I follow.

Anything else you’d like to share with Flirty Fleurs followers?
We also offer specialty linen rentals with several textiles and colors to choose from. Our designs are greatly inspired by the linens that are paired with each event.

Contact Information:
Posh Peony
8237 Rochester Avenue #115
Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730
909-292-8862
Website: www.poshpeony.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PoshPeony
Twitter: https://twitter.com/poshpeony
Instagram: http://instagram.com/posh_peony
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/poshpeony/
Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cristinabarragan

The Question:

I’ve been in business on my own for 5 years and I got my first strongly worded negative feedback email.  How do you graciously respond to the negative feedback and deal with the unhappy client in an appropriate manor.
-Andie

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The Answers:

Very high maintenance brides tend to be the ones to write the negative reviews – you usually have a whole list of issues that arose with this person and hopefully you have pictures to back up your product. I have been told that it is important to respond to EVERY review, good or bad, so that it doesn’t look like you respond to only the negative ones. I have had a few negative reviews and it hurts, no doubt about it, especially when you have put your heart and soul into making this day the best it could be within the constraints of requests and budget. Sometimes brides forget that their budget limited what was possible and blame the florist. Take pictures, keep correspondence, and if necessary, give back deposits and walk away from really difficult brides. When the hair rises on my neck, I know this is one from which I should walk away. I have responded simply, with the facts, and sometimes a link to the photos on my web site or Facebook page so that a potential bride can look for herself and decide. Usually the numerous 5 star reviews speak for themselves and make the bad review appear to be someone having a bad day. There are just those people out there that will never be satisfied with anything, so don’t take it personally.
Melody, Fleurish Floral Designs, California

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First, analyze the situation. Then, ask to speak with them on the phone. It’s difficult to dictate tone in an email. If that doesn’t work, ask them to meet you face to face to clarify or rectify the situation. If they weren’t happy with a vase of flowers, offer to replace it. If it’s a wedding they are complaining about, ask them to clearly identify in writing what was wrong or did not meet their expectations. Compare to your work order and contract… And again, ask to meet face to face. I’m convinced a little face time can make a big difference.
Jessica, Blooms ‘n Blossoms, Kentucky

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This one is hard all the way around. It hurts to get those. I suggest responding with a general “thank you for your email I will look into the situation and get back to you” that gives you time to calm down and think about a reply but also lets them know you are going to address the situation.
Buffy, Pink Posey Design, Colorado

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Negative feedback is really hard to take, especially when you are honestly trying to do your very best for everyone! When I get negative feedback, first I reflect on if it’s justified or not. If it is, I do my best to OWN THE MISTAKE- claim it, apologize sincerely for it, do anything possible to rectify it, and use it as a valuable lesson for the future. If you feel the complaint is not justified, sometimes you just have to take it on the chin. In my many jobs in the retail and service industries I’ve realized that no matter how hard you try, you CANNOT make everyone happy every time. The fact that you have only had 1 person leave negative feedback is pretty astonishing, I think! The first time I got really negative feedback I cried and lost sleep over it. The next time I was bummed, but it was easier to take.
Kelsey, Crabapple Floral, North Dakota

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My advice is to first take a moment and acknowledge it hurts. We’ve all been there and it hurts to receive criticism, especially when given in a hurtful manner as this type of email often is. Then you need to step away and look at the points being made. Is it a complaint about something that there was in fact an issue with, such as delivery problems or a mis communication of style or size? These are things that need a prompt apology, an offer to make good in some way and a look at your internal systems to make sure you learn from the experience. If the complaint is that the person simply doesn’t like the very thing that you do, then I feel it really is ok to own up to that. We all have our own style and our own thing we rock, and that isn’t going to fit everyone. If this is the case, you can simply state that, but make sure you do it in a caring and empathetic way. If someone was upset enough to complain to you, sometimes they just want to be heard and acknowledged. Show you’ve heard them by responding to the specific things they talk about, if you were wrong somewhere say so, and figure out what they need to feel better about the exchange. Sometimes this does mean giving money back, or holding a credit, or it could be as simple as saying you are sorry they feel upset. Open dialogue is always the best policy- it will let you sleep at night !
Jessica, Periwinkle Flowers, Ontario, Canada

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For me I see it as constructive. Don’t jump back, take your time and read it a few more times then respond. Always be on the side of the client. (UGH) I know. NEVER come out and say you will refund them, ask them what you can do to make them happy. Most of the time they will meet you half way. Always let them know how sorry you are (even if your not).
Tracy, Park Place Design, Michigan

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I received a report on my wedding wire review that was, I felt a bit negative , but the bride loved the end result…so I bit my tongue and fought back the reply I wanted to give.
I then replied on the page to thank her for her review, congratulated her on her wedding and that I was very happy to be part of the day and pleased that she was beyond pleased with our designs.( Focusing on the end result , not the picking apart of the process, realizing it was just a difference in handling the process and for her letting go of the control was the problem)
Kris of KRISanthemums, Oregon

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Five years and your first negative review?! CONGRATS! If the client is offering real constructive criticism, be gracious and open to it. Thank them for their feedback and the time it took them to write you an email. Thanking people tends to diffuse a tense situation. Let them know you’ve read what they wrote and will be acting on it to improve in the future. If the customer wrote a negative email full of hurtful and untrue criticism, still thank them for their time and insight and move on. You can’t please everyone but there’s no point in making an enemy by getting defensive in your response.
Malori, Hoot and Holler, Arizona

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You can contact them and tell them how sorry you are. You can ask how you can make it up. Explain how some things in the flower business are beyond our control. Let them know that you value them and you put yourself in their situation. Let them talk about themselves. Send them a sympathetic something apologizing. Know that a happy customer is a marketing tool, it can help you or break you. Try to make it up to them so that at least if they talk about the bad experience they continue saying, but they did try to make it up. Or perhaps they will refrain from talking about it at at all and its better not talk than a negative talk.
Suzanne, All Star Orchids & Flowers, Florida

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I had one situation where the client incorrectly held me responsible for the mess the caterers left in their kitchen at their ranch wedding even though we left hours before the catering staff and had cleaned up. My tear down crew even mopped up the floor after the caterers the day after the wedding. He actually reduced my final payment by $200 as a result!

My response was that I could understand his frustration and was very sorry to hear that he was disappointed. I stated that client service and satisfaction was very important to me. I clarified the problem with the caterers and that my crew had cleaned up their mess. I was careful to word it as a communication issue with the event coordinator and not to blame the client in any way.

I think it is important to validate a client’s concerns up front if something went wrong, apologize and explain if there were factors beyond your control. But you want to leave them feeling that they have been heard in case they decide to give a bad review. If something was left out of their order, a refund is in order. However, if someone is very unreasonable or abusive I would keep it short and simple and say that you are very sorry that they were not satisfied.

Most importantly, MOVE ON and don’t dwell on it. Learn from your mistakes, communicate with your crew about avoiding it in the future, but don’t brood on them. As Abe Lincoln once said “You can’t please all of the people all of the time.” We all make mistakes but forgiveness is important. Self forgiveness can be hard but is important!

Madeleine, Fleur de Vie, Texas

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Please share your thoughts with us on this subject in the comments section!!

Do you have a question you’d like to ask for a Q&A session? Email it to me at: info@flirtyfleurs.com

Thought this was a pretty cute card!
Hope all of you out there filling Valentine’s Day orders are hanging in there .. it’s almost over!

As business owners we are multifaceted. We design, we deliver, we write proposals, we do accounting, we answer phones and we wash buckets. We wear many hats, but perhaps the most difficult aspect of our job is dealing with customer complaints.

Sounds pretty obvious, huh? People complain and we don’t like it. No brainer. But how we handle these difficult situations is what defines us in many cases.

Sometimes we are handling complaints when we’ve done nothing wrong. Sometimes this complaint is in writing for everyone to see. Sometimes we really do mess up.

So today I’ve got some tips for you and your staff on handling complaints. It’s a “threefer”…3 tips, 3 quotes and 3 more tips. I know that sounds like 6 tips, but just go with me on this one.

I hope you find it helpful or at the very least reassuring that you are not alone when it comes to the heavy weight of a complaint. If you like this video please “like” it, subscribe and leave a comment!
xo, Alison

Alison Ellis
Floral Artistry
Vermont

Thank you, Alison, for another insightful video – your business advice is invaluable!

Your name: Jennifer Haf
Your Business name: BLOOM floral design
Your Location: Charlevoix, Michigan

How did you start your business and how many years have you been in business?
Inspired by our farm house renovation project and dreams of sharing fresh cut flowers from the garden, BLOOM was born. Our first venture was a weekend European-style flower stand offering fresh garden blooms arranged organically for passersby to purchase. Then came the first bride inquiry, literally on day one. Then the second and third…we had 6 weddings in our first summer without knowing where to begin. This was 8 years ago and throughout the journey of finding our aesthetic, we have since executed hundreds of weddings, opened and closed a retail location, moved our business to our home studio closer to the gardens. We could not be more pleased with the nature of our organic growth, the future is bright indeed!

Lauren Kinsey Photography

What is your design aesthetic and what inspires you?
Our lovely Northern Michigan locale has most inspired our designs and has lead us to offer seasonal flowers in naturally designed arrangements that complement the amazing venues throughout our region.

Kelly Sweet Photography

What is your favorite part of being a floral designer?
The constant change; in season, in client, in venue, and especially in flowers. Each week is different than the next and no two of our events are identical so the nature of the business is always fresh and inspiring. As a seeker and suspect gypsy at heart, this meaningful work fuels the creative and constant motion that I crave…dream “job” indeed!

Reflectivity Photography

What is the most challenging aspect of being a floral designer?
Talking to clients about cost and talking them out of DIY aspects that would otherwise compromise the overall design. I believe that clients should hire a designer to guide and share their experience. We are here to offer opinions to help direct the overall vision for décor/floral elements and trust that experience is valuable, we have seen loads of events come to fruition.

What advice would you give to aspiring floral designers?
Make as many professional connections as possible; local, cyber, international, etc.. flower friends are the best and will continue to inspire!!

Shutter Sam Photography

What are the trends, flowers & colors that are unique to your region?
With a short and sweet growing season with cold winters, peonies thrive here in Northern Lower Michigan (thankfully). We can also grow loads of old fashioned garden annuals; zinnias, sweet pea, snap dragons. On the off season, our evergreen forests offer an abundant selection for winter events that keep designs relevant and of the season too! Design trends vary depending on venue and we are lucky to have an amazing concentration of lakeside, ranch, elegant, estate, and historic venues throughout our region that we serve…. Shhhh! Don’t tell anyone.

Weber Photography

What tool in your toolbox can’t you live without?
My snips, I love a good quality pair of Japanese snips and oasis liquid cold glue.

What’s your favorite Social Media platform and why?
Instagram hands down! It’s perfect for such a visual product and always kind and light!!

Weber Photography

Anything else you’d like to share with Flirty Fleurs followers?
BLOOM would love to open our doors to interested aspiring interns for the summer of 2015. We are happy to share what we do with inspired flower people, just ask! We have one week intensive opportunities still available.

Contact Information
Jennifer Haf
231-675-9017
Web: www.bloomfloraldesign.com
Instagram: @bloomfloraldesign
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/BLOOM/117263884203
Twitter: @bloomupnorth

Weber Photography

The Question:

I love the recent post on how people transport their flower arrangements.  I’d love to see a follow up on more specifically how people transport and present their bridal party bouquets.  It’s something I’m looking to change up from my shop and would love some inspiration from other people in the business.  We currently use a large white cardboard box with plastic buckets inside and tissue paper to cover them up.
-Jessica

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The Answers:

We use BlumeBoxes to deliver our bridal party flowers. They are boxes with plastic bags inside for each bouquet. They work great and we can customize them however we like (adding a sticker, ribbon, etc) You can get as fancy or simple as you like. I just received an email that BlumeBox was bought by a company called FlowerBox and they will be coming out with a new line of products. You can check them our here http://www.flowerbox.com/ or here http://www.flowerbox.com/blumebox.
Best of luck!
Daphne, Ashby Floral Boutique, Ohio

Ashby Floral

Ashby Floral Bouquets in Blumeboxes

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Recently I made some changes to the way I deliver my personal flowers. I had been delivering in glass vases and plastic crates and found that I was always having to track those down later, plus I didn’t really have a way to brand those items. I discovered BlumeBox, which makes recyclable cardboard bouquet holders in different colors. They come with a plastic liner so that the bouquet can still be delivered in water. I have stickers with my logo printed and they are used to mark each bouquet (Bride, Maids, MOB, etc). I repurpose the long boxes that the flowers are packed in and line them with colored tissue paper and then place the BlumeBoxes in that. It makes for a great presentation. I also use long stem plastic rose boxes for delivering the boutonnieres and corsages. They are also labelled with branded stickers. I feel that the branded label/logo stickers bring a cohesive look to the delivery. I also like that all the materials are either recycled or recyclable and I ask that my brides recycle all the packing materials.
Blair, Sweet Blossoms, Maryland

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We buy the 7″ glass cylinders by the case full from the dollar store online. They are $1 and usually the perfect size. We add a ribbon and tag for each and they are the clients to keep. For smaller bouquets (mothers or flower girls) they have a smaller 5″ curved vase we order.
Buffy, Pink Posey Design, Colorado

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I invested in a few Flowertotes (www.flowertote.com) this year and really like them for transportation. However, trying to figure out the best interior configuration that works well for your collection of vases is overwhelming. They have many choices.
2 litter Pop bottle crates also work well for many containers and are stable in your car.
As far as presentation of the Bridal Flowers I think the Wow factor is best. We never dump and run. We get to the church early or our Farm Bridal Room early to set up the bouquets so when the girls walk in everything is beautiful.
For the guys we always display boutonnières on a beautiful tray while we pin.
Nancy, Destiny Hill Farm, Pennsylvania

Destiny Hill Farm – Bridal Bouquets

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I think that deciding what is best for you in transporting is an “on going” learning process. I have been in business going on 5 years and I think this past year was our best “transporting” year. Recently, we purchased (8) lightweight wooden boxes from a wine shop that was selling them very inexpensively. I originally thought we’d use them as table centerpieces for our daughters wedding. As it turns out they are an excellent height and size to transport bouquets. I buy 7 inch cylinders and then place a printed sticker on each vase that tells who is to get which bouquet, i.e “Bride” or “Bridesmaid.” I use a really pretty font when printing out the stickers. The 7 inch cylinders are a perfect size for the bouquets so I don’t have to worry about them damaging the bottom of the bouquets. When I arrive at the venue I take all of them out the the boxes and place them in a nice arrangement on a prominent table that will be seen by the bride as she walks in. I do not collect these vases. They become the Brides or the venue keeps them. As for the boutonnieres, I like to use a very nice shallow box. I line it with tissue and then I stick a lapel pin in through the clear bags with each tagged “Groom,” “Groomsman,” “Father of the Bride,” boutonniere and I stick it into the bottom of the cardboard box. I close the box and label it along with a few instructions for pinning and/or how to care for their boutonniere. For example, I tell them that the Bride has specifically chosen this style of “bout” for her wedding and would love to see how handsome they all look in them so…”please, no high-fives, chest pumping, or picking each other up before the ceremony and before pictures can be taken. After that, you are on your own.” That always gets a laugh from the guys.
Lauren, Garden Gate Florals, Florida

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I buy small plastic bins that have handles on the side at the dollar store, I try to get them in my shop colour ( blue) but will sometimes have to take white or green. I take off the sticker; put my own on the side. Then I put mason jars (from the local hardware store, minimal cost) with a little water in the bottom and stuff tissue around to hold them stable plus look pretty. I can usually fit two bridesmaids bouquets inl or one larger brides bouquet. This allows the bridal party to easily transport the flowers in the limo etc as needed, and keeps them upright and stable as well as in a little water to help keep fresh ( I don’t wrap the entire stem, there is usually a couple of inches of stem that can sit in the water). I put in some paper towel with a small instruction card saying to wipe the stem ends before holding the bouquets so the dresses don’t get wet spots. If it is cold weather I will put the whole thing into a large clear plastic bag and tie it up top to create a warm bubble of air that is easy to access and re tie as needed.
Jessica, Periwinkle Flowers, Ontario, Canada

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I have two of the foam boxes( I can fit two across the back of my vehicle) that can hold up to 5 vases/containers each ( each bouquet is provided in a vase for weddings). For boutonnieres and corsages I put them in boxes and then in pretty bags with handles for not only ease of transportation for me, but for ease of the person in charge of them on the big day as well. I also have several colored towels that match our signature color that can be put in to support large containers. For petals, they are placed in long , low boxes ( which match the boutonniere/corsage boxes) lined with waxed tissue. Presentation makes a difference.
Kris of KRISanthemums, Oregon

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We use the 8″ blumeboxes. They come in a variety of colors and because they are wider at the bottom, they are fairly stable. Each box gets a label with our logo and we write the name recipient on each label.
Althea, Rose of Sharon Floral Designs, Arkansas

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The personal flowers are the most special. I try and make sure that I am the one presenting the flowers in person to the bride.

I invested in some wooden crates – you can source vintage ones, find new ones and paint them – I just make sure that they aren’t too tall and can accommodate the bouquets. I line the bottom of the crates with wooden excelsior, place the glass vases in the excelsior (which helps keep them standing up) and then cushion with tissue paper.

Each glass vase has a hand written tag with the recipient’s name. It can be a little bit more work to get the names of the bridal party (correct spelling is a must) but when you walk into the bridal suite with crates of beautiful bouquets, everyone pauses. It also makes for a great photo op. Of course you will need to retrieve your crates but this extra trouble makes all the difference. When delivering personal flowers, I want the presentation to be as beautiful and meaningful as the bouquets.

Julie, Beaumont House Design, Virginia

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I recently launched Eco Fresh Bouquet and I do believe I have a solution for you to effortlessly transport your bridal bouquets to the ceremony and, create a lovely presentation all while using no buckets of water. Bridal florists are loving the ease, simplicity, and performance of this product!

How it works-

Eco Fresh Bouquet is a new and amazing floral hydration stem sponge-wrap™ system for hand-held bouquets. Designed for large size bouquets, easily trims to fit smaller bouquets, this highly absorbent sponge-wrap evenly distributes hydration to flower stems maintaining freshness through delivery and beyond.

Weddings bouquets are a breeze, brides can manage the hydration of their bouquet on their own with absolutely, no drips, spills, and… no fear on your way to the ceremony- hooray! As seen below, the hydrated sponge-wrap is placed around the stems and secured with a plastic bag, sans plastic buckets.

When applying the sponge-wrap to a wedding bouquet, the sponge-wrap and plastic bag are trimmed just to fit the very ends of the stems, the ribbon can be applied at any time. When the music starts, she can effortlessly remove the sponge-wrap and bag with no mess and just toss them away!

A cardboard box wrapped in wedding paper with each bouquet wrapped separately in tissue or kraft paper depending on the theme of the wedding would work nice. You can be confident your bouquets will arrive fresh and beautiful with a professional polished look with Eco Fresh Bouquet, every time!
I would be happy to send a sample to you to try.
Best always,
Debbie Demarse
EcoFreshBouquet.com

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Please share your thoughts with us on this subject in the comments section!!

Do you have a question you’d like to ask for a Q&A session? Email it to me at: info@flirtyfleurs.com

The IFTF show that I have attended twice in Holland is hosting a huge show in Los Angeles this March! Mark your calendars to attend – March 11-13 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. The show’s organizer sent me the information below, really looks like it’ll be a great time!!

“Interest for attending World Floral Expo is growing fast with an all-time high number of pre-registrations so far. An increase of almost 300% compared to last year’s show in Chicago reflects the enormous interest to attend the upcoming Californian show of World Floral Expo. Exhibit space has grown 150% to 60,000 square feet with a total number of 125 US and international floral related exhibiting companies.

The grand opening of the 2015 World Floral Exposition will begin with opening remarks by Robert Kitayama of Kitayama Brothers & President of CalFlowers, California Association of Flower Growers & Shippers. Mike M. Mellano, President and CEO of Mellano & Company, will follow and briefly trace the history of the LA Flower Market and Mellano & Company’s Wholesale and Farming divisions.

On Thursday March 12 Mellano & Company is sponsoring the LA Market Tour, a visit to the largest flower center in the United States, the LA Flower Market. This tour is a must attend part of your visit to World Floral Expo. Signing up can be done through www.worldfloralexpo.com.

During the 3 day trade show ongoing flower demonstrations are scheduled by a group of 8 Dutch Flower Designers and lead by Martin Groen, former Dutch Flower Design Champion and nominated for the upcoming Fleurop-Interflora World Cup 2015 championships which be held in Berlin Germany in June of this year. A unique opportunity for all US professional floral designers and event planners to experience the latest trends in European all occasions floral designing.”

More info and registration can be found on www.worldfloralexpo.com

Behold … deliciously antique-hued carnations! For anyone out there who thinks they don’t like carnations, these beauties will surely change their minds! Beautiful and striking in a design on their own or a perfect option to complement various color palettes. These awesome carnations are available from Florabundance Wholesale. Last November while at IFTF in Holland Joost and I came across these carnations and we were instantly drawn to their uniqueness. Joost knew right away that Florabundance customers would want these pretty flowers!
Check them out, which one is your favorite??

Spray Carnations in pink, white and peach. These are a great little filler flower and offer a unique blossom shape.

Recently in one of my design workshops we played with the spray carnations. I like how designer Dani added these little white carnations into the bouquet and how they mimic citrus blossoms! Definitely keep these little spray carns in mind if you ever need a “pretend” citrus blossom!!

These Merletto Crimson Carnations work perfectly in a Marsala color palette!

These carnations have a very long vase life, easily 2-3 weeks. Oh and since I asked y’all for your favorite color I will tell you mine – the Merletto Crimson! That carnation is so awesome, a lot of depth of colors on each petal. One last note – these carnations do all smell fantastic.

Contact information:
Florabundance Wholesale
http://florabundance.com/
800-201-3597

Your name: Megan Carollo
Your Business name: Flower Bar
Your Location: Scottsdale Arizona

How did you start your business and how many years have you been in business?
I started designing about 6 years ago when I wandered into a local Scottsdale shop and asked if I could just see what it was all about. Immediately, I loved everything about it! The flowers, containers, creativity – even the dirty buckets, green fingernails (less glamorous than a having a Green Thumb), and crazy hours appealed to me. I felt as though I had finally found where I was supposed to be! And the rest was history – well, kind of. I spent a good year and a half apprenticing and working part time, just learning the ropes of a shop. Eventually I got hired as a Designer, worked with some designers across the US, started taking workshops, and then almost 3 years ago decided to open up my own studio!

What is your design aesthetic and what inspires you?
I think my aesthetic is best described as, contemporary eclectic (I just made that up!). . . I live by the fact that the only constant is change, so we always try and incorporate or work with the latest products and trends. Not being stagnant and not getting into a routine is a huge goal of the studio. It’s always about finding that twist on a design – to make it just a little bit ((or a lot bit)) different! As far as inspiration: I draw a lot of inspiration from interior design, architecture, art, fabrics, and patterns. Also, I love to follow floral designers in different parts of the world – what is happening outside of our region is awesome! London, Melbourne, LA, NY, and Chicago are hubs of floral inspiration. And as silly as this may sound, I am absolutely amazed with Mother Nature and the intricacies of flowers – they are mesmerizing to me – and completely inspiring. One single blossom can present a color palette I hadn’t thought of or evoke an a range of emotions that is perfect for a certain personality.

What is your favorite part of being a floral designer?
I love that every week (every day even) is different! Each week brings a new clientele, a new design scheme, a new venue, and a new set of flowers! So it’s always fluid. We don’t have time to get tired of anything because it all changes so fast! And we are just a small part of this in the grand scheme of things; this industry is constantly evolving- whether it’s gown trends, styles, colors (the Pantone Color of the Year), or styling elements we are always changing and every event is an opportunity to do something different within the medium of fresh floral design.

What is the most challenging aspect of being a floral designer?
Well, specifically in the floral design world of weddings I would have to say that I have a love-hate relationship with online resources that give clients great ideas and inspiration, but don’t explicitly show the time and work that goes into creating the designs photographed. Also, at times I feel as though Pinterest and these online resources really hinder creativity of what clients could have. Don’t get me wrong, Pinterest can be a great resource for inspiration and ideas, but ultimately I don’t want to merely recreate what a client saw on Pinterest or on a wedding blog. I want to make something unique for my clients. And as much as all the online resources help, at times I feel as though they influence a client’s willingness to be a little bit more creative or try new things. Just because there isn’t the exact picture of an idea online doesn’t mean it won’t be beautiful

What advice would you give to aspiring floral designers?
I think if someone is really serious about becoming a designer they need to work in a few different shops. Wedding and event design is a completely different animal than everyday retail floral design. So, I think aspiring designers should try out both and see what is the best fit – the pace and schedules are very different. Also, don’t get attached to the normal socialite schedule (weekends are always busy) and your manicure will never, ever, be maintained as well as you would like, if at all.

What are the trends, flowers & colors that are unique to your region?
Succulents, succulents, succulents! OMG! Clients see them as something similar to cacti, so that is very complimentary to our desert environment. It also doesn’t hurt that they do pretty well most of the year here! We also incorporate a lot of cacti and cacti skeletons or ribs – essentially they are just a different branch. As far as flowers, we definitely use the more of the heat tolerate stems during the Fall and Spring when temps can be a bit on the warmer side. So dahlias, orchids, scabiosa pods, craspedia, dianthus, freesia, calla lilies, and even roses do well if weather is a concern.

Jill Lauren Photography

What tool in your toolbox can’t you live without?
Snips are a must (obviously)… but that is a given. So outside of that we always have some sort of monofilament or wire – whether it’s for a suspension or centerpieces it seems like we are always going for it!

What’s your favorite Social Media platform and why?
I absolutely love Instagram! It’s quick, easy, and centered around photos. I’m a super visual person so being able to just browse images is great for me! I use it follow designers that I admire or just search a specific design elements to get inspiration.

Anything else you’d like to share with Flirty Fleurs followers?
I think the most important thing to remember with flowers is that the possibilities and combinations are practically endless (with the exception of seasonality) There are so many flowers that are available to designers that with a little bit of creativity and an open-minded client we can create absolutely stunning designs with fun textures and colors that aren’t seen everyday.

contact Information:
FLOWER BAR
Megan Carollo, CFD
480.463.4887
www.azflowerbar.com
https://www.facebook.com/azflowerbar
http://instagram.com/azflowerbar/
https://www.pinterest.com/azflowerbar/

Jill Lauren Photography