Florists Review Newsletter

April 2017  Is this email not displaying correctly? Try the web version. DESIGN IDEA: ADDING FLOWERS TO A WEDDING CAKE Discover a creative new way to decorate a wedding cake with flowers without contaminating the cake. Click here to watch Leanne Kesler, AIFD, PFCI, director of the Floral Design Institute in Portland, Ore., demonstrate the novel technique. DRUMROLL! THE 2017 “RETAIL FLORIST OF THE YEAR” IS … … Kennedy’s Flowers & Gifts in Grand Rapids, Mich. The shop, owned by Lori Haveman, is the winner of the prestigious 15th-annual contest, which is cosponsored by the Wholesale Florist & Florist Supplier Association (WF&FSA) and Florists’ Review. Watch for a feature article on Kennedy’s Flowers & Gifts in our June issue, and see why they won! Click here to subscribe to the new and completely revamped Florists’ Review, or request a free trial issue. ATTRACT TEEN SHOPPERS WITH A “PROM QUIZ” CHEAT SHEET The Society of American Florists (SAF)makes promoting prom flowers a snap with social media graphics and suggested posts with an interactive quiz on prom flowers on SAF’s consumer website, aboutflowers.com/promquiz. To find their “Prom Flower Personality,” users answer nine questions about their personality, style and prom plans to help them pick the perfect prom flowers to fit their style. Check out SAF’s Prom Resource Center to get all kinds of ideas and assistance for marketing prom flowers in your shop. SOUTH CAROLINA FLORIST MAKES PROM POP ON SOCIAL MEDIA Click here to read how Greenville, S.C. florist Staci Bryant is taking prom seriously — and having a lot of fun on Facebook and Instagram, to the delight of her customers. 11 WEDDING COLOR PALETTES FOR 2017 (THAT AREN'T PINK) Martha Stewart Weddings has identified 11 wedding color palettes for spring 2017 that don’t include pink, noting that while “pink hues are beautiful and classic for springtime weddings,” not every bride will want this color. Click here to see Martha’s top color picks for this season’s weddings — that, no doubt, will carry into summer and fall. TULIP TIME A drone has captured amazing images of the 7 million tulips now blooming at Netherlands' famed Keukenhof gardens. Click here to see photos of some of the incredible tulip beds. PHILADELPHIA FLOWER SHOW The country’s largest flower-and-garden show was held in March, in Philadelphia. Click here to see spectacular photos of the event. AND watch for your May issue of Florists’ Review to see our exclusive coverage of a spectacular cut flower display at the show designed by Schaffer Designs (as well as coverage of flower shows in Boston and Chicago and at Macy’s Herald Square store in NYC!). Click here to subscribe to the new and completely revamped Florists’ Review, or request a free trial issue. WHAT HAPPENED TO TRADITIONAL FLORAL BOUQUETS? On March 20, The New York Times published an article, “What Happened to Traditional Floral Bouquets,” in which author Deborah Needleman wrote: • “Most of our cut flowers are imported from Latin America, where labor is cheap, working conditions harsh, regulations lax and chemicals prevalent … .” • “Imported flowers are jacked up on fungicide, dunked in vats of preservatives and jostled and manhandled for about a week,” before arriving in retail flower shops. Peter Moran, CEO of the Society of American Florists (SAF), responded to what SAF called “inaccuracies” in the article. Read his response here. #HAPPYHEALTHYFLOWERS The International Floriculture Expo (IFE) has launched an online social media campaign called “Happy Healthy Flowers”(#happyhealthyflowers) to promote studies that show the health benefits of giving and receiving flowers — and they want your help to spread the message. Learn how your shop can participate at www.floriexpo.com/happyhealthyflowers. COLOMBIA LAUNCHES A VIRTUAL FLOWER TRADE SHOW A virtual floral trade show? Yes, from May 24 to 26, 2017, Colombian ornamental growers will come together with buyers by logging onto Cyber Flora Show, billed as the world’s first ornamental product trade show. Read more about it here, or click here to find out how to “attend” or “exhibit.” FIELD TO VASE DINNERS GET NATIONAL ATTENTION Martha Stewart shines a spotlight on this year’s Certified American Grown Field to Vase Dinners, giving the events national exposure. You also can check out the first dinner of 2017, which was held March 11 at Len Busch Roses in Plymouth, Minn., in your May issue of Florists’ Review. FR also will be your source for info and photos from all seven dinners this year. Click here to subscribe to the new and completely revamped Florists’ Review, or request a free trial issue. A HAPPY EASTER The National Retail Federation (NRF) predicted that Easter coming late this year could have resulted in consumers spending more money than ever — a record $18.4 billion this year (6 percent more than last year), including $1.2 billion on flowers and plants. Click here to find out what else consumers bought for the holiday, and email editors@floristsreview.com to give us a report on your Easter sales. FTD OFFERS “GREEN” CERTIFICATION FOR FLORISTS FTD Member Florists now have the opportunity to identify and implement “greening” opportunities and initiatives at their shops thanks to a new partnership with the Green Business Bureau. Participants complete an assessment that validates their current sustainability efforts; identifies areas where their businesses could be more environmentally friendly; and work toward reaching their goals with assistance from the Green Business Bureau’s online library of step-by-step plans, activities and links to vendors. To learn more, visit ftdi.com/gbb. DAVID AUSTIN WEDDING ROSES Hot off the presses, this brand-new book showcases the range of 14 English garden roses that David Austin has been perfecting for weddings and special events since the 1990s. Each of the rose varieties is featured in a number of spectacular floral designs, making this glorious book a must-have for the coming wedding season. Click here to check out a selection of the design ideas and to order the book. Softcover. 96 pages. DAW217 – ONLY $20 Copyright © 2017 WildFlower Media Inc. All rights reserved. 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Christina Burton-Fox AIFD floral artist & instructor