Guest Blog by J Schwanke - The Flower Expert! 2012-02-08

Are you “Saying it with Flowers?” 

Hey there! I’m J and they call me the “Flower Expert”! On ABC Television I’m known as the “Flower Guru” and I host the world’s first internet weekly web TV show about flower apply named “Fun with Flowers with J”.  My industry refers to me as “the Most Trusted Voice in the Flower Industry”.  :o) Monday Morning Flower’s Georgianne and I became fast friends at a seminar I was giving in Heightstown, NJ.  I love her energy and enthusiasm for helping her fans “say it with flowers” whether it’s for Valentine’s day, prom, happy weekend or BOY do I LOVE YOU!!! No matter how you break it down, I love everything about flowers.  Nothing (and I do mean NOTHING!!!) allows us to share our emotions better than flowers. It’s impossible to “RUIN” someone’s day with flowers although it is possible to select the wrong flower.  Consider the gentleman who sent his wife a cactus to repair their “prickly” relations…well, you get the idea. :o) The Society of American Florist tells us SO much about the way flowers can make a difference. Sick people that receive flowers get better faster (Yellow flowers = EVEN FASTER), homes with flowers have fewer disagreements and seniors, in the presence of flowers, have happier thoughts and better memory retention.
And flowers aren’t just for the ladies.  I recently filmed a show with FOX News downin Charlotte with anchor Christine Noel, where we discussed “Chick and Dude flowers”.  Together we created a fantastic basket of flowers that crossed gender barriers! The February/March issue of AARP (I’m a proud member…hehe) endorsed flowers at the #1 SURE FIRE ingredient for ROMANTIC night at home and featured tulips!  To show how the world has changed, tulips are no longer a spring flower. They are available 24-7 thanks to Sun Valley Groupin Arcata, Ca who solved the year round equation for tulip production. (Georgianne note:  look for our future blog that talks about flowers grown right here in the USA).

Every moment of our lives is made more memorable with flowers beginning with birth right through prom, engagement, wedding, anniversary, and sympathy tributes.  And let us not forget all those occasions in between such as birthdays, holidays, dog house day and make-up dinners.  Can you imagine our lives without flowers? I’ve spent my entire life surrounded by flowers.  From my birth at a flower convention (can you imagine a greater beginning?) to running through my families greenhouse as a toddler then running my family business and now culminating as the host of Flower show.  I realized early on that simply the best way to express our feelings is with FLOWERS!

So I ask you, what is it that you're trying to say today? Wouldn't it be EASIER, more EFFECTIVE and EMOTIONAL if you said it with flowers? Geogianne and her amazing Flower Artists are standing by with buckets of blossoms, ready to "increase your vocabulary", I'm just sayin..... 
Thanks for the guest blog J and we thank you for your continued support of us and the florists of the world!! Georgianne

J Schwanke, AAF, AIFD, CFD, PFCI, The foremost Flower Expert and Host of Fun with Flowers and J on www.uBloom.com is the Most Trusted Voice in the Flower Industry. J’s Daily Flower Thoughts are available (FREE) Monday-Friday from uBloom.com an On-line community for Everything Flowers! To learn more about J visit is his website at www.ubloom.com and you can connect with him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/jschwankeflowers   





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A Real Beach Wedding 2012-02-10

Oh my goodness, the line of brides in and out of our shop has been constant (and a bit overwhelming if I'm truly honest)! I predict that our wedding calendar is going to book up faster than any other year since I started doing weddings 20 years ago. On one hand, I'm flattered because it means the word out on the street is that we do a great job with our wedding designs - offer beautiful flowers, fair pricing and excellent service. Wow, I patted myself so hard on the back and knocked myself off my chair! Just kidding.
On to the topic listed above - A Real Beach Wedding. The other night I met with past bride Jodi and her friend Jackie to talk about her October wedding. I admit, I was a bit more snippy than usual and I'm going to admit that I probably had put in too long a day, with too little food and water and the tail end of a horrible cold dragging me down. Sorry Jodi and Jackie!! But how sweet was it to come in the next morning to see in my email, sent that night at 10:30 pm, pictures that Jodi realized she never shared with me from her wedding 5 years ago. I wanted to share so here you go - A Real Beach Wedding from May, 2007. Enjoy!!
 I loved the colors of the brides maids bouquet, cymbidium orchids, lavender roses and light blue hydrangea. What a lovely color theme for a Mother's Day weekend wedding at the beach.
 How cute it this? A touch of flowers for the Mother of the Brides purse. Love it!
 There she is, the beautiful bride Jodi (who looks just as pretty 5 years later). Putting in a good word about our wedding flowers to her friend Jackie just makes me happy, happy, happy because we live for referrals.
 I don't have confirmation but I believe this is Jodi's handsome hubby. I have to admit, I have a soft spot for these photos of the boys carrying the girls flowers. Not sure why but I do!
 Jodi is an extremely talented baker. She not only made her very own 4 tiered wedding cake, she backed and decorated three small wedding cakes for each guest table. Propped up on adorable tins (at three different heights) they really gave the guests something to savor with their eyes until their time came to eat them!
 What a sweet flower girl with her kissing ball of hydrangea and stephanotis. She looks like a little princess....
The bouquets in waiting. It hardly seems like 5 years ago that we did Jodi's wedding but she has assured me it's so. What a sweet gesture to send me these photos and bring me her "engaged" friends. It's times that these that I have to step back, slow down and enjoy the fruits of my labor. The door maybe revolving quickly with brides but it's a testiment to our passion, creativity and work ethic and today was just the day I needed to realize that!!

To see this more of our wedding designs visit our website at www.perfectweddingflowers.com or our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/localflorist (more...)

Flowers Shipped in a Box Verses a Local Florist 2012-02-12

Well, this photos is quite alarming isn't it. The roses on the right were delivered by a local florist. The one on the left, however was shipped in a box. Below is the wording posted, along with this photo, on the Facebook Page of my floral wholesaler.

And I quote them:
"TowersFlowers vs "Online Flowers" - this is a picture everyone should post on their personal pages so friends and family can understand why they need to purchase flowers from a retail shop this Valentine's Day.  

The "arrangement" on the left, purchased from a well known online order gatherer, ended up costing $82.95...$28 UPS charge, $10 "long stem" upgrade, and $4.99 vase upgrade.

Don't let your customers, friends, and family be disappointed this Valentine's Day…they deserve better!"

Obviously, someone who works there did a test order. One from a local florist who hand delivered the roses on the right and the second one from a well known online website who ships unarranged flowers via a shipping company. As always, you don't always get what you pay for and all those extras sure do add up. My overall message is Buyer Beware. (more...)

Time to Reorganize and Refresh! 2012-01-20

Isn't January the perfect time to Reorganize and Refresh? If you are in retail, it really is! This January has been no exception for us. This year, right after new years, we did a complete reorganization of our Floral Design area. Not only was it our chance to really do a good cleaning but also look to at our space from a production point of view. We've always had space for 6 designers to work at one time but it was a bit more disjointed than I would have liked. Moving our storage units and flipping the design benches, now all 6 designers can work near each other, sharing flowers, design recipe books and other materials in a more efficient manner. Now the designers are all only steps away from the flower cooler, the sinks and everything else they need to complete their designs quickly.

Did you know that at our Princeton location that we have 2 large coolers - one that measures 12 feet by 15 feet and another that is 12 feet by 9 feet? Having the flowers stored and organize in a logical manner not only gives the customer the freshest, best quality flowers but also allows us to buy in a way that gives them the best pricing possible.

The design and storage area was not the only part of Monday Morning Flowers to get a face lift. Right now we are in the middle of having the retail area completed repainted, new light fixtures have been added and soon there will be new carpet. If you are in the area, come check out our new and improved flower shop!! Last but not least, if you haven't been to our website you need to check out all the new arrangement like this pretty arrangement below. Party Girl is a fun arrangement in bright, hot colors, perfect for any happy occasion, don't you think? Well that's all that's fresh and new and believe me, we're enjoying our new, clean and updated organized space. Let's face it, when next month rolls around and the shop turns back into it's usual zoo, we'll be happy for all the effort put forward now!

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Affordable Gift Ideas for Valentine's Day 2012-01-23

 I know, I know, there are some folks out there that absolutely hate holidays like Valentine's Day. They think they were invented by gift companies to take money out of their pockets. Well, I don't think that's true but whether you spend a lot on your Valentine or not, I do think it's nice to at least recognize the day with a special treat or gift. This year we've order in lots of thoughtful gifts that are not only cute but really affordable. I remember when I was in high school, all I wanted from my guy was a cute card that said he loved me. I can tell you for sure when I was 16 or 17, if I received this card, I would have been a happy girl. We have lots of cards to choose from priced from .99 to $3.50. Now that's affordable right?
 What about this sweet love picture frame. Add a photo of the two of you, wrap it up and imagine their surprise. This frame is priced right and comes in a really nice gift box.
 We love these little boxes!! We plan on making floral arrangements in them but can't you imagine filling this with chocolates or even a cute, tiny teddy bear? the box is something she can keep too done in a very popular pink and chocolate brown color theme.
 Give them this mug either by itself, filled with candy or even their favorite coffee drinks or a gift card to Starbucks. Not only will they enjoy whatever you put in it but they'll remember you love them all year long when they drink their favorite beverage out of it.  
Looking for a cute way to present a small gift such as a piece of jewelry? How about one of these little tin pocket books? Even a tiny plant or stuffed animal tucked in would bring a smile, don't you think?
Yes, yes, we sell those "expensive" Valentine's Day gifts too such as long stem roses but who says you have to buy them if you don't want. We have lots of other cute gift ideas and take it from me, even a card, lovingly signed is enough to show you care and remembered the day. Happy Valentine's Day Shopping!! (more...)