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From J Schwanke... THE flower guy!  This is spot on...

 The Flower Expert Responds to 13 More Things Your Florist Won't Tell You!

 Today at 12:37pm

This was an interesting little piece published by Readers Digest…13 More Things your Florist Won’t Tell You! As the Flower Expert and One of the Most Trusted Voices in the Flower Industry… I wanted to weigh in on the 13 things and give you MORE Information…from my Professional Expert Perspective…

1. If you want more flowers for your money, find a florist in your recipient’s town and call him directly. But it’s harder than you think: some florists in the yellow pages and at the top of your Google search are national businesses masquerading as local ones. They even buy local phone numbers. So make sure you look for a physical address in town.

J Says:
YES… Order Gathering is AGAINST the LAW in my Home State of Michigan thanks to the Continued Efforts of the Michigan Floral Association and our State Representatives. It’s Deceptive Advertising… and you can Sacrifice up to 42% of the original Paid Price… when you send through Wire Services. Great Companies like the INDEPENDENT FLORAL NETWORK (there’s a connection to them on uBloom.com insure that the Filling Florist gets 100% of the order and the Customer receives Exactly what they pay for! Calling the Florist Direct is a Good idea… but using a service like IFN insures you get what you want and have full value!

2. Our smartest customers ask for a bunch of those packets. Most of us will gladly give you extras.

J Says:
FLOWER Food is essential to LONG LASTING Flowers… the "little Packets" are VALUABLE to insure your Flowers last as long as Possible. The Packets contain FOOD (sugar) that feeds the Flowers and makes them actually get bigger and more fragrant. There is also a Bactericide that prevents Bacteria from forming in the water. Bacteria is the ENEMY number ONE for Flowers… and will kill flowers faster than anything else… the Packet helps prevent Bacteria growth. A PH controller… Flowers Need (and actually CRAVE) PH levels of 4.5-5… that’s acidic… and the packet helps keep the PH level in the proper range to make your flowers last longer… Finally there is a Vasco Dialator… that opens the circulatory system of the Flower and allows the water to get to the head of the flower more easily and insures longer vase life!
It’s IMPORTANT To NOTE… when using the Flower PACKET.. TO REFER to the MANUFACTURERS SUGGESTED Use on the BACK… Mix it accordingly… for the BEST Results… Actually Scientific Studies tell us… that TOO MUCH or TOO LITTLE Flower FOOD is more Detrimental than NONE at all… WHEN used CORRECTLY it can Lengthen the Life of your Flowers by 25% or More!!!!
CHRYSAL FLOWER Nutrients are available in the uBloom Store… for Both PROFESSIONALS and CONSUMERS… with CHRYSAL you can REST Easy that YOU are Using the BEST Flower Nutrients!

3. Put away those scissors, which can crush the stem. Instead, use a sharp, non-serrated knife to cut a quarter of an inch off the bottom of stems, at an angle. While you’re at it, cut off those leaves below the water line. They breed bacteria.

J Says:
That’s EXACTLY Why we have a VIDEO on www.uBloom about Using a KNIFE … It’s the BEST way to Cut your Flowers… and removing Leaves below the water line is essential… REMEMBER Bacteria is ENEMY #1… Check out Flowers 101 on here at uBloom to learn more about the PROPER way to care for your Flowers… and learn more about Flowers and Flower Arranging!

4. Looking for a way to jazz up your red roses? Try pairing them with purple statice or heather. Or ask us: "What can you put in that will really make her roses stand out?"

J Says:
COLOR is Essential in attracting attention… and that is what Sending Flowers is all about … the IMPACT and IMPRESSION! Complimentary Colors draw much more attention… So adding Something BLUE (like Limonium or Statice… ) to ORANGE ROSES causes more IMPACT and EXCITEMENT… while WHITE Dilutes the color impact of a Flower Arrangement by 67%… (think RED ROSES and Babies Breath… ) But FEAR NOT… Esmeralda Farms has NEW CREATIVE Colored FUN TIME Babies Breath… that allows you MIX and MATCH Colors to Create Stronger IMPACT… Think RED ROSES with MINT FUN TIME BABIES BREATH… the PERFECT COMPLIMENT… and HOW EXCITING!!! Check out this JTV Webisode that Premieres the NEW COLORED FUN TIME Babies Breath in PURPLE! Want more COLOR Information at your Finger Tips? Our JTV Color Card is available in the uBloom STORE … it’s a great Resource for all your Color Questions.

5. Believe it or not, weddings are not that profitable for most of us, mainly because of labor costs. But we’re banking on your future business. Once we do a wedding for you and do it right, you’re a customer for life.

J Says:
Weddings are Business… just like anything else… Don’t kid yourself.. Florists are NOT giving away wedding flowers to get your other business. There are Numerous Flower Professionals that Specialize in Wedding Flowers… and some that offer Special Events EXCLUSIVELY… YOUR Wedding is one of the most important days of your Life… and one of the most memorable occasions… make sure you Choose a Profesional Florist, Wedding Coordinator or Special Event Expert that takes your Wedding Seriously and offers you the Best Quality, Creativity and Value for your Wedding Dollar!

6. Thanks for continuing to buy flowers, even in this economy. We really do understand why you’re choosing floating bowls instead of $50 centerpieces for your wedding. And why you’re sending your wife a mixed bouquet every week instead of the $50 roses. But that’s part of the reason our business is down by 8 or 9 percent.

J Says:
PRICE aside… the important factor is Having Flowers in your Life…no matter what the economy. The Society of American Florists reports on Studies from Harvard and Rutgers about the Positive Effect Flowers have in our Lives ! People that receive Flowers are Happier! Homes that have Flowers have less Disagreements and discontent. Work Places that feature flowers are more Productive and Employees Feel more Creative and Happy.
Patients that receive Flowers in the hospital get BETTER Faster than those that did not… and those that received YELLOW Flowers got better FASTER STILL… The FLOWERS are the Key… not how much you spend… Let’s Get Real… a $20 investment of Flowers will last 10-14 days… easily and that means we are talking $1.50–$2 a day as an investment in Happiness, Well Being, Creativity and Wellness… That’s MONEY WELL SPENT and a TRUE Investment in Yourself!

7. What’s trendy? Tropical flowers in a geometric vase without a lot of greenery, mounded arrangements of just one type of flower, and woody branches with fruit or berries.

J Says:
There’s Lots of Trends… these don’t seem top of the mind… but they’re ok… I wrote a recent BLOG about how the FIRST LADY’s FLOWER Tastes directly relate to Flower Trends … ORCHIDS are HOT as Fresh Cut Flowers and Plants… and ONCIDIUMS are ON FIRE… Yellow was the color of the year in 2009… that translates to FASHION for 2010… HAPPY COLORS… Look at the color palettes… for NEW Trends… BRIGHT VIBRANT COLORS… So COLORED Babies Breath is right on TREND… Flowers in GLASS VASES… Hot HOT HOT… Hydrangeas… (Check out these "BIG AS MY HEAD Hydrangea from ESPRIT MIAMI )… Carnations are making a HUGE COMEBACK with the Millinials (Buyers aged 16-21)… GERBERAS never went out… And there are NEW Colors POPPING up Daily…
Watch the CONSUMER… Entertainment… and Movies… to see what’s hot… the reactions are there to be read… and acted upon… CHECK out my COLOR and TREND Tours for 2010 at the Dallas Market on Facebook and Youtube for more Trend Information.

8. Speaking of Valentine’s Day, how about thinking outside the box? Lots of women would love a vase filled with red tulips still in the bulb.

J Says:
Interesting Idea… How about TEENY TINY Minature Roses … or COLORED Roses… there’s such a wide variety of Flowers available… BE Creative and Venture OUT of the BOX… ask your Professional Flower seller what they SUGGEST… (they can tell you the Freshest, most Cost Effective, Impressive… or unusual Flowers that will get you NOTICED!!!!)

9. A box of dead flowers for your friend’s 40th birthday – ha! – that’s funny. But you’ll have to look somewhere else. Come on, my name goes on that.

J Says:
AGREED, If I had a Dollar for every request I had for Dead flowers for a birthday… I’d be a RICH MAN… THINK Creatively and Steer your customer in the right direction… kindly explain that it isn’t funny and it may harm your reputation… then suggest an ALL BLACK Arrangement… using Design Master Paint… or a dozen LONG stem PRUNE ROSES… (This still is a huge hit … removing the actual petals of the rose… and placing a PRUNE on top of the Stem where the Flower used to be… It’s the same price as dozen roses… and it’s FUNNY and Creative… EXPLAIN… WHY Dead Flowers aren’t COOL!

10. Do you like cold baths? Neither do flowers.

J Says:
WHAT? HELLO??!!??… RECENT Studies from the Scientist in Amsterdam…(the HOME of the FRESH FLOWER INDUSTRY) announced… years ago… that FLOWERS THRIVE in COLD Water… preferably ICE COLD Water… (throwing in a few ice cubes is helpful!) Bacteria *(ENEMY #1) can’t grow in COLD Water… so using COLD Water for PROCESSING your Flowers is HELPFUL and will extend the vase life by another 25%… USING Cold Water and Flower Food at the Correct Proportions… will add Days (maybe a WEEK) to flower Longevity! This one was out of left field… and whoever added this… hasn’t been paying attention to the latest Research and Development in the Flower Industry for Care and Handling!
Warm water does to flowers… what Warm water does to Vegetables… it cooks them… Softening them and destroying Cell Structure… turning the water resource into a Bacteria SOUP… YUCK!
INCORRECT INFORMATION… USE COLD WATER (the colder the better) for LONGER LASTING Flowers!!

11. Do us a favor and choose your bridesmaids’ dresses before you come to us about your wedding. But after spending an hour with you picking flowers, it’s a bit of a drag to do it again six months later because you ended up picking different color dresses.

J Says:
Sounds like somebody doesn’t help their Brides come prepared for a consultation! Most Wedding Professionals and Coordinators have a list of Objectives and Responsibilities they give to the Perspective Client when they are scheduling the Bridal Consultation. This helps everyone… come prepared for the most Valuable and productive consultation. I have a List I give Brides that tells them what decisions need to be made and what references they need to bring to the consultation… It’s all about being prepared and creating the Proper Expectations!

12. Don’t buy your wedding flowers at Costco then ask me to design them for you. Would you buy your steaks there, then bring them to the caterer to prepare?

J Says:
Great Point… IF you want to be a DIY (Do it Yourself) Bride… DIY!!!! You Don’t actually save money buying the Flowers from a Warehouse… You are most likely getting older product and inferior quality… IF you want STUNNING Wedding Flowers… (or Everyday FLOWERS) You Employ the services of a Professional Florist to insure that you have the BEST QUALITY, VALUE and CREATIVITY… if you want to reduce costs and DIY… then DIY… all the way!
BTW… I LOVE THE STEAK Analogy… SPOT ON! LOL!

13. Call to complain because your flowers died after just three days, and we know you probably didn’t even add water to the vase.

J Says:
A Professional Florist offers a freshness guarantee… and they also offer helpful suggestions in the form of Directions or Guidance on how to care for your Flowers … If you Select a GOOD Reputable Florist, that offers Quality Flowers … Pick up the Flower Food, refill with COLD Water… and care for your flowers the way you care for any investment… YOU’LL be ASSURED a good Experience!
IF you buy flowers that die in two days… you need to choose another Flower Seller… Not all FLORISTS or Flower Sellars are Created Equal… there are good ones and bad ones… so you have CHOOSE Carefully! The Store should smell like FLOWERS… FRESH, Clean, Robust and Organic… RUN it if smells like BLEACH, SMOKE or Dead Flowers!
The Flower Selections should be FIRM, Crisp, Green and Fragrant… if they are other than that… CHOOSE again… It’s just like choosing FRESH FRUIT or VEGETABLE… Flowers are living objects… they should … above ALL BE PRETTY!

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