In advance of the 2016 Democratic National Convention, the host committee asked local Philadelphia business owners to share thoughts about the city on social media. Gabriella Nemati of Nature’s Gallery Florist was one business owner to participate in that effort.
With an estimated 50,000 visitors in town this week for the 2016 Democratic National Convention, local businesses in Philadelphia are looking to capitalize on the action — and that includes florists.
Ten Pennies Florist has been busy creating and delivering designs and balloons for “several parties and events for the DNC,” and has supplied floral elements for a number of state delegations. The shop also worked with a group that gave out 3,000 roses to local police. (Check out pictures of the effort on the shop’s Facebook page.)
“We’re right on Broad Street, so the convention is blocks away from our shop,” said Ann Catania, the shop’s creative director. “It’s been a big job but we have been in business a long time and are well recognized in the community.”
This isn’t the shop’s first foray into political events: Ten Pennies also was involved with florals for events surrounding the 2000 Republican National Convention.
Ten Pennies Florist has been busy creating and delivering designs and balloons for “several parties and events for the DNC,” and has supplied floral elements for a number of state delegations.
Ten Pennies Florist has been busy creating and delivering designs and balloons for “several parties and events for the DNC,” and has supplied floral elements for a number of state delegations.
Catania said the shop began getting calls several weeks ago about the work from various organizers of the different events. Organizers behind the Republican National Convention last week in Cleveland, by contrast, held a “Florist Day” earlier this year to select six official florists for that event.
The convention in Philadelphia comes on the heels of the Pope’s visit last fall, but so far, traffic and road closures for this event have had less effect on businesses outside of the city center, said Kate Delaney, AAF, of Matlack Florist, in West Chester, Pennsylvania.
City leaders worked with the DNC in advance of the convention to incorporate local businesses into the festivities, according to Philadelphia magazine.
In June, the host committee tapped seven local artists to design all DNC merchandise to be sold online and in pop-up stores and restaurants around town are featuring special convention-themed menu items, including DNC-themed dumplings, ice cream — even pad thai.
“The host committee has been committed to working with diverse, local businesses since Philadelphia won the bid to host the convention, and that effort has only gotten stronger over the last several months,” Kevin Washo, executive director of the host committee, told Philadelphia magazine in June. “It is important to us that local businesses be positively impacted by the convention taking place in Philadelphia.”