With one week to go until Christmas, most retail florists feel optimistic about the 2019 holiday season, according to a Society of American...
60 Percent of Florists Saw December Holiday Sales Increase
Many florists had a cheer-worthy Christmas last month, with 60 percent of retailer respondents to a Society of American Florists’ post-holiday...
Floral Professionals ‘Warm’ to Pantone’s Cheery Coral Choice
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Understanding Insights, Instagram’s Free Analytics Tool
Instagram can be a florist's best friend. Our industry's products are quite literally born to be shared and can create an instant emotional...
California Grower Launches ‘American Princess’ Bouquet
Cognizant that millions of people tuned in to watch “Suits” actress Meghan Markle tie the knot with Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex on May 19 — many of...
Millennial Floral Designer Talks Shifts in Customer Expectations
With Pinterest dreams and Martha Stewart moms, millennial customers have plenty of ideas — and florists are the pros tasked with crafting those...
With a Mid-Week Holiday, Florist Saw Rush of Orders on Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day was a success for many florists — but the Wednesday holiday was also a last-minute hustle. That’s according to a Society of American...
New Two-Minute Trends Resource Center Helps Members Market Their Business
Looking for a new pitch to promote your shop’s floral services to business clients? Want to draw in business from interior designers or architects?...
Millennial Designer to Deliver Popular Gift Trends in Omaha
What do a protea, Moscow Mule mug and a troll doll have in common? These are three “tools” Laura Daluga, AIFD, has used to surprise and delight...
Stop With the ‘F’ Word!
Tim Lawing, AIFD, of Tim’s Touch Flowers & Gifts in Lexington, South Carolina, has a plea for florists. “Don’t use the ‘F’ word,” he said....
57 Percent of Florists Predict Increased Christmas Sales
Haul out the holly. Fill up the stockings. Christmas 2017 is shaping up to deliver cheerful returns to retail florists. That’s the pre-holiday read...
Floral Designers Praise Pantone’s Purple Pick
Joy to the world! The Pantone Color Institute has selected its 2018 color of the year and it’s especially “florist friendly.” Last week the...
Designers Trade Minimalism for Colors, Glam and Kitsch
If the words midcentury, modern, or Scandinavian make you want to run screaming from a curated room of blond furniture and into a space jam-packed...
In Texas, Even the ‘Mums’ are Bigger
A number of high-profile national outlets—including The Wall Street Journal — have recently turned their attention to a tradition among Texas teens...
For Millennials, ‘Urban Wilding’ is the New Decorating
House jungles. Jungalows. Urban rain forests. These are just some of the terms batted around to describe a new floral industry-friendly phenomenon...
How to Cut Summer Labor Costs Right
Here’s a question florists ask Derrick Myers, CPA, CFP, all the time: How can I cut my labor during the slow summer and still keep my employees for...
AIFD Symposium Draws Crowd of 800-Plus
More than 800 floral designers gathered last month in Seattle for a mega dose of inspiration during the American Institute of Floral...
Terrarium Bar? Check. Profit Blast Packs Immediate Inspiration
Talk about instant inspiration and return on investment. Two days after attending the Society of American Florists’ 1-Day Profit Blast in St. Louis,...
Learn the Art of Floral Couture in Palm Beach
These days, the list of celebrities who embrace body flowers is ridiculously long. Keira Knightley, Jennifer Lawrence and Kirsten Dunst are among...
How to Boost Your Brand By Relating to Fans
Last week, roughly 170,000 people (many of them dressed in tights, masks and capes) descended on San Diego for Comic Con, a 47-year-old multi-genre...
More Couples Say, ‘Surprise! This is Our Wedding!’
Save the date? More like, spring the date on your guests at the (very) last minute. Last week, we told you about a New York Times story noting an...
Give Customers a ‘Floral Vitamin’ Boost with Sunflowers
Sunflowers’ vibrant coloring and full shape make them a go-to choice for anyone needing an emotional pick-me-up. At Sparrows Nest Flower Shop in...
Couples Choose High-End Elopements over Traditional Affairs
Couples are ditching the formalities of a traditional ceremony and reception (not to mention the wild cousins and divorce parents who refuse to get...
Palm Beach Offers Chance to Showcase and Check Out New Products
One way to stand out against local competitors and national companies such as Amazon: Stock the kind of goods customers just can’t get everywhere....
60 Percent of Florists Report Improved Sales on Mother’s Day
Predictions of a robust Mother’s Day proved to be on target for many florists. According to a post-holiday survey conducted by the Society of...
To Capture Millennial Customers, Think Small
The “new” American Dream for millennials: a small — sometimes really small — house. According to a 2015 survey by the National Association of Home...
Consumers Spent More on Mother’s Day — and More People Turned to Florists
Feeling good about Mother’s Day? You’re probably not alone. About 35 percent of Americans reported buying fresh flowers and plants as Mother’s Day...
Crayola’s New Hue? It’s Blue
Crayola announced last week that it’s introducing a blue crayon known for now as YInMn. The shade, which falls about in the middle of the blue...
Capture Some New Looks of Love
Over the past year, Michael Skaff, AAF, AIFD, PFCI, made it his mission to enter the world of the modern bride. As the 2017 Trend Forecaster for...
Two-Thirds of Retailers Saw a Dip in Valentine’s Day 2016 Sales
Sunday of a three-day weekend: Good for brunch. Great for lounging in pajamas or binging on Netflix. Lousy for a floral holiday. That seems to be...
To Make a Splash, More Couples Choose Sand
More over glistening ice doves. Beach-loving brides and grooms are saying no thanks to traditional ice sculptures and yes please to the 2016 update:...
Free WebBlast on Fiscal Forecasting for a Fickle Economy
What is going on with the economy, and how can I position my floral business accordingly? Is now a good time to hire? Or buy a big ticket item for...
Top Business Experts Coming to SAF Maui 2016
Giving customers what they want and need was sound retailing advice 10 years ago — but today the best businesses are doing much more than that:...
2016 Petal It Forward Date Set for October 19: SAF Seeks Industry Participation
Get ready to feel and share some serious flower love this fall. The Society of American Florists’ 2015 Petal It Forward campaign was a big success,...
Presidential Election Colors Design, Floral Trends for 2017
What does the presidential election have to do with centerpieces for weddings planned for June 2017 — or, for that matter, your VIP customer who is...
Boost Wedding Sales with New Trend Knowledge
Want to wow your wedding customers with a look they just can’t find on Pinterest (and increase your average wedding transaction in the process)?...
Before the Halftime Show, a Flurry of Flowers for Queen B
Looking for a little last-minute fodder to share on social media — maybe a pop culture reference to nudge would-be Romeos into action? Why not...
New Lines of Greeting Cards Get Cute (and Cheeky)
Merry Christmas? Happy Birthday? Congratulations? Those are the worn-out greetings of another era. That’s according to The New York Times, which...
REI Opts Out of Black Friday
More than two weeks before Thanksgiving, one national retailer is already dominating Black Friday chatter on social media — and, in shopping season...
For Big Day, More Brides Choose ‘Sexy’
The latest bridal trend to hit the aisle (and style section)? “Sexy” dresses that — at least to some people — appear ready for the bedroom rather...
Perk Up Fall Sales With Pumpkin
In search of a simply irresistible add on gift? Take a cue from Starbucks and Trader Joe's and pedal the orange stuff. Few things are more...