Carefully examine expenses — especially how you calculate the cost of labor — to maximize profit margins. As Mother’s Day approaches, savvy florists...
What Your Wholesaler Wants You to Know Before Mother’s Day
Understanding how wholesalers work can help florists get the best prices and freshest products. In addition to planning, prepping and marketing,...
Mother’s Day Prep: Is Your Staff Building Lifelong Customers?
Your product might be beautiful, your website state of the art, and your store displays stunning, but if your customer service is lacking, you’ll...
Mother’s Day Flower Sales Up, Volume Drops
About half of retail florists who responded to a Society of American Florists’ survey reported Mother’s Day flower sales were up over last year —...
Negative Publicity Watch: SAF Responds to 11 Companies, Media Outlets
The Society of American Florists and its members actively worked to promote positive messaging around Mother’s Day flowers, reaching out to nearly a...
Master Media Interviews for Mother’s Day
If the media comes calling in the days before Mother’s Day, be sure you’re ready with answers that inspire viewers, listeners and readers to buy...
Will Consumers Spend Big on Flowers for Mother’s Day?
Inflation. Increased interest rates. A looming recession. With all the worrisome economic signals, will consumers want to shell out for flowers for...
AI Gives Mother’s Day Messaging an Assist
The weeks leading up to Mother’s Day can be chaotic, and floral professionals, who are often short staffed, need all the help they can get. Enter:...
Ad Celebrates Lifelong Journey of Motherhood
“It goes so quickly.” That adage about childhood unfolds in poignant clips of moms and their kids’ milestone moments in Teleflora’s latest Mother’s...
Flower Bashers, Beware
The last thing florists gearing up for Mother’s Day need is other businesses or news outlets disparaging the gift of flowers. And yet, year after...
Drive Mother’s Day Sales on Social Media
Forget to plan your Mother’s Day social media campaign in the frenzy of preparations? Don’t worry — the Society of American Florists has you covered...
Are You Prepared to Talk Sustainability?
Mother’s Day presents a great opportunity for retail florists to tout their product and services to reporters and customers. But sometimes the...
Your Mother’s Day Survival Guide
The countdown is on for Mother’s Day, and one question is on everyone’s mind: Will consumers be willing to spend? During an event in late March for...
Grow Your Mother’s Day Sales with Plants
Are houseplants on your Mother’s Day menu? This product category, popular among all demographics, often creates loyal customers who return to grow...
Florist Shares Their ‘Perfect One-Stop’ Gift For Mother’s Day
A florist in Kennewick, Washington has built on the idea of a traditional gift basket to offer customers a way to personalize gifts for Mother’s Day...
Plan Now for Mother’s Day Deliveries
Mother’s Day is quickly approaching on May 14 and it’s not too early to start planning for deliveries. The Society of American Florists has a...
Mother’s Day Sales Stay Strong
Despite inflation, competition from other gift-giving companies, and renewed opportunities to take mom on outings, flowers and plants remained a...
Is Digital Flower Gifting on the Horizon?
Your customers might soon need to give two floral gifts to a recipient for a special occasion — one for the real world, and another for the virtual...
SAF’s Advocacy Prompts Change in Negative Floral References
The Society of American Florists and its members were instrumental in promoting favorable media messaging around Mother’s Day flowers, and SAF’s...
Tackling Tough Questions About Mother’s Day Flowers?
The media is looking for Mother’s Day stories, and many news outlets seem to be focusing on supply chain issues and inflation — and how that will...
Today Show: Your Florist Will ‘Make It Happen’ on Mother’s Day
[mom_video id='ZGCJuPGAA1U' width='900' height='450'] Millions of viewers across the country who tuned in to the Today Show last week heard some...
Last-Minute Social Posts to Drive Mother’s Day Sales
The two to three days before Mother’s Day are key buying days – stay top of mind with consumers by deploying some easy-to-implement social media...
NRF: Flowers Top the List of Anticipated Mother’s Day Gifts
The National Retail Federation has good news for the floral industry. Flowers ranked second on a list of top gifts for Mother’s Day, just behind...
Negative Publicity Watch: VistaPrint and American Kennel Club Bash Flowers
VistaPrint, a global company that produces marketing products, and the American Kennel Club were among the five companies recently contacted by the...
Teleflora’s Mother’s Day Campaign Honors the ‘Role of A Lifetime’
[mom_video id='BkagJ_eYcwA' width='900' height='506'] The commercial opens with three real-life moms arriving on set to audition for the role...
4 Tips to Rake in Mother’s Day Sales
Need some ideas to jumpstart your Mother’s Day marketing? Here are a few low-cost ways to get your name out in the community. Simple, but Smart,...
Your Step-by-Step Mother’s Day Survival Guide
The countdown is on for mom, and the Society of American Florists has compiled a step-by-step Mother’s Day Survival Guide to help you prepare for a...
See A Mother’s Day Ad Disparaging Flowers? Tell SAF
A dozen companies, including the upscale retailer Nordstrom and the high-end women’s clothing brand Tory Burch, heard from the Society of American...
New Study Offers Insights on Today’s Floral Consumer
How have the habits and preferences of flower-buying consumers changed over the past year — and what can florists do to make the most of those...
SAF Webinar Tackles Capitalizing on Today’s Floral Consumer
How do consumers plan to purchase flowers and plants in the next six months — and what is motivating their behavior? Has the pandemic permanently...
Demand, Marketing Drive Mother’s Day Sales Increase
Sales were up year over year for more than 85 percent of respondents to the Society of American Florists’ Mother’s Day Survey 2021, with new...
More Consumers Chose Flowers for Mom This Year
The results are in: More Americans showed their love for moms with flowers this year. Nearly a third of American adults bought fresh flowers or...
Floral Supply Chain Tightens in Days Prior to Mother’s Day
Ten days of protests sparked by a controversial proposal for tax reform began by causing minor delays in flower shipments from some farms in...
COVID Through My Eyes: Pandemic Forces Delegation
Editor’s Note: This is part of an ongoing series highlighting floral industry stories of change, grit and perseverance — and biggest lessons learned...
When They Go Low, Be Reasonable
Ahead of major floral holidays, such as Mother’s Day, negative or misleading publicity or references regarding flowers and florists can often be...
Demonstrations in Colombia Have Small Impact on Mother’s Day Flowers
Protests sparked by a controversial proposal for tax reform last week in Colombia caused minor delays in flower shipments from some farms but did...
3 Quick Ways to Maximize Mother’s Day
Pick up the phone. Plan your media strategy. Prune your online offerings. As the countdown to Mother’s Day ticks down, there are still things you...
Coffee Roaster Disses Flowers, Then Repents
Ahead of major floral holidays such as Mother’s Day, flowers are often in the crosshairs as businesses compete for consumer gift spending dollars....
Nearly 70% of Shoppers to Purchase Flowers for Mother’s Day
Flowers are the second most popular gift shoppers plan to give for Mother’s Day, according to the National Retail Federation’s annual survey....
Best Practices for Coping with Supply Shortages
For retail florists, the pressure of supply shortages adds one more challenge to spring’s busy floral holidays. Administrative Professionals’ Week...
Maximize Mother’s Day Profits
Mother’s Day is one of the two busiest times of the year for retail florists — and it can make or break your retail year. Pay attention to the...
Retailers Predict Bump-Up in Mother’s Day Sales
After a successful Valentine’s Day and Easter in 2021, florists are optimistic about Mother’s Day sales this year. In a recent Society of American...
Up Your Mother’s Day Prep Game
One of the biggest floral holidays is fast approaching and a little prep work now can make a huge difference in your stress level and profit margin....
Use Social Media to Boost Mother’s Day Sales
Mother’s Day isn’t until May 9, but it’s never too early to start promoting the holiday on your social media channels. Did you know that social...
Don’t Overpromise on Specific Flowers, Floral Wholesaler Says
Prepare for a successful Mother’s Day and wedding season with some tips from the Bill Doran Company. Get ready for a great Mother’s Day. On the...
Floral Management Focuses on ‘New Rules of Selling Flowers’
For years, the run-up to Mother’s Day has proceeded like clockwork at Radebaugh Florist & Greenhouses in Towson, Maryland. Kaitlin Radebaugh,...
Floral Industry Leaders Talk Lessons Learned from Mother’s Day
For those who could be open for business, Mother’s Day 2020 came on strong — despite unprecedented challenges and a host of unknowns. What does the...
‘Leadership Exchange’ Explores ‘What’s Next?’
What do Mother’s Day results tell us about the floral industry’s “new normal”? How will our operations change? And, what will be the impact of...
5 Early Takeaways from Mother’s Day 2020
The run-up to one of the floral industry’s biggest holidays was chaotic and filled with uncertainty —especially for florists in states with strict...
Industry CPA Talks Key Post-Holiday Questions
You made it through a most unusual Mother’s Day. Congratulations! But have you and your team documented what went right and what you learned? A...
5 Last-Minute Tactics for Mother’s Day Success
On the heels of hosting eight weeks of webinars about persevering through the COVID-19 pandemic, Society of American Florists CEO Kate Penn appeared...
Retailers See APW Sales Drop — But Cast Eyes Ahead to Mother’s Day
About 73 percent of the retailer respondents to a Society of American Florists post-holiday survey on Administrative Professionals Week (APW) said...
Prep Your Website for Mother’s Day Success
With physical shopping prohibited pretty much everywhere, your website has taken center stage this spring. “It was important before, but now it is...
Design Hacks for a More Efficient Mother’s Day
If you’re allowed to operate this Mother’s Day, you’ll likely do so with a reduced staff including people with little to no design experience, such...
Sales Tips for a Successful Mother’s Day
One of sales expert Tim Huckabee’s biggest pet peeves is hearing florists lowball customers because they’re selling from their own pockets. That...
Virtual Flowers Generate Revenue, Help Forecast
Even if you’ve closed your shop, you can still capitalize on one of the biggest floral holidays of the year, by promoting virtual arrangements —...
Nearly a Third of Americans Bought Mother’s Day Flowers
Flowers remained a sought-after gift choice among consumers this Mother’s Day — and proved especially popular among adults aged 54 and younger,...
Alabama Florist Partners with Alzheimer’s Association for Mother’s Day
When Society of American Florists member Cameron Pappas was invited to appear on three out of four local news stations and on radio, he welcomed the...
5 Questions to Ask Your Team the Week After Mother’s Day
While you and your staff can still recall details ask questions, hold a team debrief on what went right, what should be improved upon with Mother’s...
Nine Social Media Ideas to Post for Mother’s Day
Post this message on social media with a photo of one of your custom floral designs. “Super moms deserve superior flowers from (shop name) this...
National Companies, Retail Federation Expect Strong Mother’s Day
Mother’s Day 2019 has the potential to be a major retail event, according to predictions from national companies in the floral...
Millennial Florist Shares Instagram Tips for Mother’s Day
With more than one billion users — many of them in the 18- to 34-year-old demographic — Instagram is a primo place to promote Mother’s Day if you...
Five Easy Ideas for Mother’s Day Social Media Marketing
Looking for inspiration for your social media posts during the lead up to Mother’s Day? “Get personal,” said SAF Vice President of Marketing...
Steal these Ideas for Mother’s Day Social Media Posts
“With Mother’s Day around the corner, it has us thinking about our moms! What is it about your mom that you love? Tell us below!” Post this message...
Mother’s Day Wrap Up: Transportation Issues and Results from National Companies
Mother’s Day 2018 is a wrap, with increased sales for most florists and one in three American adults buying holiday flowers or plants. E-Brief...
Florists Talk Shop with Reporters for Mother’s Day
In the midst of Mother’s Day week — when the pressure was on, and designs were flying out the door — some Society of American Florists members spoke...
NYC Florist Taps Into Pop Culture for Mother’s Day
Mindful that — above all else — moms prize quality time with their kids, Starbright Floral Design in New York City latched onto not one, but two...
Red Sox, Chili’s Apologize for Ads that Dissed Flowers
One of the country’s most storied baseball teams has apologized to the floral industry after the Society of American Florists cried foul over an...
StubHub, NFL Shop to Consumers: Don’t Buy Mom Flowers
The world's largest ticket marketplace and the official store of the NFL are among the advertisers telling consumers not to buy flowers this...
Two Tips for Taking Better Outgoing Mother’s Day Orders
You're days away from one of the biggest holidays of the year. Don’t panic. "Mother's Day can be a lot easier, profitable and stress-free if your...
Amazon, Avon Slight Mother’s Day Flowers
A tech giant, the fifth-largest beauty company in the world, and a pictorial publisher recently made disparaging remarks about flowers as Mother’s...
Teleflora’s Holiday Campaign Aims for Realistic Portrayal of Motherhood
Teleflora’s latest Mother’s Day campaign aims to show that while families come in all shapes and sizes, love is the universal thread of motherhood....
Lovingly Hosts Story Contest for Mother’s Day
To get consumers thinking about Mother’s Day and how flowers make the perfect gift, Lovingly, a website and POS provider for retail florists,...
Top Four Talking Points for Mother’s Day Interviews
As a shop owner, you are the spokesperson for your business and the flower expert for your community. If a reporter calls or emails asking about...
Benefits of Blogging Mother’s Day Specials
Consumers have myriad options for gifting Mom next month. To illustrate why flowers fit the bill splendidly, Breen’s Florist in Houston, Texas...
Mother’s Day Marketing Made Easy
According to the National Retail Federation, 69 percent of people plan to buy flowers for Mother’s Day 2018. Make sure your shop is top of mind...
Advanced Planning Key to Profitable Mother’s Day
According to Prince & Prince, an industry market research group, U.S. consumers could spend as much as $4.4 billion on flowers and plants for...
4 Pricing Strategies to Increase Mother’s Day Sales and Profits
Are you setting your Mother’s Day prices properly? Do you offer charm prices or rounded prices? Do you bundle delivery and services fees, or do you...
Researchers to Floral Industry: Market Mother’s Day to ‘Big Floral Spenders’
A floral industry market research group is predicting a strong Mother’s Day this year — and they’re warning against under-selling to a demographic...
Mother’s Day Debrief: To Be Open on the Holiday or Not?
Here’s a question most florists have wrestled with at some point: Is it worth it to be open on a Sunday for Mother’s Day? The Society of American...
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...
Post-Mother’s Day To-Do List: Respond to Online Reviews
Before you write off Mother’s Day 2017 and turn your attention fully to summer weddings and fall/winter planning, make sure you’ve responded to any...
SAF Tackles 18 Cases of Harmful Mother’s Day Floral Publicity
This Mother’s Day season, the Society of American Florists responded to 18 instances of harmful floral publicity to date. Ancestry.com and Coach...
Teleflora’s ‘Just Like Her’ Ads Promote Mother’s Day Flowers through Storytelling
Teleflora’s new Mother’s Day video is playing up the strong bond that exists between adult children and their moms. “Just Like Her” begins with a...
Ancestory.com ‘Reviews’ Negative Floral Remark in Ad
With Mother’s Day fast approaching, Ancestry.com and other companies continue to disparage flowers and floral gifts. The Society of American...
SAF Says T-H-A-N-K-S to Flower-Loving TV Host
The floral industry got a major a third-party endorsement when popular game show host Pat Sajak said, “Mothers love flowers” during the May 4...
Coach Disses Flowers, SAF Responds
Leather goods brand Coach is telling its customers to “Forget Flowers: Give Mom something that’s just her style.” It’s a tactic used by many gift...
For Mother’s Day Customers Expecting ‘Free’ Delivery, Try Bundles
Floral Management magazine contributor Mark Anderson, who writes the monthly column, The Right Price, said bundling, the practice of combining...
Turn Mother’s Day into an Event
To get the most out of Mother’s Day, make the holiday an event. That’s advice from Rick Canale of Exotic Flowers in Boston, who tries to turn his...
A New Take on the Great Mother’s Day Debate: To Discount or Not to Discount?
Mother’s Day is just around the corner and — because of that — you might be having an age-old debate in your shop: To discount or not to discount...
Target, HuffPost Knock Mother’s Day Flowers
The second-largest discount store retailer in the United States and an influential online news aggregator and blog disparaged Mother’s Day flowers...
Promote Mother’s Day Flowers with SAF Tools
Sixty-nine percent of consumers plan to buy Mother’s Day flowers this year, according to the National Retail Federation. Make sure your shop is the...
Watch Mother’s Day Mania WebBlast
Are you, your staff, your shop and website ready for Mother’s Day? Really? Find out by watching the 30-minute “Mother’s Day Mania,” a WebBlast...
Mother’s Day Predictions: More Money, More Flowers and More Small Business Patronage
Sixty-nine percent of consumers plan to buy Mother’s Day flowers next month, in what could be a record-breaking holiday. In fact, consumers are...
Free WebBlast to Give Mother’s Day Marketing, Sales Pointers
The National Retail Federation is estimating that 69 percent of those celebrating Mother’s Day will buy mom flowers — so now is the time for...
Two-Thirds of Florists Report Increased Sales on Mother’s Day
Florists around the country are feeling pretty good about Mother’s Day 2016. Overall, sales were up for many, and average transactions were...
Wholesalers Weigh in on ‘Tight Market’ for Mother’s Day
The story of this year’s Mother’s Day, according to wholesalers? High demand, tight supply —and weather issues that affected key flowers. Pam...
Summertime Shape-Up: Point of Purchase
Your summer wedding prep is going well and your Mother’s Day sales have been tallied and reviewed. Now might be a good time to tackle tasks that...
Turn News Stories into Sales Opportunities
To jumpstart sales and build credibility in your community, step in front of a TV news camera. That’s according to Edward Yang, managing partner at...
Florists Work Hard for Mother’s Day Dollars
Contests and blog posts and street signs — oh my! To capture a chunk of the estimated $2.4 billion consumers were expected to spend this year on...
5 Questions to Ask Your Team the Week After Mother’s Day
Before you decompress from Mother’s Day and while you can still recall details, debrief with staff on what went right, what went wrong and simply...
Poignant Ad Calls Out Moms for ‘Tough Love’
Beyonce’s “Lemonade” isn’t the only video making waves and getting standing ovations from critics this week. A new Mother’s Day online ad from...
ESPN Changes Mother’s Day Promotion
Just two days after SAF asked ESPN to pull its Mother’s Day promotion that read “Forget flowers,” the global sports network responded — with a new...
Coach Delivery Staff to Make a Great Impression
This Mother’s Day weekend and year round, your delivery staff is on the front lines of customer service. Here are some pep talk pointers to give...
Companies Get Naughty — and Honest — for Mother’s Day
The creative agency Humanaut is taking an edgy approach to a traditionally staid holiday this year. Through a collaboration with Felt — a company...
SAF Alerts AmEx to Negative References in Local APW Promo
When a major corporation knocks flowers in the run-up to an observance meant to recognize hard-working employees, could it be anything other than a...
Put Some ‘Charm’ in Your Mother’s Day Pricing
Florists looking to drum up sales and increase average transactions in the final stretch before Mother’s Day may want to look at how precisely they...
Mother’s Day Results 2013
Sample: Retail Florists with email addresses 256 Completed Responses 8% Response Rate Survey Monkey Online Survey Mother's Day sales in 2013...