Flore nominated finalist in prestigious national retailer excellence awards

Our member Flore in Southbury, CT has been nominated as a finalist in the 2009 Retailer Excellence awards, in the Store Design/Redesign: Under $1 Million category.  Proprietor Lori Friedlander and her co-designer Christopher Isaacson had the challenge of creating a centuries-old European-style flower market and apothecary shop out of brand-new, raw commercial space, with just a 60-day time frame and only $10,000.

Both of them previously worked as professional interior designers, so this helped them to think more creatively about seeing materials and products, and envisioning new ways of using them.  Ladders, antique shoe racks, carts, and various pieces of furniture were recycled and reused in a different manner than their original design or intent.

Flore offers eco-friendly fresh flowers and a signature line of flower- and plant-based products for aromatherapy and beauty, as well as books on natural flower essences and oils.  They also provide highly-personalized service for design and gift ideas assistance, custom silk floral designs, interior décor consultations, and wedding, birth and funeral flower arrangements.

Visit Flore’s website at www.flowersasmedicine.com.

Krislyn Design – Innovation in Dried Materials

Los Angeles based member florist Krislyn Design’s, www.krislyndesign.com innovative, long-lasting alternative to fresh product was featured in the May/June 2009 issue of California Home & Design.  A five-foot-high sculptural piece made from reclaimed forest clearings and dried magnolia leaves, that will stay green thanks to natural vegetable dyes, can be admired and enjoyed for years to come!

LMD Floral Events Interiors

So, your client is planning her wedding flowers, and she’s asking for something way out of her budget.  You want her to be pleased with her bouquet, but you can’t do the impossible.  What’s a florist to do?  Take a tip from bbrooks’ member LMD Floral Events Interiors in New York, www.lmdfloral.com.  They were featured in the July/August issue of Brides magazine.  Take a look at these 2 wedding bouquets.  At first glance they may look very similar, but look a little closer and you’ll see that they’re totally different.

This stunning $275 bouquet is about half the price, but has the same look as the “designer” one.  South American hothouse grown roses are less expensive than the garden variety, and  ranunculus and tulips give great bang for the buck.

This gorgeous $550 creation contains rare orchids that must be wired, which takes time, and costs money.  Garden variety roses have a lovely fragrance, but they also increase the  bouquet’s cost.  The bow is a French silk ombre picot ribbon, and you guessed it, it’s expensive.

All in all, a great florist can stay within the bride’s budget AND give her the flowers of her dreams.  Stay tuned to the bbrooks fine flowers blog spot for more great “happy bride” tips!

Wrist Bands

Lewis Miller of LMD Floral Events Interiors, www.lmdfloral.com was featured in the “new ideas” section of the Spring 2009 Elegant Brides Magazine.

Miller began designing beautiful wrist corsages tied with long, dangling ribbons for important ladies not in the bridal party. They’ve become so popular that he now makes them for brides and bridesmaids, too, as an alternative to the traditional bouquet. He usually recommends flowers that hold up well, like orchids or firm peonies, ranunculus or gardenias.

Marketing Tools for the Current Climate

Cathy Hillen-Rulloda of member florist Avante Gardens in Anaheim, www.avantegardens.com  was featured in an informative marketing article from the April 2009 Floral Management magazine.

Cathy addressed the challenges faced by florists in this economic climate saying that web and email campaigns have been a useful tool for her to reach customers with her latest shop information.  She encouraged florists to continue advertising and marketing of their orders as diligently as before.  Cathy especially feels that keeping customers who are seeking unique designs, and are willing to pay a premium price for a florist’s services, apprised of your current product will go a long ways towards maintaining your annual numbers.  Thanks to Cathy for sharing her positive approach to maintaining business during through trying times!

Chic Frills

Event designer and member florist, Matthew Robbins of Artfool in New York City, www.artfool.com created three springtime bouquets exclusively for Martha Stewart Weddings Magazine Spring 2009 issue. All three are unabashedly romantic yet decidedly unfussy, perfect for the modern bride.

Crystal Ball – Belle Fleur featured in Modern Bride April/May 2009

Belle Fleur has been featured yet again in the current issue of Modern Bride magazine.
Floral and event designer and owner of Belle Fleur (bellefleurny.com), Meredith Waga-Perez has created a posh and polished crystal fantasy venue, at a Manhattan loft – aptly named The Glasshouses.

The concept was to play the reflective qualities of different transparent surfaces – crystal, rhinestones and ice – against one another for a glittering gala.
Waga-Perez crafted a “free-flowing floral tablescape,” as she puts it: Instead of individual centerpieces, organic clusters of roses, sweet peas and phalaenopsis orchids in soft shades of peach, blush and pink cascade down the runner. The interspersed butterflies throughout the table, add a touch of whimsy.
Everywhere you look, dazzling details catch the light – and your eye.

Classic vs. Exotic

Member florists LMD Floral Events, www.lmdfloral.com and Banchet Flowers, www.banchetflowersct.com are featured in stunning full page displays in the May/June ’09 issue of Brides magazine.

CLASSIC

Lewis Miller of LMD created a classic arrangement in soft pink, perriwinkle, lavender and green combining Finesse, Pierre de Ronsard, and Dorben roses, muscari, Campanula, leucocoryne, geranium, grape ivy leaves and trailing clematis in a silver pedestal bowl, as well as, a gorgeous hand-held bouquet of fuschia anemones, sweet peas and clusters of muscari – all held together with a beautiful striped satin ribbon in complementing colors.

EXOTIC

Banchet Flowers went for a bold presentation with an exotic hand-held offering of mango and aubergine calla lilies color-blocked with red and orange Jaguar makara orchids, and red James Story orchids complete with a treatment of Thai leaves.  In keeping with this warm, sultry palette, their vase arrangement is a simple, but effective mix of fire red James Story orchids and buffalo orange Vanda orchids, arranged in a deep crimson glass vase.

It’s a nice day for a white wedding!

On September 5, 2009, I had the pleasure of creating & delivering wedding flowers for one of my favorite brides of all time! She was recommended to me by Stephanie at Congratulations in Havertown PA. 

Kris (the bride) came in to my flower shop totally prepared with pictures and an exact idea of what she was looking for in her wedding flowers for the Radnor Valley Country Club in Villanova PA.

It was a black and white wedding so she wanted to have all white wedding flowers, and lots of floating candles, and orchids submerged inside cylinder vases. We created 15 table centerpieces for the reception in the  Villanova Room, and also a large arrangement for the lobby, where the cocktail hour was going to be held. We also created bouquets for the bridal party, and fresh large altar pieces for the church at Our Mother of Good Councel in Bryn Mawr PA.

I also had the pleasure of meeting Jackie Bayne, an awesome photographer with a really cool website!

 I look forward to getting some great photos from Jackie, including shots at Citizens Bank Park.

The bride is surprising the groom, a huge Phillies fan, with a visit to Citizens Bank Park to take pictures after the ceremony! I can’t wait to hear about the reaction of the groom when he finds this out. I am sure Jackie will capture the moment, and bring out the best in the bridal party with spectacular photos that I hope to post here soon.

I also met a real nice cake guy, David, at Dough Main Baked Goods in Rosemont PA. The cake was absolutely spectacular, we added white hydrangeas & white roses to it.

It was also a pleasure delivering and setting up at the RVCC, Chuck is always organized and prepared and does an amazing job at the country club. A great place to get married for sure!

Of course I made some YouTube videos of the event and have posted them below for you to check out everything from loading the flowers for delivery, to watching the bride take photos, and getting a glimpse of the table centerpieces & large lobby vase.

Thanks Kris & Mike for letting me be part of your special day, I really enjoyed this wedding a lot, and hope that all my weddings in the future can go as smooth as this one did. Also a great job by all people involved in this wedding!

Enjoy these videos below, it was a nice day for a white wedding!

California Love! Belvedere Vs. Everyday Flowers!

 Battle of the flower designers is back this week with a battle of the east & west coast local flower shops! We decided to compete against someone other than ourselves this week. Everyday Flowers from Orange County CA  was cool enough to take the plunge this week and battle against us for favorite design of the week!

Watch both videos below and vote for your favorite right here on our blog, or you can also vote on Facebook, or in the comments section of the YouTube videos.

Also check out Everyday Flowers Blog!

I will try to get some pics from Eric @ Everyday Flowers but for now here is a few of our pictures from this week.

Updated Sept 1st , 

Belvedere Flowers wins the battle against the west coast this week, thanks for everyone who voted!