Spring is right around the corner, and as the weather warms up and the days get longer, it’s time to start thinking about getting your flower shop ready for the season. With the right preparations, you can take advantage of the increased demand for fresh blooms and make the most of the springtime rush. Here are some tips to help you get your flower shop ready for spring:

Refresh your storefront

First impressions are everything, and your storefront is often the first thing that customers see when they visit your flower shop. Take some time to refresh your storefront and make it more appealing to passersby. Clean your windows, replace any burnt-out lightbulbs and add some spring-themed decorations like potted plants or flower arrangements.

Consider adding some signage or banners advertising your springtime specials and promotions. Make sure your storefront is well-lit and inviting, and that it reflects the colors and themes of the spring season.

Update your inventory

Spring is a time for fresh starts, and your inventory should reflect this. Start by reviewing your current stock and making any necessary updates or changes. Consider adding some new varieties of flowers and plants that are popular during the spring season, such as tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths.

You should also consider updating your arrangements and bouquets to reflect the colors and themes of the spring season. Incorporate pastel shades and bright, bold hues, and experiment with new arrangements that showcase the freshness and beauty of spring blooms.

Train your staff

As your business picks up during the spring season, you’ll need all hands on deck to manage the increased demand. Take some time to train your staff and ensure that they are well-prepared to handle the influx of customers.

Make sure they are knowledgeable about your inventory and able to answer questions about the different flowers and plants you offer. Train them on best practices for customer service and sales, and ensure that they are comfortable handling the increased workload that comes with the springtime rush.

Refresh your website and social media

In today’s digital age, your online presence is just as important as your physical storefront. Take some time to refresh your website and social media accounts and make sure they are up-to-date and reflective of the spring season.

Update your website with new product listings and spring-themed images and graphics. Make sure your social media accounts are active and engaging and consider running some promotions or contests to drive engagement and attract new customers.

Plan for holidays and special occasions

Spring is a busy time for holidays and special occasions, including Easter, Mother’s Day, and graduations. Make sure you are prepared for these events and have plenty of inventory on hand to meet the demand.

Consider creating special promotions and packages for these occasions, such as Mother’s Day arrangements or graduation bouquets. Make sure your staff is well-trained in handling these events, and that your storefront and online presence reflect the relevant themes and colors of each occasion.

Clean and organize your workspace

As you gear up for the spring season, it’s important to take some time to clean and organize your workspace. This will not only help you stay more productive and efficient, but it will also help create a more inviting and welcoming environment for your customers.

Clean your workstations, organize your inventory and dispose of any expired or damaged products. Make sure your workspace is well-lit and free of clutter.

Network and collaborate

Spring is a great time to network and collaborate with other local businesses in your community. Consider reaching out to other businesses that complement your own, such as wedding planners, event venues, or caterers.

Work together to create joint promotions or packages, and consider cross-promoting each other. For instance, work with a local restaurant to provide flowers and a meal to mothers on Mother’s Day.

With these great spring tips to help you get focused and organized for the spring season, you should be well on your way to a successful spring. What other things do you do at your flower shop to get ready for the spring? Share your answers below!

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Thank you for reading the Floranext florist blog. Floranext Love Florists and we are committed to bringing flower shops the best information and tips to run their floral business. Click here to learn more about our florist software and how you can upgrade your florist website or floral point of sale. 

International Women’s Day is a time to celebrate the incredible contributions that women have made in all areas of life, including the floral industry. Women have been at the forefront of this industry for centuries, and their work has had a profound impact on the way we appreciate and use flowers in our daily lives.

In honor of International Women’s Day on March 8th, let’s take a look at some of the most influential women in the floral industry.

left image: Image Via New York Times courtesy of Nancy Streeter | Right Image via Library of Congress

Ellen Biddle Shipman

A pioneering American landscape architect, She helped shape the profession in the United States. Born in Philadelphia in 1869, Shipman received her education at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Bussey Institute at Harvard University. After starting out as a painter, she turned her attention to landscape architecture and went on to design numerous private and public gardens throughout her career.

Shipman’s designs were known for their use of color, texture, and romantic, informal style. She was also a strong advocate for the profession, working to establish standards for education and professional practice. As a founding member of the American Society of Landscape Architects, Shipman was the first woman to be elected to its executive committee. Her legacy continues to influence the practice of landscape architecture today.

Images by Paul Popper/Popperfoto/Getty Images/Flowermag

Constance Spry

Spry paved the way for the modern floral industry. Spry was part of the avant-garde floral designers in the 1920s; Spry used an incredible amount of diverse materials, including tomatoes, fruits, wildflowers, and weeds to name a few. Spry used 17th-century Dutch flower paintings as inspiration while striving to express the beauty of the flowers and organic materials.

As a result, Spry showed the romance of flowers from simple arrangements in small vases to contemporary, larger pieces. She was one of the first women to establish a successful floral business in London in the 1920s and went on to become a leading authority on floral design.

Images via amy-merrick via Instagram

Amy Merrick

Amy Merrick is a renowned floral designer and writer based in New York City. Her work has been featured in some of the world’s most prestigious publications, including Vogue and The New York Times. She is known for her romantic and whimsical designs, which often incorporate wildflowers and other unexpected elements.

Left Image: Image via Ruby Washington/The New York Times | Right Image: via Facebook via Banchet Flowers 

Banchet Jaigla

became well-known in 2008, when people noticed how unique her floral designs were. Jaigla is inspired by her childhood in Thailand and the energy of New York City. Jaigla is known for variations of orchids and fans of baby’s breath. Jaigla works with growers in Europe, Asia, Africa, and South America, providing her with a variety of flowers not currently found elsewhere in New York.

Images via refinery29.com via Winnie Au

Sarah Ryhanen

She is the founder of Saipua, a floral design studio and soap company based in Brooklyn, New York. She is known for her naturalistic and textural designs, which often feature locally sourced and seasonal blooms. In addition to her work as a floral designer, Sarah is also a writer and educator and has shared her expertise through workshops and lectures around the world.

Images via theflowerpodcast.com

Debra Prinzing

Debra is known as the leading advocate for American-grown flowers. Prinzing won the American Horticultural Society’s Frances Jones Poetker Award. Prinzing promotes the Slow Flowers movement.

Images via FlowerMag via Corbin Gurkin

Ariella Chezar

Ariella Chezar is a floral designer and author based in New York’s Hudson Valley. Her designs are known for their lush, romantic style, and often incorporate unusual textures and colors. She is the author of two books on floral design, The Flower Workshop and Seasonal Flower Arranging, and has taught workshops around the world.

Images via Macon Magazine via Jessica Whitley

Vanessa Glover

Vanessa is the first African American woman in Georgia to earn the Certified Floral Designer accreditation through the American Institute of Floral Designers in 2017. Glover’s business, A Touch of Glover, launched in 1997, is now a family affair, including her husband, children, and grandchildren.

Images via Living Lars via Loria Stern

Loria Stern

Stern’s edible botanical creations are harvested from her abundant flower garden. Stern rethought floral creations by transforming bouquets into edible art. Stern draws inspiration from the natural beauty surrounding her to create edible, artfully arranged works of art.

Image via Facebook via Kateen Morris 

Kateen Morris

Kateen started Kateen’s Floral Designs in 2019 and believes in the power of florals to spark emotion. Morris is the chairwoman of Black Girl Florists, a collaborative community of black women whose purpose is to support, promote, and celebrate the creativity and contributions of black florists.

These women have made significant contributions to the floral industry, inspiring and influencing countless others with their talent and creativity. Their work has helped to shape the way we think about flowers and floral design, and their legacy will continue to inspire future generations of women in the industry.

Do you have any favorite historical women figures in the floral industry that have impacted your business or inspired you? Drop your favorite below to inspire your fellow florists.

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Thank you for reading the Floranext florist blog. Floranext Love Florists and we are committed to bringing flower shops the best information and tips to run their floral business. Click here to learn more about our florist software and how you can upgrade your florist website or floral point of sale. 

Valentine’s Day is the busiest and potentially most profitable day for any flower shop. So what can you do to make your life a little easier (and make more money!). Here are some tips from Floranext. Let us know your suggestions in the comments section below!

image via google.com

Two Weeks Before Valentine’s Day

1. Email marketing – Send out a $5 off coupon to customers. Make sure you pull all the email addresses from your florist POS system
2. Codified Arrangements – Make codified or flower specific orders before designer’s choice orders to ensure you can fill orders properly.
3. Pre-buy flowers – order roses early from trusted sources. Pre order 1/2 of what you think you need and get the rest as you need it from wholesalers

The Week of Valentine’s Day

1. Website Update – update your website prices!
2. Pre-Arranging – Hand tie greens for vase drop in, store in waxed boxes and spray with anti desiccant
3. Pricing – If possible have a lower price point with 30 or 40 cm roses for cash and cary
   
4. Single Roses – Have many single roses wrapped
   
5. Big sellers – a single wrapped roses with box of candy attached display these in a basket at counter
6. Save Money! – Colored roses are always cheaper than red so do something to promote them
   
7. Promote! – Enclose an offer for March in every delivery (offer should be an inexpensive in-store pickup)
   
8. Delivery Manager – nominate one employee as the delivery manager
9. Prearrange delivery – route out deliveries you know already.
   
10. Refer to last year – if you sold 800 stems of red roses you will probably need that and few more
11. Keep impeccable records – Day of week, weather, staffing, what was ordered, what was not sold, hours open.

The Day Before/On

1. Buy lunch – to keep everyone in the shop.
   
2. Roses – when you pre-make roses in a vase before they go out, be sure to change water and also rinse the stems that have been in water.
   

Florist Techology

1. Delivery routing – is standard with florist POS systems now (including Floranext). Try out yours to make sure you know how it works.
2. Delivery notification – head off those phone calls from customers by sending out delivery confirmation emails. Your floral POS should have this built in.

After Valentine’s Day 

1. Appreciation – Give your staff a token of appreciation for their commitment to making Valentine’s Day a success – free flowers to bring home!

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Thank you for reading the Floranext florist blog. Floranext Love Florists and we are committed to bringing flower shops the best information and tips to run their floral business. Click here to learn more about our florist software and how you can upgrade your florist website or floral point of sale. 

With 2022 coming to an end and the start of 2023 just around the corner, the new year is bringing some amazing new colors and styles to the floral industry. Let’s take a look at what is the 2023 floral trends.

Pantone’s Viva Magenta Color

Pantone Color Institute just announced the 2023 color of the year – Viva Magenta! Viva Magenta is a strong and engaging color that is animated from the color red which has a rebellious spirit and makes a stand-out statement.  This bold magenta color can be used in bouquets, weddings, table centerpieces, and more by adding a pop of color. Some popular magenta flowers include Dahlias, Peonies, Roses, lilies, and Chrysanthemums.

Thursd’s Passion Red Color

Thursd’s 2023 floral color of the year focuses on passion and what the floral industry represents – deep passion. Passion Red is the color that inspires everyone out there to give everything they do and create with flowers. This deep red is a strong color that unites the passion of the floral industry.

Coloro’s Digital Lavender Color

Coloro is bringing the color purple back with Digital Lavender.  This light purple hue is to focus on well-being and a sense of stability and balance. evoking calmness and serenity this is the perfect color for floral in the home or sending to a special someone.

Lily of The Valley

Understandably, some florists may have a difficulty in getting lilies of the valley or not the easiest flower to use in arrangements and bouquets.  Since the Queen’s passing and Charles’s coronation, this flower will be highly requested in 2023, especially among brides and their wedding bouquets.

Barbiecore Bouquets

Since last year’s color of the year, Orchid Flower, and the upcoming Barbie film, all things Barbie is hitting popularity not only in home decor, and fashion but even flowers. Vibrant hues of pink florals with minimal greenery are making their way into next year’s floral designs.

Air Purifying Plants

Not only Bold and vivid blooms will have a spotlight next year, but air-purifying plants will also be staking their claim. Boston Ferns, Snake Plants, Succulents, and Prayer Plants will be flying off the shelf not only for their greenery but their ability to absorb CO2 in the air.

Pressed Flowers

2022 was the year of dried flowers in arrangements and bouquets, and 2023 is becoming the year of pressed flowers. This is proven by the 170+ million views on Tik Tok of DIYers showing different methods of pressing flowers. Florists have also reported more brides asking about different ways of preserving their bridal bouquets as well.

Florists, what Florist Trends are you planning to follow in 2023? Share with us in the comments!

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Thank you for reading the Floranext florist blog. We are committed to bringing flower shops the best information and tips to run their floral business. Click here to learn more about our florist software and how you can upgrade your florist website or floral point of sale. 

Everyone loves to get flowers, but there is more benefit to a person’s health than one might think. Keeping any kind of plant around the house can help improve air quality and brighten up a space, but flowers specifically have been linked to improving a person’s mental health. 

Mental Health Awareness Week this week (October 2nd – 8th) – as a florist, you can help people feel better every day by providing a beautiful bouquet to have in their homes. Your customers can gift it to someone who needs a smile, or they can walk in and buy something for themselves to feel better. Whatever the reason, you have a chance to change someone’s day for the better. 

How do Flowers Impact Mental Health?

According to recent studies, keeping flowers around improves people’s moods and reduces stress-related depression. They also increase positive energy levels and help people feel secure and relaxed.

When people are in aesthetically pleasing environments, they are more likely to be productive and feel happy. Think about how great you feel outside looking around at beautiful landscapes with flowers everywhere. Bringing a piece of that into your workplace or home is a great way to feel better, especially if you’re stuck in a funk. 

Floral Color Can Affect Emotions

It is a proven scientific fact that each color has its own meaning and can affect multiple emotions across the board.  Floral colors can also attribute to our well being and mental state. Flowers that are less saturated and brighter are generally more relaxing, while bold saturated colors will help you be more energetic and happy. Colors near each other on the color wheel will be more calming than those opposite on the color wheel.

Flowers That Help With Mental Health 

Roses

We have all heard the phrase, “stop and smell the roses.” Their scent produces endorphins that can boost your mood.  Not only with scent but according to studies, when a person sees a rose, oxytocin is produced, which has been proven to reduce stress. 

Calendulas

This beautiful and versatile flower is a great addition to your shop simply because of its beauty, but did you know it can help in the healing process as well? Calendula flowers are known for their antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-fungal properties. They can ease inflammation and heal wounds and rashes. 

Chrysanthemums

These unique-looking flowers are a tried and true flower shop staple for a reason – they have been proven to improve anyone’s mood. Chrysanthemums have been shown to lessen symptoms of worry and stress, and when taken as tea, this flower cools and relaxes our bodies.

Lisianthus

Lisianthus might not be the first flower your customers consider when putting together a bouquet, but it should be a staple for those looking to brighten their space. These beauties are known for bringing out creativity in people and encouraging free thinking. 

Orchids

The orchids refreshing fragrance can increase the alpha brain waves, which then promotes a calmer mood. Orchids are also know to alleviate stress and relaxes tension.

Jasmine

Jasmine is not just a beautiful bloom, it is also one of the preferred flowers for mental health preservation. Jasmine reduces stress, anxiety levels and helps with sleep problems.  Jasmine helps lower a person’s heart rate and facilitate a peaceful sleep. Customers should send this to someone who has been battling with insomnia or those with difficulty in getting a restful sleep.

Lavender

Lavender is most commonly known to be used in aromatherapy. The fragrance from the oils of lavender is said to help reduce stress, anxiety, mild pain, and promote calmness and wellness. 

Geranium

Geraniums are used in aromatherapy because their calming scents help reduce anxiety, depression, anger, irritability, tension headaches, and general nervousness. It has shown that when people are exposed to the geraniums’ scent while completing stressful tasks, heart rates are decreased significantly.

Nowadays, everything from food, movies, and even flowers are available as a subscription service, in fact, according to Global Banking and Finance Review, 70% of business leaders say subscription business models will be key to their prospects in the years ahead. So if you haven’t already put into action a subscription service for flowers – what are you waiting for? 

What are Flower Subscriptions?

Subscription flowers, or floral subscriptions, include a variety of services where customers can have flowers delivered to a place of their choice schedule. Depending on the service, customers may choose bouquets that are sent or receive a random bouquet of seasonal flowers.

Some services also allow flowers to be sent on specific dates or on holidays (eg. Mother’s Day or Anniversaries). While it’s common for customers to send flowers to mark a special occasion, the general reason floral subscriptions are gaining traction today is a growing appreciation for having everyday flowers nearby.

Who is Offering Subscription Flowers?

It should be noted that not only are florists offering subscription services but cut flower specialists too. Floral subscriptions are a growing market and can also help with your inventory.

These advance orders let you plan ahead and place orders for unique flowers and stock only what’s needed while cutting down on waste. You can even use surplus flowers from other orders as part of the bouquets, managing your waste even more. Floranext website customers can add Floral Subscriptions to their website. To get started with Floral Subscriptions, Click Here!

Benefits Of Floral Subscriptions

As a bonus, flower subscription services may allow you to provide better flowers to the customer as well. Using seasonal blooms keeps your bouquets of higher quality, which your customers will definitely appreciate.

It keeps business coming

If you have a steady number of people who automatically order flowers every month – or week! – you have a constant business stream. This could help you even in the off seasons when weddings aren’t happening. 

It’s a chance to stay in customers’ minds

When you’re connecting with a customer regularly, you’re going to stay top of mind for them as a flower provider. Even if it’s a small vase of flowers every month, you’re going to continue to build a connection with your customers, and when they have a larger need for flowers, you’re the first one they think of. 

Show off what you can do in different seasons

Often, people looking for florists are usually doing so in popular seasons. When you can deliver flowers to customers every month, they get to see what you do for different seasons. From Easter to Christmas, and even Halloween, having a subscription service is the best way to show off your unique talent. 

Best Practices for Subscription Services

When it comes to developing a subscription service, you should know what the best practices are. Here are some ideas for creating a flower subscription your customers will love. 

Make it digitally accessible

It’s easier to sign up for and manage a digital subscription for everyone involved. If your subscription service is easily accessible, more people are likely to use it. 

Offer subscription tiers

People love options as much as they love flowers. By offering multiple options for sizes of bouquets or potted plants, your customers will have more to choose from, making it more appealing for them. 

There are so many advantages to floral subscriptions that it may feel like you’re missing out on an entire industry not riding the trend. If that describes you, try offering a subscription plan and see how they work! Want to add floral subscriptions to your website, Try Floranext Floral Subscriptions today! 

Florists, are you offering floral subscriptions to customers? What are some things that work or didn’t work for you? Please share your comments down below!

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Floranext makes great florist software. Florist websites, floral POS, florist wedding/event proposal software, and florist technology. Let us know if you want a free demo or try our software for free here.

Florists, If you haven’t already figured out that you should be on TikTok and Instagram, this might be what finally sways you to the social media giants. These two social media platforms are giving Google a run for its money. 

Since Instagram and TikTok have switched the mainstream consumption of social media of quick video viewing, Google search and maps are being heavily impacted by a growing preference for social media and videos. 

How is Google being affected? 

According to Senior Vice President Prabhakar Raghavan, who heads the Google’s Knowledge & Information organization, has recently reported at a conference that Instagram and TikTok are heavily impacting Google search. 

At the conference it was noted that younger users were now often turning to apps like Instagram and TikTok instead of Google Search or Maps for discovery purposes. Based on research, 40% of younger users, aged 18-24, are searching for a specific place, like where to get lunch or where to shop, they go straight to TikTok and Instagram. 

“We keep learning, over and over again, that new internet users don’t have the expectations and the mindset that we have become accustomed to.” Raghavan said, “the queries they ask are completely different.”

Google has taken the initiative in updating Google search and maps to stay ahead of the change. Google Maps is incorporating augmented reality to help users position themselves in their environment by seeing a blue flashing icon. Google search is now including TikTok and Instagram links in google search and they are currently in development of combining images and text as it imagines a future where users could hold up their phone and search based on what they see.

What does this mean for florists?

The answer is pretty simple – to thrive as a florist, you need to have a presence on social media. You don’t have to go viral or even immediately start making high-quality TikToks quite yet – luckily for the floral industry, the audience we’re looking for does generally find your business through Google searches.

But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be getting ahead of the curve. Considering vamping up your social media posts doesn’t hurt, and it doesn’t have to be too hard. 

What should you be posting on social media?

With social media content covering across different subjects, we recommend on focusing what you do best, being a florist. One of the top trending searches on TikTok is florist videos showing just their day to day activities. Here are some key-points when developing your social media. 

What makes your flower shop unique?

If you’re posting on social media, you should show off your skills. Consistently posting content that shows floral arrangements, wedding decor you’ve done, and other special projects you’ve been a part of is important in growing your business.

Relatable content

Yes, you should be posting flowers – but you should also be posting relatable content. Content that your customers can relate to is what will draw them in and consider you for their next event or floral need. TikTok’s portraying a “day in the life of a flower shop owner,” and videos that show your business behind the scenes will resonate. 

Showing off your local business

Make sure your social media, whether it’s Instagram or TikTok, should highlight where your business is. The algorithms of social media platforms take the location of users into account, so you must make sure that your town is represented in your posts and in your profile information. 

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It’s not time to panic yet – Google isn’t going anywhere. But in a competitive industry like ours, it’s important to always consider ways you can grow and reach more customers. 

Are you on TikTok or Instagram? Tell us about your strategies and tag us in some posts! 

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Floranext offers great florist software, florist POS, florist websites and florist wedding proposal software. Our florist technology products are built by florists, for florists. Let us know if you want a free demo or try our software for free here.

The busy season is almost upon florists again yet many may not even know it. We’re not talking about the Christmas through Mother’s Day that keeps us busy in the spring – this is autumn! The season that sends many potential customers rushing to big box stores, hardware stores, and even greenhouses when they should be rushing to your flower shop. This is an important three-month decorating season that florists have much to offer to. Below are some tips to make sure you’re taking advantage of the autumn sales that should be yours. 

Flower Shops Offer More

Many people think of florists as a spot for gifts, special occasions, and indoor arrangements, but flower shops offer so much more. Florists offer unique inventory that your customers won’t find in a generic home improvement shop. Your customers need to understand that your shop offers hand-crafted specialty items that will stand out from the cookie-cutter décor that many settle for.

Wreaths, table top gardens, entry pieces, and centerpieces are just a few of the opportunities that florists have to show off their craft and give your customers stunning new looks to experiment with. Don’t be afraid to emphasize that your local-owned flower shop is the place for your customers to shop. Shopping locally and shopping small is very popular at the moment with Millennials and Gen Z (Small Business Saturday is just around the corner!).

Stock Your Flower Shop

Fall occupies a special place in many people’s hearts as their favorite season, so be sure to stock something special for them! In addition to all of the materials needed for the items above, don’t be afraid to compete for outdoor space! Stock your floral shop with fall products:

• Hay bales
• Corn stalks
• Potted Mums
• Dried Flowers
• Bundled Birch Branches
• Scarecrows
• Pumpkins, mini pumpkins and gourds
• Indian corn
• Fall door wreaths and more! 

There’s no reason to lose out to franchised hardware store for sales your shop could easily make or stock up on.

Show Off Your Flower Shop

Let potential customers know that your flower shop should be their one stop shop for fall decorating before they even pull into the parking lot. An eye-catching outdoor display in front of your flower shop will show people that you have exciting fall décor to offer. A fall window will give you a chance to show off your technical skills and draw in passersby.

Of course, now days your digital storefront has nearly as much impact as your actual storefront. On your website, be sure to show off your fall product category with new banners and products. If you’re already active on social media, now is a good time to begin teasing your customers with shots of new inventory as well as new fall designs.

Another way to go about this is to show off the fall items you have in stock each week or 2 on your website or favorite social media platforms. Your customers will appreciate the inside look at your business with these “What’s Fresh this Week” style posts. Shops that have been diligent in collecting customer emails will have an extra step up with the ability to send out email marketing and maybe even a coupon to promote decorating services and fall products.

Making The Most Of Fall

Given all the advantages of shopping with a florist for fall décor, it’s surprising how many flower shops are missing out. Following the steps above will help ensure your business is capturing as much fall business as possible over the three month season. How does your shop rank? Let us know what creative ideas you’ve put in place to keep customers coming back to you as their one-stop-fall-shop.

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Floranext offers great florist software, florist POS, florist websites and florist wedding proposal software. Our florist technology products are built by florists, for florists. Let us know if you want a free demo or try our software for free here.