Create Beautiful and Profesional Proposals with Floranext New Advanced Proposals

 

Floranext has the new solution to let your floral wedding and event business bloom! We have been hard at work enhancing our wedding and event proposals service and we are excited to announce the completion of our newest software: New Advanced Wedding and Event Proposals.

 

 

Try Floranext New Advanced Proposals

Features of Floranext’s New Advanced Wedding/Event Proposals

Make Your Job Easier

With Advanced Proposals, florists can create beautiful and professional proposals in a matter of seconds. No more lost and cluttered information, keep track of your clients requests in one location.

Easy to Use

With the new Floranext Proposal user interface, Floranext Advanced Proposals are easy to create, organize and manage. Florists are able to build a floral arrangement from the bottom up with flowers and supplies.

Customize Each Proposal Email

Add your business’ personal touch by adding a personalized message to each proposal with a customizable email template. Each client is different and adding that personal touch matters.

 

Take Payments

Track and take customer credit cards and payments for deposits and payments.

Increase Your Profits

Add markup, labor and then easily check to make sure you are pricing your flowers correctly. Making sure your weddings and events are fairly priced yet profitable.

Flower Catalog

With the Floranext Advanced Proposal’s flower catalog, it gives you the opportunity to record your pricing for your flowers and use these to help build your beautiful and professional proposals.

 

Building Components

Build components like bridal bouquets, boutonnieres and more by adding the specified number of flowers for every arrangement.

Shopping Lists

Flowers and supplies composed to build your proposals can help generate a shopping list to order flowers and supplies.

Cloud-Based Software

Use Floranext Advanced Proposals on your own computers, choose the best platform for you. 

Try Floranext New Advanced Proposals

Why try Floranext’s New Advanced Wedding/Event Proposals?

We understand that florist wedding and events are a core part of a floral business and creating beautiful proposals can be challenging.

We’ve all been there before: notes, images, spreadsheets, word documents and countless emails sent back and forth between your clients can be a nightmare. So why not use one program to make professional proposals and keep everything organized?

Get rid of the multiple programs and keep everything organized with Floranext Advanced Proposals. Our newest software allows you to create beautiful and professional proposals in a matter of seconds by adding images, components, personalized messages and more letting you focus on what’s really important, your floral business.

Start giving your wedding and event proposals more impact with Floranext’s newest Advanced florist wedding/event software today!

Try Floranext New Advanced Proposals

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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.

Attracting floral wedding business begins with reaching recently engaged couples! Tap into this $100 billion industry now by marketing to the recently engaged.

Facebook

In addition to using your Facebook business page to share pictures of your events and wedding designs, you can use Facebook to create targeted ads.

Click the Create Promotion button on the right sidebar in your Facebook feed.

Choose a promotion type. We recommend any of the following:

• Boost a post
• Set up an ongoing promotion
• Promote your business locally
• Promote your page

Under the Audience section of the promotion, you can target the ad toward Facebook users by the following criteria:

• Area
• Age
• Gender
• Language
• Other pages liked

Most Americans get engaged between the ages of 25 and 32. We recommend targeting the promotion toward women ages 24-34 in your area.

Also, the most common days of proposals are Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, and Valentine’s Day. You can either target your ads for these days in particular days (or the days and weeks following), but in the big picture, you’ll want to focus your advertising on the winter months to attract recently engaged couples.

Next, you’ll choose a daily budget for the promotion. Facebook will calculate the number of users that can be reached at each price point.

Like Google AdWords, creating paid ads should be more than a zero-sum game. Be thoughtful of how much you’d like to spend on boosting.

Image via Shutterstock

A Note on Google AdWords

Google AdWords is a paid advertising service that can help get you clicks on your floral website. Because it is a paid service, you will want to use it carefully to maximize the return on your advertising investment. Click here for more specific instructions on using Google AdWords.

 

 

Image via Shutterstock

 

Connect Customers to Other Resources

Besides flowers, the newly engaged couple will need to locate many different services to plan the wedding:

• Stationery and paper products
• Venues
• Catering
• Gowns and tuxedo rentals
• Travel and lodgings

A dedicated wedding florist may offer some of these other services in-house, but every florist offering wedding and event florals can forge partnerships with other resources and services in your area.

Image via Shutterstock

Prepare Deals and Discounts

The average length of engagements is 14 months. Planning a wedding is an open-ended process, and the deadlines are entirely self-imposed.

Craft a few deals for customers to get them in the door and take action. Could the customer get cheaper flowers the sooner they sign a contract with you, for example?

 

 

 

Florists, do you have any important advice on reaching recently engaged couples? Please share your feedback, tips or any marketing questions in the comment section below.

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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.

You are a creative and passionate florist, but have you ever considered specializing?

More and more, floral professionals are opting to focus their love of flower design into only catering to wedding/events flower arrangements. Specializing as an event florist can be very advantageous as it allows you to fully build your brand and perfect your craft. If you are currently a full-service florist then perhaps you may want to consider maximizing your wedding/event profits. In the US alone there is an average of 2.3 million weddings, and approximately $72 billion is spent on weddings each year.

Image via Shutterstock

Know How to Design Blooms

If you are reading this blog, then chances are you are already know how to arrange flowers. If becoming an event florist is something new you’d like to explore, the most important thing to do before jumping into floral arranging for events is to learn your craft. Although an exciting career, floral event design can be very demanding. We recommend finding a mentor or working with a local florist or wedding/event floral professional. As easy as floral designing can look, there are principles and techniques that are necessary to follow. Know your basics, know your flowers and develop your skills.

• Find your special design style
• Know your flowers and how to prep them
• Get comfortable with floral tools, knives, wire, tape, etc.

Image via Shutterstock

Establish Your Floral Brand

Marketing is the #1 criteria for your success, so think long and hard about your floral event company name, domain name, and logo. You will need a website—remember, websites are not for just selling products, they build your brand and make your wedding/event company relevant on search engines. Opt for a non-eCommerce floral website to use as a portfolio.

Must-Haves

• Company name
• Logo
• Domain name (be sure to purchase your own domain name) 
• Website
• Blog
• Social media accounts such as Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter
• Sign up for Google business
• Business cards/marketing materials (t-shirts, totes, pamphlets)
• Clearly consider what type of events you are going to cater to and emphasize all individually on your floral portfolio website (weddings, showers, anniversaries, birthdays, sweet 16, quinceañera, corporate events, weekly hotel or business floral arrangements)

Image via Shutterstock

Keep Your Floral Event Company Organized

Whether working out of a studio or storefront it is important to have organization! Your floral event company starts with supplies, you will not need flowers until the day you are ready to design your booked events, however, you will need basic flower tools, flower cutters, tape, glue, wire, and a floral wedding/event management software to help keep you professionally organized and allow you to estimate and understand your profits.

Make sure your wedding/event proposals include the following:

• Date
• Location(s)
• Color scheme
• Descriptive flower information
• Payment terms
• Cancellation policy
• “Act of God” policy
• Customer signature(s)

Image via Shutterstock

Create an Event Network of Professionals

There is no marketing campaign that compares to word of month, but in order to acquire word of mouth you do need to book some floral events. You can start by creating a network which will recommend your services, perhaps for a discount. Professionals working in conjunction is very convenient for potential customers, and profitable for you with establishing a new floral event company it is a must do. Grab your pamphlets, you professional sassiness and go out and get your self a network of professional business owners which will recommend your services and vice versa.

Consider these Businesses as Network Partners

• Photographers
• DJs/musicians
• Bridal and tuxedo shops
• Hair, makeup, nail salons
• Venues
• Hotels

Image via Shutterstock

Invest in Affordable Paid Marketing

The cost of starting a floral event company is minimal compared to other businesses, however, do set aside some cash for paid marketing. Unless you have potential customers waiting for you to open so they can flood you with bookings, you must invest in some paid marketing campaigns to keep your brand visible and profitable. Results may be immediate depending on location and competition, or may take some time.

The process of marketing is about connecting the dots. No one marketing tool is going to maximize your floral business, however multiple marketing strategies such as social media, word of mouth, brand awareness, professional networking, your personal website, and blogging and paid marketing is sure to result in a successful floral event business (or any business, for that matter).

Consider these low-cost paid options:

• Google AdWords (consider running these during peak times, and keep a budget)
• Join The Knot or Wedding Wire
• If you cant write a blog, hire someone who can (prices range from $100 to $250 per blog, but these are your blogs which can be posted on your website to generate potential customers)
• Facebook ads (Facebook allows you to target a specific demographic)
• Participate in Wedding/Bridal shows
• Post an online video

Image via Shutterstock

Did You Know…

• Most weddings take place in June, with May, September, and October trailing close behind
• Holiday parties take the #1 spot for corporate events
• There are more birthdays in September than any other month
• Most popular wedding flower is the rose

 

Florists, do you have any important advice or feedback on starting a floral event design company? Please share your feedback, tips or any floral event related questions in the comment section below.

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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.

 

Family-owned floral businesses rarely survive the transition from the first generation to the second. As a matter of fact, in this day and age, they are becoming more and more obsolete.

Many studies have shown that there is a high impact on family-owned and run businesses on our economy. In the floral industry, there was a time when this was the norm: a local flower shop stayed in the family, resulting in a local staple, while the whole family was able to live comfortably from running the family-owned flower shop. There was never a question of whether their children would continue the business after their parents’ retirement.

On our quest to find a third-generation family-owned flower shop, we came across Lighthouse Flower Shop in Mesa, Arizona. We thought it would be illuminating to have a brief Q&A with Lisa Miller, the third-generation owner of Lighthouse Flower Shop. This extraordinary accomplishment of running a successful flower business for 58 years definitely beats the statistical odds. We hope you find this interview encouraging, informative, and a piece of floral business history.

Does that make you sad?

It does, and I love this business. Nobody else in the family wants the shop. It’s been here for so long, but I’m holding out hope for a fourth generation.

 

 

What do you know today that you wish you would have known when you first got started running the flower shop?

My shop is much more profitable when we do fewer weddings. Last October I did 40 weddings, but they were smaller, and I’ve had to turn down other work to keep up with weddings.

What tip would you give someone that wants to be successful with weddings?

Be brave and charge for your work, and charge up front.

What would be the one piece of advice you would give someone who is opening a flower shop? 

Be prepared to compete with large grocers and wire service websites, and taking the time to educate customers about the difference between these sites and stores and a real brick-and-mortar shop. Your quality will always speak volumes for your brand, never skimp on quality.

 

If you could do anything besides own and operate a flower shop, what would it be?

I would love to be an auto mechanic because I love cars. I also tried to get into the army, but they told me I was too small, so the flower business it was 🙂

 

We all want to know what your grandma’s, mom’s, and your favorite flowers are.

My grandmother loved amaryllis and bearded iris. My mom doesn’t have a favorite. I really like hyacinths and red heart garden roses.

 

In closing, there are many young new florists. What advice would you give them?

It takes so much hard work to be a good florist and a lot of patience. Everyone who wants to own a flower shop should apprentice at a flower shop. You must keep your flower shop updated on the outside—every year I update my flower shop to keep it feeling fresh.

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One thing we learned in interviewing Lisa is that you can’t start a flower business with the intent to keep it for your family, your goal should be to run a successful business for yourself, and if your family follows your example, that’s icing on the cake. As technology encroaches deeper into our lives, it’s important to remember how Lisa ended our interview: “Robots will never be able to arrange flowers.” We couldn’t agree more.

Flower crowns are the biggest trend right now and at this point, it’s safe to say they are not going away!

Although flower crowns are hugely sought after for weddings and special events now, they are actually a floral trend of the past starting in Ancient Greece where they were worn to pay tribute to gods and then much later to represent peace, love and harmony.

We welcome the flower crown today which represents celebration, some say fertility, besides that there is no doubt about it, everyone just looks so attractive in a flower crown.

Most florists know how to make a flower crown, but for those who are new to the floral industry, this blog will show you the easiest way to make a basic flower crown.

Supplies:

You will need Wire, Wire Cutters or Floral Scissors, Stem Wrap Tape and Crowning Glory.

Floral Wire – You will need 22-inch gauge and 26-inch gauge wire. If you only have 26-inch gauge wire just be sure to double up to make the wire stronger when making the crown form.

Floral Stem Wrap – This is the same tape used for corsages and boutonnieres self-sealing wrap which sticks to itself and flower stems.

Wire Cutters/Floral Scissors –  What ever your preference is, you may feel it is easier and faster to work with both of these.

Crowning Glory – Slows the deterioration and browning of flowers, greens and plants.

Floral Greens:

There are so many variations of greens you may use in a floral crown. If making a dainty floral crown you may opt for smaller leaf greens. We encourage you to try many variations of greens in your flower crowns.

Eucalyptus  – is a great leaf choice,  There are multiple variations of Eucalyptus that can be used to achieve that so sot after bohemian flower crown look.

Tip: Do not limit yourself,  experiment with different floral green variations when making your floral crown and try mixing greens together it looks amazing.

Flower/Filler Stems:

Pick your desired flower stems, think of what you want to accomplish with the flower crown. For a cluster on one side use, the main flower stem called the “statement flower” these can be big dahlias or garden roses, these look best with smaller surrounding flowers.

For the bohemian flower crown, that is ever so popular with smaller flowers, loads of greens, berries and filler flowers work to accomplish the look and feel.

Filler flowers should be selected as a compliment to the floral greens and flowers, use little touches here and there which provides lots of whimsy to the flower crown.

Be sure to select different variations of flowers if using spray roses, select buds and open roses, to create movement within the flower crown.

• Ranunculus
• Lisianthus
• Juliet Garden Rose
• Spray Roses
• Wax Flower
• Hypericum Berries
• Baby’s Breath, and so many more – click here to see the full list of flowers

Tip: When you have the basics down on making a flower crown, there really are no rules when selecting flowers, greens and filler. Use a little of this, or no greens, or more filler, it’s up to your imagination and creation.  Just be sure the flower crown still consists of the basic principles of flower design,  Balance, Harmony, Proportion, Movement & Unity.

How To Make An Easy Flower Crown:

We promise its way easier then it looks.

1. Cut your foliage to about 4- 6 inches and set aside, no need to pre-wire your foliage ahead of time.
2. Cut your berries now if you like or you may cut as you go later.
3. Cut your statement flower and flowers picking the heads that you need, remember to mix it up and use various sizes of the same flower.
4. Trim flowers to about 1/2 inch to an 1″ underneath the head of the flower.
5. Cut your 26-inch gauge wire into a piece that is about 5 inches long.
6. In the largest part of the flower calyx (calyx is also known as sepals and it the part of the flower that holds the reproductive organs) go ahead and run the wire horizontally in the largest part of the calyx right below the flower head. Bring the wire ends together and use your stem wrap to cover the wire completely.
7. Go ahead and do this to all your floral stems.
8. If using filler flowers such as wax or other filler flowers there is no need to wire.
9. Making the flower crown form.  Take two pieces of 22-inch gauge wire make sure to use the floral stem wrap to secure the wire one end to another end to complete one horizontal line.
10. Feel free to wrap the wire around your head at this time and figure out a starting point slightly in front of the ear, behind or even right in the front.
11. We find it easier to work with the crown open, so you can maneuver as needed later
12. Take your small pieces of greens starting one by one and lay on the wire using stem wrap to secure the greens on the wire at the end of the stem.  As you go, be sure to overlap the greens to hide the floral stem wrap and pull on the floral stem wrap stretching around the wire.
13. Add about 2-3 green cut stems and then a little bit of your filler flower of choice, use your floral stem wrap to secure the filler flower.
14. Make sure that your stems are facing in the right direction outward of the crown.
15. Add your flowers and berries the same way you added your greens and filler, be sure to look at the crown to make sure that it looks balanced.
16.  Keep in mind most crowns have flower clusters which do not go fully around the crown, decide the look you are going for.
17. Be sure to treat the flower crown with Crowning Glory, spray directly on flower crown which will slow down the wilting.
18. Flower crowns can be made two days ahead of time and stored in a cooler in a sealed container much like a courage or boutonniere.

Tip: Be sure to always use 100% Crowning Glory do not dilute with water, adding water does not allow Crowning Glory to work to its full benefit and has little affect in prolonging the life of your flowers. 

Florist We Would Love To Share Your Flower Crown Masterpiece!

Submit your Flower Crown images and be featured in August blog with credit to you and your flower shop!  For all Flower Crown image submissions email here info@Floranext.com be sure to add your name, shop name and designer of flower crown.

Florists do you have a Flower Crown tip? Please share your feedback in the comment section below. If you have any questions please post below as well!

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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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Booking weddings are still one of the best ways to increase your overall flower shop profit.

Surprisingly, some florists do not take booking wedding clients too seriously or rather opt not to deal with the hassle of booking a wedding. Unfortunately, regardless of how much money your flower business makes, this is a big mistake as booking weddings bring in substantial profits and have proven to ensure future flower shop profits.

In this blog, we will discuss 8 ways to obtain more wedding clients into your flower shop through marketing and simple in-house tactics.

 

8: Creating An Ambiance

Creating a beautiful atmosphere will help ensure a sense of security with your wedding clients.  Mostly all of us buy with our eyes and emotions, our goal here is to have your wedding clients feel comfortable and ensure that you are the best florist for the job.

• Create a designated space designed for wedding consultations.
• Have proper comfortable seating.
• Have a computer/tablet available for quick image reference.
• Be prepared, make sure you have your wedding software open and ready for note taking.
• Offer your wedding clients something to drink.

 

7: Be Courteous 

Florists by nature are very courteous, friendly and giving people. However, there are times that wedding clients do request super outlandish things and even get their florist a little annoyed.  Nowadays your wedding clients will mostly do their homework and look at what appeals to them for their special day.

• Respect their needs and wants.
• Be excited and share in their enthusiasm for their special day.
• Educate your wedding client on what is possible and what is not.

The main thing here is, to be honest, if there is something you simply cannot do for the price or there is just no way of obtaining specific flowers, let them know.  Most wedding clients will take their florists advice and seek alternatives in their choices.

 

6: Paid/Free Ads On Wedding Sites

Most floral professionals have heard of The Knot, Wedding Wire, and so many others out there. We do recommend signing up for at least one of these sites for more exposure to your flower shop.

• You can increase your wedding bookings by 10 -40 more per year.
• Free Ads may minimize your visibility by covering some key elements that wedding clients like to see such as reviews. However, if the budget does not allow, a free ad is better then no ad.
• Set a budget and pay for some ads on wedding sites. After a year, review what profits were gained and decide if you would continue to advertise or lower or raise your budget.

 

5: Wedding Website

Nothing speaks more volumes than your own wedding website, it is perfectly OK to have wedding pages in your floral eCommerce website. If you are looking to expand your wedding bookings we recommended having a non-eCommerce website designed to showcase only your wedding services.

• Show your work in category pages. example: bridal bouquets, reception flowers, arches and so on. 
• Wedding websites that are loaded with galleries offer visitors many options to stay and browse which will increase your search engine optimization or SEO.
• Have a specific page designed to recommend vendors with backlinks and have them do the same for you on their website if they return the favor.
• Backlinks are considered SEO gold, so recommending vendors and have vendors recommend you is a win-win situation.

 

4: Social Media

The benefits of social media sites such as Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram and Youtube are essential in building your brand. Although you may not be booking many wedding at first, patience and diligence is the key.

• Post images on your social media platforms often, daily if possible.
• Offer wedding booking incentives.
• Be responsive to customers comments.
• Make A YouTube Video

 

3: Partner Up

There are many flower shop owners that would love more floral wedding viability but do not have the resources or time to fully devote to wedding marketing or consultations. If you are in this situation do not give up on doing weddings, remember this is all about making your brand well rounded.

There are many independent wedding floral contractors that will work solely with you for building up your wedding bookings. Generally, these independent wedding floral contractors receive a commission on all weddings they book for you and are held to only promoting your floral business.

Wedding floral contractors offer many benefits if time is of the essence for you.

• Book weddings and handle all consultations.
• Handle day to day marketing for weddings.
• Wedding floral arranging is done with your assistance and your designers in your flower shop.
• Handle all of the wedding flower ordering.
• Handle setup while the shop owner is responsible for providing delivery services, driver, and vehicle.
• Receive commission paid on the cost of wedding minus all flower shop owners costs.

 

2. Word Of Mouth

Sometimes, especially when you’re new to the floral profession, when doing weddings you need to give a lot to get a little and by little, this is financial gain or profit.  What you actually do get is a lot of future clients.

We do not by no means recommend doing wedding flowers for free. When starting out, show off what you can do and be reasonably priced, think of this a marketing tactic. Most wedding bookings and visits to your flower shop will come from guests at weddings you serviced and or recommendations from your wedding clients.

• Word of mouth is by far the best way to market your flower wedding business.
• Allows for long-term customer relationships.
• Keeps your business stable and consistently profitable.

 

1: Know Whats “Hot” In Wedding Flowers

Once you have all you’re wedding leads  schedule a consultation, have diligently set up a great designed area for your clients and are super courteous and respectful, are you current with the latest wedding trends?

It can certainly be a deal breaker for your clients if you are not aware of specific “Hot” trending wedding floral designs.

It is your job, as the floral professional, to stay ahead of trends and offer exciting options for your customers to show that you are “With It,” “Current,” and “Up to speed on floral wedding trends”.

• Take a wedding floral class on what is trending.
• Spend time searching social media sites for what wedding floral trends gets the most saves and likes.
• Practice specific wedding trends. If time and budget allow, set aside a day to practice various wedding trends. After completing the designs, you can post on your floral websites and social media platforms.

 

Florists, we would love your feedback! What tips can you share about booking more weddings that has brought profitable success to your floral business? Please add your feedback and questions in our comment section 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, did you know you make a huge difference?

The world as we know it would never survive without floral professionals. With potentially one of the busiest floral holidays here, it’s no wonder florists may be feeling frazzled and drained. It’s our job to remind you just how amazingly awesome you are and how your career choice makes such a difference. Not just for your community but in general for all humankind!

Yes, we know that sounds deep and profound but it’s true. Florists you create so much beauty, emotions and memories. Your passion for the floral industry is recognized and very much needed.

 

Florists Have Been Around For Centuries:

Earliest known flower arranging dates back to ancient Egypt to 2,500 BCE.  Egyptians were the first to cut and place flowers to decorate and add color to their surroundings.

• Florists were so sought after and so necessary that it was almost royalty to be a florist.
• Back then (and even today) the most beautiful accessory, gift and decor accents are arranged flowers.
• Flower arranging made these miraculous gifts from Mother Nature to evoke everlasting emotions.

 

Flower Arrangements Benefit Health:

Did you know that studies continually find that floral gift giving has a tremendous impact on our health? You would be surprised to know that lavish gifts, money, tech gadgets and clothing have little or no benefit to our general health.

• Studies find that patients in hospital rooms with colorful floral arrangements are in often a better, positive mood, need less pain relief medication and have overall lower blood pressure.
• Flower arrangements also have a profound effect on your workspace and home. Making you more productive, able to think clearer and also calmer.
• Surrounding oneself with flower arrangements helps increase your sex drive, evoking increased erotic feelings.
• Flower arrangements boost senior citizen’s spirits. Researchers at Rutgers released the shared results of a six-month behavioral study on the health effects of flowers on senior citizens. The study shows that flowers ease depression, inspire social networking and refresh memory as we age.

 

Why We Need Florists So Much:

Florists, could we ever imagine what the world would be like with no flower designing? The impact would be tremendous and we imagine a less cheery, more drab world.

• No special way of adding color and beauty to one’s life.
• No way of giving a gift of flowers which convey our deepest gratitude.
• No way of marking memories in our life’s journey with the addition of floral arrangements.
• Weddings would not be the same.
• Life would just not be the same. People count on their florist professional. Remember that!

Your contribution to the world is so special, so enduring, floral designs run deep within the receiver’s soul.

Think of all the ways you as floral professional impact patron’s life changing events.

Adding special memories;

• New baby
• Child’s first play
• Prom
• Graduation
• First date
• Breakup
• Showing love
• New job
• Birthdays
• Get Wells
• Mother’s day
• Weddings
• Holidays
• Anniversaries
• Offering beautiful floral arrangements for sympathy in helping to convey condolence and enhance the service.

Florists, during this busy holiday think of what a superstar you are and how your career choice impacts the lives of all and helps the world. We want to send all floral professionals across the world a special thank you for all you do in helping everyone’s life journey. We hope that you have a very prosperous Mother’s Day! Please share any feedback or questions in our comment section 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.

 

 

Bold floral blooms fill this 2017 spring season for florists!

Flowers are certainly trending in all aspects this spring. We are not just talking flower arrangements, think fashion, home decor, artwork and much more!  This week’s blog, we will focus on the “Must Do” floral trends for spring 2017.

Floral trends have now reached an ultimate high with florals in every aspect of life. Wedding trends for this year’s spring are so much more relaxed and less rigid, with an array of different techniques and some fun ways to showcase your floral designs and tricks.

Matching Floral Arrangements: 

Try matching your floral designs to the bridesmaid dresses. What? Yes, one of the most desired trends is matching flowers and patterns of the wedding dress wedding party attire to their actual floral bouquet.

This makes for a great social media post. With customers up with their social media and hashtags, they are making an impact with visually appealing images. This, of course, works in your favor for increasing your SEO, with great backlinks as well as a gallery of trending floral work for new customers.

Cascading Floral Wedding Bouquet:

Cascading wedding bouquets are trending this season due to its lush and romantic feel.  You may opt for a smaller cascade.

Fact: Brides are gravitating to the classic elegance of these cascading floral bouquets.

Once trending was an overly large hand picked bouquet look. Now a slightly more tailored look and not so large, with an organic feel is making its way to the head of the line. The updated cascading bouquet design complements the bride in every way without steering the attention from the bride.

 Dainty Wedding  Floral Garlands:

Not just used as centerpieces, these little dainty floral garlands are used to adorn place settings.

 

Blooming  Floral Plants:

Incorporating blooming plants is so hot right now! These are used mainly as centerpieces with added touches of nature, such as twigs and moss.

Note: Floral plants are an added touch with other florals throughout the wedding.

Click here to see spring 2017 wedding trends!

 

Modern floral arrangements are in the lead of the mainstream of floral design. Using beautiful textures and containers with a less is more approach.

Blues & Copper Florals:

Two of the biggest colors for this season are shades of blues and coppers. Purchasing containers in these color hues and adding simple floral arrangements is a big hit.

What’s Old Is New:

Think baby breath, mums and carnations, we know, not usually a customer favorite. These reasonably priced classics are making a huge come back when incorporated with higher end flowers or beautiful greens.

Queens Annes Lace is also taking the floral market by storm, try Queen Annes Lace in brown hues.

Think of the super fashion floral trend, where they use mainly daisies, mums and roses to adorn prints. Stock these in your cooler in various colors.

 

Floral Colors:

We can almost say that color is trending this up and coming warm season, however, it’s all about combinations. Trending now is bold and brights, muted color combinations, burgundies and reds and of course whites and grays.

• Go Bold – Go for the gusto with bright bold hues (bright pinks, oranges, and lime greens)
• Muted Colors –  Hues in a muted tones all in the same color family (rose, peach, soft browns )
• Bright Burgundy and Reds – These hues offer super visual impact. Do not forget to incorporate with dainty flowers in the pink tones.
• White & Gray – Always a classic is the white floral arrangement. This time try incorporating the ever so popular shade of gray with lush greens that come in this hue.

Click here to see spring 2017 floral trends!

Trends certainly come and go, however interesting enough, floral design allows for all trends to come together. The thing to remember with specific trends is that there are patrons that still like what they like, regardless of what is trending.

We are curious to see what, if any, trends leave your flower shop. What are your customers gravitating to a far as floral design? Please share in the comment section below your feedback and questions.

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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.

 

A Florist Guide to Planning Your Year

The floral industry, a fast-paced business, that’s ahead of seasons & holidays.

To most florist’s, planning the year is second nature, however, it always helps to have a set plan to organize everyone’s duties. In this blog, we present an easy guide for all your floral yearly planning.

 

January can be a slower month in the floral industry, however, there are loads to do. This is a great month to focus on your flower shops organization and marketing planning.

• Start a blog: This is a great way to increase your SEO, a simple how to blog will do wonders for your search engine visibility and keep the buzz going on your social media.

• Tip: “How to” blogs are the most searched, so anything with tips and tricks will be well received.

• Review your last years Valentine’s Sales: Start ordering your flowers for Valentine’s day. Ordering early equals savings, so make sure to order enough, and everything you need. Do not forget to order your add-ons, these are money makers, plush, chocolate, candy, and anything you wish to sell.

• Tip: If this is your first Valentine’s day, do not over order, this may be tricky, but set up a set amount you will order and see how your sales go. You can always get more in a pinch.

• Decorate Store & website for Valentines: Start the 2nd week of January, make a spectacular Valentines display in your store and also make sure your eCommerce store is ready for the early bird sales.

• Sign up for wedding sites:  If you are already signed up great, if not, now is a good time to sign up for wedding sites to promote your wedding floral business. Here are few you should consider, The Knot, Wedding Wire, My Wedding.

Buckle down for this short fast paced month! Although slow to start,  it is a good idea to have everything in order before the rush.

• Employee Management: Go over all employee scheduling and duties in the first week of February. Make sure you have hired all your new holiday help and that everyone understands their tasks for Valentine’s day.

• Tip: Good time to also rent extra delivery vans if needed.

• Promotions: Offer pre-Valentine’s day delivery promotions.  The idea here is to spread the wealth of this Valentine’s day and not be constricted to just delivering on February 14. Offer generous promotions on your flower shop website, post on social media and of course make sure they expire a few days before Valentines.

• Take care of yourself:  During this busy month, it is important to rest and take time for yourself. Encourage your employees to do the same and wear comfortable clothes, comfy shoes, and eat please, it’s amazing how many florists do not eat when they are busy. Being organized will alleviate most of the Valentines day pressure, so make sure to be well nourished and comfortable.

• Tip: Start a flower shop with a holiday diary. We know sounds corny, however it’s amazing what can be learned from holidays by just writing it down. Yes, you have your gross receipts, but how about mishaps, or comical happenings that are not noted, these are all so important and good read before the holidays.  

 

March can be the most rewarding month in the floral industry, it gives florist time to relax and get ready for new beginnings with the coming of spring.

• Finance Review: With the first quarter almost through, now is a good time to get a grasp on your profit and loss for January and February. Add notes about what you may do differently next year, a  good thing if you have started the flower shop diary.

• Spring Cleaning:  The #1 season that is most anticipated by customers is spring, especially if you live in the colder weathered areas, it is never too early to start bringing out this season. Start refreshing your flower shop and get ready for spring with beautiful decor and showcasing.

• March Sales Madness: As florists, we know march can be hit or miss with sales, so start a campaign and sell your products customers love, try a Free with purchase or half-off sales. make this a yearly ritual if this works for your business.

• Order your Easter flowers & plants! It’s always good to get ahead, start an order for your easter flowers and plants. Again ordering early equals savings from your suppliers and you also have the best selections.

 

Ready or not Mother’s Day will be here before you know it! Take April as a month to prepare for the #1 florist holiday.

• Order Mother’s Flowers & Supplies:  Make sure to order those beautiful containers and Mother’s day flowers with your supplier. Good time to order is early April.

• Showcase your plants: If you are selling plants, now is a good time to showcase your flowering plants, this creates such a welcoming inviting atmosphere for customers. If you can move some outdoors, this is great for some curb appeal.

• Promotions & Marketing: We recommend you start promoting after Easter to generate some early bird sales for Mother’s day. Post on your social media and website, this will help boost your SEO. A great marketing tip is to offer a giveaway, maybe a gift basket, or free flowers for a few months, and have customers fill out their information when they make a purchase.

• Employee Management: It’s that time again to make sure to hire the extra help you will need for Mother’s Day. Make sure all current employees understand their schedule and duties.

• Tip: If you are new to the floral industry, then a good to know tip is that Mother’s Day is the #1 floral business holiday, customers order throughout the week rather than one day. Be prepared with help, lots of flowers, and beautiful containers. 

 

May, what a great month for the floral industry! With one of the top selling holidays, this month starts off slow and quickly picks up in a super-charged way, so always good to be ready.

• Take a look around: Do a quick glance, does your flower shop look appealing to you? Make sure you use a critical eye and take it all in, the sound and if possible even the way it smells. Customers are drawn to a beautiful environment, it has proven to make them feel relaxed and comfortable, which will help increase those sales!

• Employee training:  The first week of May is a good time to discuss employee customer service, the cross-selling, and up-selling of products. Make sure your employees are polite and offer customers upgrades and add-ons with their purchase. This is an easy way to almost triple your profits.

• Offer prom promotions: Proms are a way sure to make sales. Build relationships with future long time patrons. Offer a referral discount.

• Examine your finances: After the Mother’s day rush now is a good time to sit down and see whether or not you made a profit, be sure to calculate all costs and include any spoilage or waste. Keep notes on what you would do different next year.

 

Oh June, what a lovely month! For some, the commencement of summer and a chance to organize all your floral business needs. June is the most popular month for weddings with September and October in a close 2nd. Florists are pleasantly surprised on how busy June can get with weddings and graduations.

• Refresh your floral website:  Update your flower shop for some summer specials, make sure you’re wedding galleries are up to date with great content and keywords.

• Offer promotions: Teacher gifts and graduation promotions are a great way to bring traffic into your flower shop. Be sure to post these on your floral website and social media.

• Order retail products: This is a great time to order some fresh new stock to get customers to flock to your flower shop. There is nothing you cannot sell, so think outside the box, What is popular? Candles (certain brand), skin care, plush, home decor, makeup, even unique greeting cards. Brand your flower shop!

 

We like to call July,  “a month of organization.” This month can be on the slower side,  so it’s very important to get your flower shop in order with beautiful displays and heavy on the marketing.

• Write a blog: We know this is listed in other months above, however,  July can be a slower month.  If you have time to write a How To Blog, or anything that inspires you, think about things you search for, read,  and watch as your SEO sky-rockets through the roof.

• Social media: Take some time to focus and revamping your social media communities. Add content and images and don’t forget the hashtags #, Again all this for top placement in Social Media.

• Tidy up your flower shop: By tidy up we mean clean, scrub, wash, organize, label, etc. Freshen up your floral space!

• Browse your floral supply stores:  July is a great month to look at products in your floral supply store, you can find great deals on holiday items, it is a great time to stock up.

 

August can be one of the slowest months in the floral industry. we ask that if you are slow, to try implementing new ways to market in your flower shop.

• Newsletter: Email, mail, or both! Send out a newsletter to your customers offering special savings.

• Start a workshop or floral party! Get busy with hosting a floral workshop, kids floral birthday parties, and much more. This can lead to great profits and new patrons at your flower shop.

• Start preparing for fall!  Get your flower shop ready for the most popular season, create beautiful displays, order new inventory and go for it! We recommend doing this the second to the last week of August. Don’t forget your fall marketing!

 

Flowers sales in September pick up rapidly towards the middle of the month. Customers are now back to their normal routines with the kids back school and weddings start to pick up.

• Order fall flowers and Plants: Stock up on your seasonal flowers & plants.

• Revamp your floral website:  Add the season touch to your floral website with fresh new content and images. Use proper keywords, specific to the floral industry for SEO advantage.

• Launch and Adwords Campaign: If your budget allows, try launching an Adwords campaign for more clicks to your eCommerce store. Be sure to set a budget and stick to it as this can get expensive. adwords.google.com

• Keep up with your blog: Now that you are pro, how about writing a seasonal blog or fall wedding blog? We cannot say this enough, blogs are so powerful with SEO.

• Note: Canadian florists, September is a good time start ordering flowers and supplies for Thanksgiving.

 

October offers some great sales in the flower shop business, now is a good time to start orders on any extra stock supplies and get them at a discount for future use.

• Prepare for the holidays: The holidays are just around the corner, shop around for the best deals on all your flowers, and supplies for the holidays. Also, shop around for holiday products to sell at your shop.

• Employee Management: Go over your employee scheduling and see if you will need extra help for the holiday season.

• Open House: Host a holiday open house showing off your latest products and floral designs.

• Floral Expo: Take some time to visit a flower expo in your area, take your employees, this is a good way to stay current with the new trends, and first dibs on new products.

• Note: October is a very popular wedding month with most wedding proposals in December. Think of launching a Wedding Package special on your website during this month.

 

Tis the season for flower sales, November all in all is a great month for flower sales. Customers are getting into the giving mood.

• Market the holidays! Add promotions to your floral website and do not forget about your social media!

• Start greening: Green those Thanksgiving centerpieces ahead of time, add any taper or candles and put in the cooler for a quick way to add flowers as sales role in for thanksgiving.

• Decorate for the holidays: Time for Christmas cheer, create eye-appealing displays and make sure your flower shop is festive. If you can make a beautiful Christmas window display or storefront display to bring in curious shoppers.

• Offer incentives: Offer black Friday or Small business Saturday deals,  “buy ones get ones” are great offers, even if it’s just a couple hours that day. Having a great deal with a cut off time is a good way of creating hype and traffic into your flower shop.

• Tip: Do not forget to revamp your eCommerce for Christmas and update your social media

 

Many florists around the world enjoy huge flower sales during the Christmas holiday. Although in some parts of the United States, florists have seen a decline in their floral sales during Christmas, this month is quickly picking up and still trailing as the third best month for floral retail sales.

• Employee management: Set exceptions for your employees on selling upgrades and add-ons for each customer’s order. Review scheduling and days you are closed.

• Christmas Greens: Mentioned above, it is also a good idea to green your arrangements ahead of time for Christmas. Take time to do this early before the holiday rush.

• Offer Discounts: Sometimes offering a discount too early for Christmas can become forgetful to customers who may not be ready. Post Christmas discounts during this month and make sure to have an expiration time or date.  Great discounts are gifts for parents, teachers, corporate and the person, who has everything. Flower still remain the perfect gift.

• Tip: Do not forget to market to businesses. holiday parties are huge, so offer incentives to have them book with you for their flower needs. 

 

These are just some examples and a helpful guide for florists to plan out their year. Florists do you have any tips or must do’s for a specific month? Please share in the comments below with our readers.

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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.

 

Enchant your clients with these fall flower wedding trends

Fresh crisp air, colorful leaves piled high, aromas of sweet pumpkin and apple pie, anticipation of holiday family gatherings, these are just a few things that come to mind when thinking of fall.  It is proven that fall has a spellbinding effect on our emotional state, perhaps this is why more couples choose to have their weddings during this extraordinary time of the year.

Fall flower wedding trends for 2016 do not fall short of this seasons magical commencement. Think outside the box to showcase these ravishing fall wedding trends.

 

 Exotic Flowers To Fall For

Let the flower’s bloom take precedence, leave succulents behind, they are fading fast, so focus on unique textured blooms.  Protea and Dahlias are a big hit this season and sure to stick around.

Trending Colors – Blush – Orange – Peach – Burgundies – Browns –  Shades of Whites

Foliage of choice is eucalyptus, used with many different varieties.

Tip: Remember your twigs, berries and branches, add a bit of whimsy with raspberry vines.

 

Wildflower Bouquets

Wild about fall, these gathered freshly picked bouquets are all about size and texture, think wide and loose.

Incorporate burgundies, oranges and blush (pink), toss the color wheel and get to designing. Remember it’s all about the shape, texture and movement.

 

 Hair Flower-dos

Tiaras are a thing of the past, the current trend is now sweet, soft, and ultra feminine with hair flower-dos. Keeping with the same wildflower look, these grand and soft arrangements should be highly recommend to all your brides, bridesmaids, and flower girls.

Tip: Floral crowns and floral clips are simple to make, make some up and take pictures for your wedding flower portfolio.

 

Fall Centerpiece Vessel 

The days of grand tall centerpieces are passé, think low. Use creative vessels to display your flower arrangements. A super hot trend for fall, believe it or not, is loosely arranged centerpieces in pineapples or white pumpkins.

 

 

Garland Foliage Centerpieces

Adorn tables with garland sweep across a long table scape or across the center of a round table. These centerpieces are a hit and easy to execute. You can add beautiful white candles and twigs for a completed look.

 

Adding Fall Touches

Making a centerpiece is just the beginning, how about adding a touch of awe by awaking all the senses and incorporating what makes this fall season special. Cinnamon sticks are a huge hit and chat worthy among guests. Green apples and fall leaves look best in all white and cream table scapes.

 

Flower Photo-Booth Walls 

If you are not recommending flower wall arrangements, then you must start asap! Think of the wedding photo booths, couples spend a small fortune on these. The flower photo booth wall can be used for many backdrops, they are classy, adds character, luxury, and a definite show stopper!

 

Theme Weddings

Theme weddings are all the rage this fall, although not just for the fall season. Theme weddings has taken precedence and is especially popular among the rich and famous.  Let your creativity blossom and recommend these fabulous wedding themes.

Most Popular Themes 

• Old Hollywood
• Bookworm
• Eco Friendly
• Rustic
• Enchanted Forest
• Bohemian (Fairy Princess)
• Game of Thrones
• Vintage
• Sports

 

These are just a few popular trends with weddings in the fall. Florist, what trend is popular in your area? Please share below any trends or tips we did not mention for our readers.

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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.