Design Contest!

So excited, the Rathburn wedding came just in time to enter this contest!!
Keep tuned in for pictures.

JTV/uBloom Design Contest
uBloom - Monday, 21 September 2009

© uBloom

  

Charity Events

Thanks to all at the Davis County Gala for the Community Learning Center in Clearfield Utah. It was a great time. Annie volunteered for the silent auction. We were able to have some great food from the Davis Conference center and we saw acrobats twirling in fabric, 30 feet in the air. Also, the Nylons performed. It was a great all around event for charity. This was Thursday night.

Saturday, the students from Clearfield High School picked up their corsages and boutonnieres and Annie participated in The Deron Williams and Kyle Korver Charity Dodgeball tournament for the Christmas Box House. This is absolutely non-flower related, but we love to support charities and charity events. Here is what I wrote about it on www.Jazzbots.com:

http://www.jazzbots.com/web/2009/09/15/dodgeball-childhood-trauma-revisited/

It was good fun and great exercise of muscles I didn't even know that I had!!!

Shop front counter Sept

Shop front counter Sept
Originally uploaded by annie.whittaker

It's beginning to look a lot like September here in the shop. It's my favorite time of year! The big yellow flower above the red wall is made of recycled packing materials and the surrounding garlands are made from packing materials and bed skirts! I love re-purposing things.

Yay Construction!! (Really)

It's finally here. No more wondering, worrying or having to answer "I'm not sure when." The construction has started in front of our store. My concerns that the traffic would stop flowing northbound in front of our store on Main Street weren't unfounded; it's pretty much 'nil. But you have to look at the silver lining of the cloud right?

Well amazingly enough, I've found a couple. First, people can see my signage better! They aren't blocked or distracted by busy traffic. Secondly, it's much, much easier to get into our parking lot now. So if you are one of the folks who didn't want to deal with turning left against all the craziness or not being able to turn left out of our parking lot, worry no more! It's almost heavenly maneuvering into the lot!

Come and see us!!

Spring is Here!Well, close enough. It's here in the shop! We would like to announce the opening of registration for our

Spring Floral Design Class

Wednesday March 25, 2009

6:30 PM

Make and Take your own bouquet!

Class will be approximately 2 hours long, goodies will be provided.

Cost is $40 which includes all materials and instruction.

Classes are small so that we can provide individualized instruction so call today!Discount available for those who sign up with two friends or more.

Call the shop for more information.

801-544-5999

Things to Remember About Valentines Day

The Valentine's Day "season" is looming. Although it's only one day, for most florists the planning for this one day happens a year in advance, and the ordering and preparation begins months in advance. There is such a demand for roses, that the price is forced to go up with it.

So far, I have only been able to wonder what would happen if the demand on Valentine's Day was more balanced between roses and other flowers. Mixed flower bouquets are perceived to be less romantic I suppose. But when you think about it, who determines what is romantic?

In all reality, it's the thought behind the Valentine's gift that makes it romantic. When I am choosing flowers for my home, I choose anything besides roses. I think that roses are beautiful and there is nothing in the world that matches the unique beauty of the rose, but this can be said about all other flowers. Mixed bouquets are going to last longer than all rose bouquets, with staggered life spans depending on the blooms in the bouquet. Not only do they last longer, but they have more variety in texture and color.

In my experience, women prefer something besides just roses in a bouquet. I've also learned from my experience, that men are the main buyers of flowers on Valentines Day, and that most men think that the women they are buying for prefer roses. If men and women could only communicate!

The most important thing to know about Valentines Day is that not all dozen rose arrangements are created equally. Make sure as you are calling and checking prices at different florists, to ask what each of those bouquets contain. Only roses? Babies Breath? Other accent flowers? One type of greenery or several? Curly willow? Ribbon or bow? Large vase or small? Etc. Etc.

It might seem like you are getting a huge bargain, but you might be buying an apple, when you thought you were buying a bag of oranges.

'Tis the Season, I Think

The holiday season is often very busy for most florists, in fact a lot of the traditional bread and butter days start with Thanksgiving and roll on into Christmas, then Valentines Day, and everything finishes up with Mother's Day and Memorial Day.

Traditionally, that's true. Now, things are still in the process of changing and have been for the last 8-10 years in a drastic way. This year was no exception, and we had the added bonus of a Presidential election year (typically drives sales down), and the now supposedly official recession. All I can say is good thing for the wedding and sympathy sales this summer, which have been up every year for us.

I just wanted to hit on a few of the things that I've been involved with this fall and now winter. In October I attended and helped to produce the Utah Chapter of the Romance Writer's of America's annual conference. It was held at the Canyons Resort in Park City Utah. So beautiful!!! I know, this is about the flower bizz, and while we did of course have floral centerpieces at all the dinners, I mention this conference because I want to showcase part of our marketing efforts. Meet Maggie:

Maggie showed up at every room where an URWA session was to be held. She showed every one at the resort whether a participant of our conference or one of the four or so others, that the "Romance Writer's are Here!"

Maggie generated a tremendous amount of publicity for our Utah chapter, and for the Romance Writers of America. Everyone needs a Maggie for their business, of course it doesn't have to be a life sized doll, but something that will make people stop and say 'what's this all about?' This goes for flower shops, and tax service providers a like. Admit it, you have to look at the kid being paid to dance in front of the national pizza chain with the promotional sign.

On to December. Our business offers seasonal gift baskets to corporate accounts. Here are some photos of a recent large order that had to be done all in one night, as the product inside was more perishable than usual. Everyone got in on the act.

The video was just too cute not to share. I own and run a flower shop, but gift baskets are another niche for me. I really enjoy doing them, and I know how to design things, and to order and inventory perishable products, so its another source of income as well as a creative outlet.

I'll be honest, times are tough right now. I could sit down and cry because things are scary. Some might feel justified in doing this. Instead, I'm finding other ways to make a living, going down different avenues if you will. I might have to work harder for it, but business is out there!

Until next time, Annie