Being a bartender by trade, working in a flower shop has been a very different experience. I am also new to blogging. This is actually my first attempt at it. I am not exactly sure how this works, but I am doing this for an extremely important reason! Now, while I hope you will choose US as your florist, understand that I am writing because I believe whomever you choose, you should get to know them. You should visit the shop, at least once. I wholeheartedly believe that your relationship with your florist should be more of a friendship. They are like your barber or hairdresser, or like your bartender, but better, because they have the ability to bring smiles to everyone you love, near AND far. Too many people use wire services to fulfill their floral needs, such as Teleflora, or FTD, which is fine, if that is what you choose. Buds & Bows Floral Design is a preferred florist for these services. Some people like to just go to the grocery store, I am not sure why, but that is also fine, if that is what you choose. As long as you make an informed decision, and understand what you are choosing, OR losing by not having a florist of you very own. Hopefully, by the end of my rant, you will agree with me, and understand that you should get to know your florist. Find a florist in your area. Distance should not necessarily be a factor, since most places deliver, and have websites for your convenience, however, if you don’t stop by, how will you get to know them? More importantly, how will they get to know YOU? And your florist should know you.
Before I go any further, some arrangements that you see online are photoshopped. For instance, if you order Fashionista Blooms, you may not notice the number of flowers verses the number of stems in the glass vase. Don’t misunderstand me, I love that arrangement, if I had to pick one out it would be one I give a second look to. However, due to availability, sometimes the Gerbera Daisies or Roses will be brighter or darker. It will also be an all-around bouquet, so you will not see every flower, from one side, as depicted in the picture. This one is not so bad since there are more stems at the top of the vase. Some are far worse, such as completely changing the color of flowers to make the arrangement look a certain way or to fit a certain style. Actually, who knows why!!
Prior to the Internet, if you wanted to send an arrangement to someone in another city, or state, your local florist would just call a florist in that city and say, Mr. Smith would like an arrangement sent to Mr. Jones. The local florist would make an arrangement with the freshest of flowers to his or her liking. The Internet has changed everything. When you order an arrangement online from a wire service, you see a picture of flowers in a vase. Now while these flowers you choose may be beautiful, and colorful, they may also be out of season. Each arrangement has a “recipe” that the florist is to go by, complete with height specifications. And while florists do their best to recreate this cookie cutter arrangement, sometimes it is impossible to make it look exactly like the picture. It is not like ordering a pair of shoes off of any popular shopping website. These wire services take your order, take a large cut and send the orders to florists, in their network, close to the delivery area. There have been horror stories of these services ripping off florists with hidden fees, and penalties. We will save that for another blog. These places just answer the phone. They also have Facebook Pages, and Twitter accounts. They do not know the quality or ability of the florist that is entrusted with the arrangement for your loved one. They literally just give it to the next in line. Talk about luck of the draw!!!! You are literally playing Russian roulette with your sentiments. If your sweetheart’s birthday is a day before Easter, you don’t want them to get a yellow arrangement with bright blue Easter eggs in it, do you? Always a possibility with a wire service, as all information is given to the florist second hand. Why should this matter to you? Well, basically because, by ordering directly from a florist you get more bang for your buck!!
If you come to Historic Downtown Melbourne, FL, look for our FLOWER CART outside of the Railroad Emporium, stop by and say Hi.In my opinion, a florist’s choice design will ensure that you get the freshest flowers available, at least at our shop. Now that is only the case if you like the designs of the florist. The art of flower design, is just that… an art!! If you have more of a modern chic style, and your florist specializes in more of a traditional style, then that custom arrangement may not suit you best. If you take a look at their work, and you like it, you should feel confident that your arrangement will be one you and your loved one will fall in love with. In choosing a florist, ask questions. Find out their hours, daily cut off for delivery, and the delivery fees for the area. Make sure there are no hidden fees. Make sure they are an actual flower shop, and not just an order taker. You should ask your florist how often they get new flowers. I cannot speak for all flower shops, but at Buds & Bows Floral Design, we hand pick our flowers DAILY to ensure the best quality and longest lasting designs money can buy. Our arrangements last an average of TWO WEEKS!! Buds & Bows Floral Design’s expert staff is here to please you in any way we can, which is why we guarantee our "work-women-ship"(workmanship) and freshness or your money back...GUARANTEED!!!! Once you take the time to find a florist in your area, they will be able to find you a reputable florist in the area you wish to have a delivery sent.
Follow me @Flowerchick76
