Sending Smiles ~

Below is a repost from one of my very first blogs . I wanted to re-post it because as it was relivant in March of 2008, so it is today, especially after the holiday. In honor of my dad, who died on Christmas Eve 17 years ago and because of the season, I thought it was especially timely to remind people how important flowers are to families who are grieving. Recently a customer and I got to talking about sympathy flowers . This started me thinking about the floral industry and what an important role we play during the grieving process. I remember when my father passed away I asked my mother if she wanted me to inform friends and family to make a donation instead of sending flowers. My mother's response was something I've never forgotten, even 15 years later. She looked completely grief stricken and told me that her greatest fear was that she would walk into the wake and not find any flowers there. Being in the floral business , I've always known that flowers are sent a...

Let's face it, if you are in retail, your life is very hard during the holidays. Just as the office people are getting time off to go shopping and cook, those of us working retail are working long hours with little sleep and socializing. But that being said, we do manage to find some time to have some fun and goof off. Even Kevin and I, who work more than our employees (to the tune of 80 hours + at this time of year), still manage to see friends, go Christmas light looking, eat out and go to the mall. Hard to believe, but true! This past weekend our area got about 14 inches of snow. The staff all dug out and made it in safely and the flower production began!! Today Sheryl started the transition of the window displays from Christmas to Winter. Why so early? Mainly because we have sold so much of our Christmas product, there is nothing to display in the window! That's a good thing being over the next two days, the Christmas product must roll out and make room for Valentine...

Flowers are fun. There's no two ways about it and what's more fun than teaching little girls about floral design. Not much, if you ask Shop Coordinator Sheryl Perry. This past Monday, Sheryl went out to Quarry Hill Elementary School in Yardley, PA to work with the local Brownie Troop. The girls had a ball. Each girl made three different arrangements and then finished off their session by drawing their favorite flower for us to post at the shop. Afterwards the girls would be donating them to a local nursing home to brighten their facility. It really feels good to get out into the community, especially during the holidays to help spread the "floral" cheer!! Thanks to all the girls who participated and especially to Sheryl who always does a fantastic job representing Monday Morning Flowers in the community!!

For those of you who read my blog, you know I rarely make it overly "Salesish" but in the spirit of Christmas and knowing that many of you will be running around like crazy looking for gifts, I thought it might be nice if I point out some of my favorite offerings this year. The orders for some of our Teleflora product have started coming in and I have to say I really love the Christmas Cookie Bouquet. The mixing bowl is simply adorable and the arrangmenet really makes up nice. Because this is a Teleflora product, it's easy for us to help you send this to just about any location in the US and Canada. At $52.95 this really makes a sweet gift for anyone on your list and shopping online and hand delivery make it both fast and simple. Another Teleflora  product that I'm really liking is the Teleflora Lenox Holly-Day arrangement. The bowl is aspecially lovely and we have already sold quite a few of these, minus the flowers. That, to me, is the ultimate compliment as peo...

People ask me what it's like working with my husband. It's funny how many variations of this "question" I get. For example, the timeless "How on Earth do you work with your husband"? That's a positive one! "Do you sometimes want to kill each other?" is my personal favorite. For the most part, it works out fine and no, most days we don't want to kill each other. The best part is when we go home at night there is no need to ask how each others day was, because we already know! As he calls me, I'm the creative " visionary " that spends the money and he's the accountant, or " pain in the neck " that keeps me on a budget. For the most part, it's all good. Can spouses work together? I believe so, especially if they each bring something different to the table. He stays in his area and I stay in mine and we only tangle in each others space when absolutely necessary. As a management team I play the role of ...

Maybe it's just me but it's not Christmas until the lovely poinsettia's arrive. Just before Thanksgiving we start bringing in these colorful plants and all through out December they arrive, get displayed and then get sold. The shop looks so empty when they are all gone and it's so sad!! I thought it might be helpful to post some Do's and Don't for poinsettia care. Thanks to the Paul Ecke Ranch for providing me with this information!! The Do's and Don'ts of Poinsettia Care DO place your plant in indirect sunlight for at least six hours per day. If direct sun can't be avoided, diffuse the light with a shade or sheer curtain. DO provide room temperatures between 68 - 70° F. Generally speaking, if you are comfortable, so is your poinsettia. DO water your plant when the soil feels dry to the touch. DO use a large, roomy shopping bag to protect your plant when transporting it. DON'T place plants near cold drafts or excessive heat. Av...