Local Artisan Florist Corner

Introducing Our
Local Artisan Florists!

April 17, 2019

Each year, 1-800-Flowers.com hosts two Local Artisan Design Workshops, bringing together select groups of florists from across the country to discuss trends, share ideas and collaborate with its product development and merchandising teams. As part of these workshops, florists use their creativity and design expertise to develop unique product concepts for seasonal and everyday occasions. Exceptional and differentiated designs are selected to become part of the 1-800-Flowers.com Local Artisan Collection and the arrangements become available for sale nationwide.

PETAL TALK CHATS WITH FAIRFAX, VA FLORIST TRICIA FLEEGAL

April 1, 2019

How did you get into the flower business and what do you love best about being a florist?
When I was about 12 years old, my mom would create wedding flowers from our home. She would work all day at her full time job, come home, cook dinner and then start preparing the flower shipment. I would help her clean and hydrate the flowers, sweep the floor and take out the trash. Mom would show me how to wire boutonnieres and corsages, put pearls in stephanotis, how to use stem wrap and package the product. My most important job was holding the bridal bouquets and trying on the flower head pieces/halos for inspection. I thought I was so cool holding something as special as a bridal bouquet! At my age it sure seemed like a lot of work, but nothing compared to what we do now. Having some floral knowledge under my belt helped me get hired for my first job at a florist at the age of 15.

What I love most about designing flowers, (depending on my feelings with the flowers for that day), is creating something from stems and turning it into a beautiful collection. I do my best work when I feel that I am one with flowers. Designing flowers is an art and a feeling for me.

What I love most about being a florist is a different feeling. Our customers are the best part. They bring the love and appreciation to our designs. We share special bonds over their occasions. I’ve cried, laughed and shared my life with them. Those memories will always be with me. It is the best feeling when you know you have touched someone’s heart and have earned the trust of your customers.

What are your favorite flowers?
I love Gerbera daisies! They just say “look at me”! Vibrant, happy and so many colors, how can you go wrong? But of course garden flowers are beautiful too. They’re easy to work with. Continue Reading…

Local Artisan Florist Corner

PETAL TALK CHATS WITH FAIRFAX,VA FLORIST MARGARET FLEEGAL

April 1, 2019

How did you get into the flower business and what do you love best about being a florist?
My first experience in the flower business was in the mass market industry, where I found I had a desire to create my own designs. I attended floral demonstrations and read industry magazines and books to help further my knowledge. This “self taught” approach helped me form my own unique style. Friends and family were soon asking me to help them with special occasions, mainly wedding flowers. By word of mouth, I had my own following and a small side wedding business. It became challenging, juggling my full time job along with wedding work on the weekends. It was clear to me that my passion was with flower designing. I needed to make a decision: go with my heart or stay with the security of a large corporation. I took the leap and bought my own flower shop in 1994.

What are your favorite flowers?
Peonies are my favorite. They are timeless and elegant. But I really love all flowers. They are each unique and special in their own way. They all make me happy! Continue Reading…

Local Artisan Florist Corner

Petal Talk Chats with Stafford, VA Florist, Develyn Reed

April 1, 2019

How did you get into the flower business and what do you love best about being a florist?

I’ve only been in the floral business for about 6 years. My in-laws own Achara Florist, and needed someone to work in the gift part of the store. Once I started working with some of the amazing designers, I began to design a little bit myself. I found that I love creating beautiful flower arrangements…and the rest is history!

What are your favorite flowers?

Gosh, I love them all! There are too many to count. But if I had to name a few, they would have to be peonies, hydrangeas and stock. Peonies smell extremely and are just so beautiful. They take center stage in whatever you put them in. Hydrangeas are nice, big gorgeous flowers that I love to use in wedding work. They make bridal bouquets nice and full, and they go with other flowers so well. Stock is another one of my favorites because it comes in all different colors, and has a wonderful fragrance and big, thick blooms that are stunning in everything. Continue Reading…

Local Artisan Florist Corner

Petal Talk Chats with Baldwin, NY Florist Ann Marie Pierce

April 1, 2019

In order to learn about the creative minds behind our handcrafted arrangements, we interviewed Ann Marie Pierce from Baldwin, NY who is featured in our Local Artisan Collection. From the daily life as a florist to some of the inspiration behind her arrangements, Ann Marie talks about her favorite holidays, arrangements, her family & more!

How did you get into the flower business and what do you love best about being a florist?
I always loved to be around flowers, so after realizing my initial career path in corporate America was not going to be my future, I began sweeping and cleaning flowers in a local florist on the weekends, and hence my new career evolved. Being a florist gives me the opportunity to make the flowers speak for my customers.

What are your favorite flowers?
I love the look and feel of a bunch of white daisies, but being around such an array of gorgeous flowers every day makes it hard to say “that’s the one!”

Can you tell us a little bit about Baldwin, NY? What is your favorite thing about living there?
I moved to Baldwin 25 years ago, and living in the same town as my business motivates me to take an active role in this community. We are a diverse group of hard-working families that take pride in their neighborhood. Continue Reading…

Local Artisan Florist Corner

Petal Talk Chats With Gresham, OR Florist Wendell Cook

April 1, 2019

How did you get into the flower business and what do you love best about being a florist?

Growing up, I had a great interest in art and music. I attended the Stockbridge School of Agriculture, completing a two-year course featuring floral design and horticulture. After graduating with an associate’s degree, I was immediately hired at a large florist shop and enjoyed designing.

What are your favorite flowers?

Snapdragons, alstroemeria and Hawaiian tropicals – anthuriums & ginger

Can you tell us a little bit about Gresham / what is your favorite thing about living there?

Gresham has a population of approximately 105,000 and is the fourth largest city in Oregon. Despite its size, it has many small town features that locals enjoy such as the Teddy Bear parade, art shows, car shows and music in the park. Gresham has a very active Chamber of Commerce and many shopping opportunities, limiting the need to go out of town to shop. The weather is very favorable—we may have occasional rain, but we don’t have to shovel it! Continue Reading…

Local Artisan Florist Corner

Petal Talk Chats With Sarah Annunziato

October 23, 2018

In order to learn about the creative minds behind our handcrafted arrangements, we interviewed Sarah Annunziato who is featured in our Local Artisan Collection. From the daily life as a florist to some of the inspiration behind her arrangements, Sarah talks about her favorite holidays, arrangements, her family & more!

How did you get into the flower business and what do you love best about being a florist?

When I was in my sophomore year of high school a bunch of my friends and I got an after school job at a local florist near our high school. I started out by sweeping the floors and learning to answer the phones and process the flowers that came in. I stayed at that same local shop quickly picking up being able to talk with and help customers and learned to design simple floral arrangements, which after sticking with it for a while developing into lead designer and store manager. My friends all went off to college on different career paths as I stayed behind in my home town and continued to work at that same shop part time while I attended a local college for graphic design and digital photography, when half way through the semester I realized how bored I was during the classes and how I couldn’t wait to get back to the flower shop because it was my happy place. Which eventually lead to me leaving school and working full time and taking over the day to day management of the flower shop. I stayed there for years until I moved to New Jersey and quickly found a new flower shop and made new friends and made connections with new customers and gained more insight to different design styles from my co-workers there. I worked at three flower shops in New Jersey over 8 years and then decided to move to Florida, again quickly finding a local flower shop to make my “home” in successfully. I felt so passionate about talking to customers and hearing their stories and laughing with them or crying with them. I fell in love with my career at an early age and here 17 years later, I’m back home in New York, and I still love to learn new design techniques and learn new things every day. There’s a saying “It’s a beautiful thing when a career and a passion come together” and I couldn’t be happier doing what I do every day. Continue Reading…

Local Artisan Florist Corner

Petal Talk Chats With Anthony Swick

November 6, 2017

In order to learn about the creative minds behind our handcrafted arrangements, we interviewed Anthony Swick who is featured in our Local Artisan Collection. From the daily life as a florist to some of the inspiration behind his arrangements, Anthony talks about his favorite holidays, arrangements, his family & more!

How did you get into the flower business and what do you love best about being a florist?
I was in high school and had a part time job as a shop helper in eves in a Mall Florist- many years ago. My
job was keeping things clean and taking care of roses… I’ll never forget having to clean and de-thorn SO many roses at Valentine’s Day, but I smiled with every stick in my finger. While going through college and growing on my own, I then would buy roses for a little Florist and one visit got me in back making my own, that how the passion got in me. I love the opportunity to create and share such wonderful things and now as an educator and working within the industry, it has made my passion even stronger knowing that I can help someone else find their passion and they can bloom.

What are your favorite flowers?
Calla! No question. This has always been my most favorite as to its masculine and feminine qualities. The ways you can design with it and the pure look makes me thrilled to challenge any design with a calla! Our logo at my stores! Continue Reading…

Local Artisan Florist Corner

Petal Talk Chats with Seattle, Washington Florist Mimi Lee

October 29, 2014

Through the the 1-800-Flowers.com Local Exclusive program, 1-800-Flowers.com franchise shops have the chance to show of one-of-a-kind, exclusive designs that can be purchased at 1800flowers.com.

Local Seattle florist Mimi Lee took some time to discuss the inspirations behind the local exclusive arrangements available only at Flowers4GiftSeattle!

Simple Ikebana

How did you get into the flower business and what do you love best about being a florist?
Before opening up our own shop, I had 10 years of floral design experience. I wanted to start my own small business. What I love best is the ability to share in the happy moments of our customers.

Local Exclusive Product Names:
Our local exclusive product names are the the Simple Ikebana, Home Sweet Desert Terrarium, and Simple and Sincere Dendrobiums.

What inspired you to design your local exclusive arrangements?
I specialize in Ikebana floral arrangement. The “Simple Ikebana” arrangement is the start of a series. As for the Home Sweet Desert Terrarium, I wanted to put a unique twist on the typical planters to make it more interesting and appealing. Finally, many arrangements contain a large variety of colors. I wanted to create something that’s not so busy with color, and make it simple, modern, and elegant, and thus, The Simple and Sincere Dendrobiums was born.

Home Sweet Desert Terrarium

What do you love most about your local community?
I live in a very diverse community. We have a mixture of many cultures, and different generations of people. A well balanced mix of both old and new where the people are friendly and courteous.

What are your favorite flowers?
Peony (for their fragrance and colors), and Sun Flowers (they are very bright and cheery). I also love Zinnia (nice summer flowers with a large variety of colors), they bring back fond childhood memories.

What has been the most rewarding experience during your florist tenure?
I find the ability to express myself artistically through flowers to be the most rewarding.

What is your favorite floral occasion?
Weddings and Christmas are my two favorite floral occasions. Wedding arrangements are much more personalized. The opportunity to create unique and beautiful pieces is very exciting. Christmas arrangements help create a warm atmosphere when families and friends gather.

local-exclusive-flowers4giftseattle-simple-sincere-dendrobiums

Simple and Sincere Dendrobiums

What makes you smile?
There’s nothing as simple and satisfying as when local residents, our friends and neighbors, stop by to say “hi!”

In the California area? Visit this Seattle florist:
Flowers4Gift
300 15th Ave. E
Seattle, WA 98112
206-324-8845
//1800flowers4giftseattle.com/

Local Artisan Florist Corner

Petal Talk Chats with Sunnyvale, California Florist Ali Arbabi

October 14, 2014

As a 1-800-Flowers.com franchise shop partaking in the 1-800-Flowers.com Local Exclusive program, local florists have the opportunity to showcase original, one-of-a-kind designs that can be ordered online through 1800flowers.com.

Local Sunnyvale florist Ali Arbabi of Rose Cart sat down with us to discuss some of his favorite floral memories and Local Exclusive flower arrangements!

How did you get into the flower business and what do you love best about being a florist?
After working many years in the tech industry, I needed a change to be more connected to my community and to have meaningful face-to-face interactions. As a florist, I love being able to put a smile on someone’s face.

local-exclusive-rosecart-sunfloral-embrace

Sunflower Embrace

Local Exclusive Product Names:
Our local exclusive product names are the Candle Lit Dreams, Wonderland in a Vase, Tropical Paradise, Vibrant Fields Centerpiece, and the stunning Sunflower Embrace.

What inspired you to design your local exclusive arrangements?
Some customers come in with such vivid ideas that I feel inspired by their creativity. I do my best to bring their wishes to life and create a beautiful, quality product

What do you love most about your local community?
My local community is full of creative ideas, and the flower selections are always unique.

What are your favorite flowers?
Gardenias, orchids and tropical flowers are my favorites. I love the pure white color of the gardenias. Tropical flowers and orchids are so exotic and colorful – they’re symbols of paradise.

Candle Lit Dreams

What has been the most rewarding experience during your florist tenure?
The most rewarding experience is actually the dozens of calls and letters. Each time a customer calls ecstatic about their flowers, I am reminded why I got into this business. The small tokens of appreciation from customers truly make my days worth while..

What is your favorite floral occasion?
Even though it isn’t really an occasion, my favorite would be the surprise gift. It makes me so happy to be a part of such a spontaneous act of kindness. Other occasions are fun to design, but nothing quite compares to knowing I helped make someone’s day.

What is the weirdest thing you have seen or experienced during your floral career?
One day, my employee was unloading a fresh order of plants in the back. I heard her scream, and she said she saw a giant bug in the box. I went to go help her, but when she showed me the box, a tiny frog jumped out! It was a funny little surprise and very unexpected.

local-exclusive-rosecart-lush-tropical-garden

Tropical Paradise

What are some “Fun Facts” that your customers don’t know about you?
I keep a small catalog of hammocks in my desk drawer. When I’m having a tiring day, I look through the pictures and fantasize about my time off.

What makes you smile?
When regular customers come back to check in or call to thank me for their arrangements, I can’t keep the smile off my face.

In the California area? Visit this San Jose florist:
Rose Cart
1679 Hollenbeck Ave
Sunnyvale, CA 94087
408-732-7673
//www.rosecart.com/

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