Local Artisan Florist Corner

We’re celebrating some of our inspiring local florists, who are passionate about what they do and making a difference in their communities. Meet the women behind some of our new hand-crafted arrangements.

Sophie Clary

Sophie Clary has been an essential designer at David’s Flowers in Midwest City, Oklahoma for 35 years.

Sophie is a successful designer, getting support every day as well as on busy holidays from her family. Her husband does everything except design, and her daughter and son-in-law have been running the delivery department around the holidays for eight years.

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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.

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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…

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…

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…

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…