1. Is my date available?
If it is, check to see if a deposit is necessary to hold the date. Also ask if there is any consultation fee. Inquire as to whether you can receive a price proposal before deposit its placed.
2. Do you have actual photographs or samples of your past work?
It's important to see the work of the actual florist not air brushed photos from a FTD book. There is no better way to see if their style complements your tastes and verify just how skilled they are.
3. Is there a delivery or set-up fee?
Watch out this can be a substantial extra charge. Most florists will charge a delivery and set-up fee especially if you have either complex flower arrangements or a site that is a long distance from their shop. If the charge is high, consider finding a florist closer to the site or cut back on the complicated decorations.
4. Do you offer any silk or dried flower arrangements?
This may be important to you if you want to save your bouquet or want an unusual look for a table centerpiece. Sometimes these two options may be less expensive than fresh flowers, especially for some exotics like orchids. A table centerpiece idea: dried rose topiaries double as an elegant keepsake.
5. How many weddings do you do in a day?
The biggest problem with some florists is that they become over-extended trying to do too many weddings in one day. A florist can probably do two or three events a day if the events are held at different times or the florists has plenty of help. If the florist schedule looks crowded for your wedding date, they may arrive late or deliver the wrong flowers. Be sure to look for someone focused on your wedding not just your checkbook.
6. Are you familiar with my ceremony and reception site locations?
If not, will you visit it with me? It may be a good idea to introduce your florist to the ceremony or reception site if they have never seen it. Ask if there is any charge for this on-site visit.
7. What rental items do you have? How are they priced?
Some things you many want to rent include a candelabrum, aisle standards or urns. The best florists don't over charge on rentals. One way to find out is to compare prices with a local rental store. A common markup for florists is about 10% for their time to coordinate this detail. If you would prefer to rent the items yourself because you can get a better price, be sure you have the time to pick up and return the items.
8. Can I attend one of your weddings during set-up for a look at your designs?
Here is another way to determine how professional and talented your florist is. You will need to visit during set-up and leave before the wedding party arrives. Try not to interrupt the florists or their staff while they work (save your questions for later.) Look for timeliness, freshness of the flowers, and how well the florist and staff work together.
9. What time will you be at my ceremony and reception sites to set up my wedding?
Confirm this time constantly throughout your planning. Many florists set up weddings a couple of hours in advance. If this is the case with your wedding, make sure the temperature at your site will not be too hot for the flowers.
10. Will you merely drop off my flowers or stay through the ceremony?
The degree of service here differs dramatically from florist to florist. Some just drop off the flowers for the ceremony and leave, while others will stay to pin on corsages, make sure nothing is missing etc. There will be an extra fee of generally $50-75 for this service; however this could be a worthwhile investment.
11. What happens if the flowers I pick are not available for my wedding?
How will you determine what flowers to substitute?
12. What is the policy if i want to add extra items such as another table centerpiece or boutonniere at the last minute?
Jasmine MacDonald is the editor of Fun Weddings and Merry Brides, which will provide you with daily ideas and tips to help you plan the perfect wedding while staying within your budget.
Source:
Showing posts with label flower. Show all posts
Showing posts with label flower. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Monday, October 4, 2010
Florists Help Spread Good Cheer
Good fences don’t make good neighbours but a flower can do the trick.
David Ghent, a Brampton florist, will be giving away dozens of free roses to people, Wednesday, Sept. 1 between 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. as part of the Good Neighbour Day, provided they keep one bloom for themselves and offer the rest to neighbours or strangers as a gesture of goodwill.
Three other florists from the city have jumped on the initiative they said will help foster a spirit of community and harmony. The participating stores are requesting people who plan to drop by the stores to bring in a non-perishable food item or make a small donation to benefit Knights Table, a Brampton-based food bank and soup kitchen.
The idea behind the Good Neighbour Day started after Florist Transworld Delivery (FTD), a U.S floral wire company, decided to launch it 16 years ago. Soon, others across North America began embracing the concept that grew from strength to strength, said Ghent, who owns Flora All Occasions Flowers and Gifts, located at 380 Bovaird Dr. E. in the Contestoga Plaza.
Last year, Ghent distributed some 220-dozen roses as part of the initiative, and in the process collected 650 pounds of food for Knights Table. This year, he hopes to surpass that amount.
“Good Neighbour Day is a way to give back to the community,” said Ghent, who started the initiative in Brampton three years ago. “Anybody who walks through the front door of the store gets the flowers as long as they give 11 roses away. Right now, the floral industry is hurting and is under attack because of the economy, people selling flowers on the Internet and flowers being sold by local grocery stores, but we’re still surviving, so I decided to add a food drive component to the initiative.”
Last year, one of Ghent’s customers decided to share the blooms with people from her street. The woman was initially skeptical about offering a flower to her next door neighbour.
Even though the two shared a fence, their relationship was hostile. But the woman changed her mind. As soon as the flower exchanged hands, hostility gave way to a truce.
“We hope the people of Brampton will be able to get acquainted with new people or will renew an old friendship during FTD Good Neighbour Day,” said Ghent. “We hope to help create a friendlier, more caring and compassionate world, starting right here in Brampton.”
Participating florists include: Roses and Violets (184 Queen St. E.), Shalimar Flower Shop (227 Queen St. E.) and Tula’s Flowers and Gifts (8887 The Gore Rd. The stores will give away free flowers between 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Source: http://www.bramptonguardian.com/news/article/865941--florists-help-spread-good-cheer
David Ghent, a Brampton florist, will be giving away dozens of free roses to people, Wednesday, Sept. 1 between 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. as part of the Good Neighbour Day, provided they keep one bloom for themselves and offer the rest to neighbours or strangers as a gesture of goodwill.
Three other florists from the city have jumped on the initiative they said will help foster a spirit of community and harmony. The participating stores are requesting people who plan to drop by the stores to bring in a non-perishable food item or make a small donation to benefit Knights Table, a Brampton-based food bank and soup kitchen.
The idea behind the Good Neighbour Day started after Florist Transworld Delivery (FTD), a U.S floral wire company, decided to launch it 16 years ago. Soon, others across North America began embracing the concept that grew from strength to strength, said Ghent, who owns Flora All Occasions Flowers and Gifts, located at 380 Bovaird Dr. E. in the Contestoga Plaza.
Last year, Ghent distributed some 220-dozen roses as part of the initiative, and in the process collected 650 pounds of food for Knights Table. This year, he hopes to surpass that amount.
“Good Neighbour Day is a way to give back to the community,” said Ghent, who started the initiative in Brampton three years ago. “Anybody who walks through the front door of the store gets the flowers as long as they give 11 roses away. Right now, the floral industry is hurting and is under attack because of the economy, people selling flowers on the Internet and flowers being sold by local grocery stores, but we’re still surviving, so I decided to add a food drive component to the initiative.”
Last year, one of Ghent’s customers decided to share the blooms with people from her street. The woman was initially skeptical about offering a flower to her next door neighbour.
Even though the two shared a fence, their relationship was hostile. But the woman changed her mind. As soon as the flower exchanged hands, hostility gave way to a truce.
“We hope the people of Brampton will be able to get acquainted with new people or will renew an old friendship during FTD Good Neighbour Day,” said Ghent. “We hope to help create a friendlier, more caring and compassionate world, starting right here in Brampton.”
Participating florists include: Roses and Violets (184 Queen St. E.), Shalimar Flower Shop (227 Queen St. E.) and Tula’s Flowers and Gifts (8887 The Gore Rd. The stores will give away free flowers between 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Source: http://www.bramptonguardian.com/news/article/865941--florists-help-spread-good-cheer
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Making Your Own Flower Arrangements
by: Sintilia Miecevole
Flowers have long been used to symbolize life’s important events and emotions. Roses are symbols of love, lilies, the flowers of death and renewal, and carnations a sign of appreciation. We use flowers as wedding decorations, Valentine’s Day presents and Christmas ornaments. No matter what the occasion is, a beautiful flower arrangement is a wonderful way to celebrate life through vibrant colors and rich floral scents.
Florists provide customers with a variety of arrangements made specifically for certain occasions and events. However, if you are on a budget, flower arrangements can be fairly pricey. Professional florists charge exorbitant amounts for their expertise, and the flowers themselves can be extremely expensive. Making your own arrangements can be a fun and creative alternative to ordering pieces from florists. By purchasing flowers individually, you can choose the exact colors and scents you need to say exactly what you want to communicate.
When making your own flower arrangement, you should first consider its purpose. If you are making arrangements for a wedding, white is typically the presiding color. You should start with basic white flowers and add a few accents that match the bridesmaids’ dresses. Large leafy green pieces add a nice contrast to delicate buds for table centerpieces, and sometimes simplicity is the best aesthetic tactic. If you are making centerpieces for several tables, you can purchase your flowers in bulk and use one design over and over again, or you can make each piece an individual work of art.
For vase arrangements, choose your container first, and pick flowers that are the correct height for the vase. When you cut your flowers, be sure to cut the stems at an angle so they can absorb water correctly and stay fresh for a long time. Vase arrangements require a focal point, and this can be one large flower or a grouping of several. It is important to choose a color scheme and to stick with it. For instance, you would not want to mix red and pink roses, or to combine yellow daisies with died green carnations. Make sure you choose flowers that look and smell good in combination with each other, and fill in the gaps with baby’s breath and leafy greenery.
When you are making larger potted flower arrangements, an aesthetically pleasing plant is a great base for your design. However, you might not want to combine a spiky cactus with soft blooming roses. If you are using only flowers, you will need a piece of arranging foam to provide a structure for the piece. Green foam can be purchased at most craft stores, and it can be cut to fit any shape you need. Before you start sticking in your stems, you might sketch out an idea of the final product. If the arrangement is to be large, pick a few large flowers to act as focal points rather than picking a multitude of tiny blooms. Too many small flowers distract the eye and make the arrangement seem busy rather than soothing.
Once you have chosen all of your flowers and greenery, begin arranging them in the container. It will take several tries and lot of adjusting before your create a finished product, but be confident and do what looks best. Arranging flowers is an intuitive art, and if you have chosen a good color scheme and a variety of shapes and sizes, the correct eye-pleasing concoction will often fall into place with little effort. When you are finished, you will have a beautiful, natural decoration to perk up even the gloomiest of environments, and you will have the satisfaction of having created a wonderful work of art.
Source : http://www.articlecity.com/articles/women/article_1245.shtml
Friday, October 1, 2010
Florists - Choose the Best For Your Wedding
First, talk to others or go to bridal shows to choose approximately three florists to interview. Then, set up an appointment to talk to each of them. Arrive early at each florist so you have the opportunity to look around the shop. Look at the displays, and decide whether or not they appeal to your tastes. Look at the flowers in the coolers. Do they look fresh?
Most florists keep books of past work they have done. Look through a book of pictures that showcase weddings they have done. Do the flowers in the pictures look fresh, or are they wilted and brown around the edges? Do the arrangements from recent weddings follow current trends? Are the pictures current, or is the florist relying on past work to prove his or her skills?
You will have the opportunity to sit down and talk to the florist. Have pictures of your ideas ready, but do not tell them everything. Give the florist some room to make suggestions. This will help you understand their line of thinking and get a feel for their vision for your wedding. As you talk, consider whether or not you feel comfortable with the florist.
Price is a consideration, but it should not be your first consideration. The best florists are able to charge more because they do good work. Try to find a balance between an affordable price and quality work. Do not forget about the price of delivery. You might be able to save money by picking up your flowers on our own.
After interviewing the florists on your list, you should have a good idea of the one that best fits your needs and wishes. Make sure you book the florist approximately four months before the date of your wedding. Also, have information about your reception site and the location of your ceremony before you officially make your order, as you will need to know how many arrangements you will need.
Book this professional after you have chosen the bridesmaids dresses, as this will help to ensure that everything matches. Once you have your florist booked, you will be well on your way to your dream wedding!
Source: http://www.mzonearticles.com/Art/23946/28/Florists-Choose-the-Best-For-Your-Wedding.html
Most florists keep books of past work they have done. Look through a book of pictures that showcase weddings they have done. Do the flowers in the pictures look fresh, or are they wilted and brown around the edges? Do the arrangements from recent weddings follow current trends? Are the pictures current, or is the florist relying on past work to prove his or her skills?
You will have the opportunity to sit down and talk to the florist. Have pictures of your ideas ready, but do not tell them everything. Give the florist some room to make suggestions. This will help you understand their line of thinking and get a feel for their vision for your wedding. As you talk, consider whether or not you feel comfortable with the florist.
Price is a consideration, but it should not be your first consideration. The best florists are able to charge more because they do good work. Try to find a balance between an affordable price and quality work. Do not forget about the price of delivery. You might be able to save money by picking up your flowers on our own.
After interviewing the florists on your list, you should have a good idea of the one that best fits your needs and wishes. Make sure you book the florist approximately four months before the date of your wedding. Also, have information about your reception site and the location of your ceremony before you officially make your order, as you will need to know how many arrangements you will need.
Book this professional after you have chosen the bridesmaids dresses, as this will help to ensure that everything matches. Once you have your florist booked, you will be well on your way to your dream wedding!
Source: http://www.mzonearticles.com/Art/23946/28/Florists-Choose-the-Best-For-Your-Wedding.html
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Virginia Beach Wedding Florist
Virginia Beach Wedding Florist
Virginia Beach wedding florists offer a broad spectrum of services, making it easy to find a floral company that can deliver exactly what you need without going over your budget. Boutonnieres and bouquets are the foundation to your wedding flowers. For simple, intimate weddings, you may be happy with a florist that only creates these essential elements, or you can choose from the many Virginia Beach florists that design these pieces as well as centerpieces and other arrangements.
Full-service wedding florists can design and plan your entire celebration – from the most basic floral needs to enhancing your wedding look with lighting and accessories. Whether you’re looking for a few flowers or a complete wedding designer, these creative Virginia Beach wedding florists will get you moving in the right direction.
Virginia Beach Wedding Florist: Palette of Petals
A freelance floral design studio in Virginia Beach, this wedding florist specializes in unique floral arrangements that add texture and creativity to your event. From elegant, colorful bouquets and boutonnieres to romantic flower girl headpieces and flourishing table centerpieces, Palette of Petals can enhance your wedding theme with fragrant blooms and intriguing style. Consider an all-natural bamboo arch, draped with muslin and accented with flowers, to add romance to your beach wedding (rental rates start at $525).
Virginia Beach Wedding Florist: Catherine’s Distinctive Floral Designs
With 30 years of experience in the wedding industry, owner and Master Designer Catherine Gustafson takes pride in being one of Hampton Road’s most sought after wedding florist. Each arrangement is a unique work of art, designed and created specifically for the bride and groom requesting it. Schedule a consultation with Distinctive Floral Designs to discuss your ideas, wedding details, and budget.
Virginia Beach Wedding Florist: Cloud Nine Events
A full-service Virginia Beach wedding florists, Cloud Nine is a Bride’s Choice Award winner and offers an assortment of services to make your wedding day a beautiful and memorable event. Cloud Nine can help you plan and coordinate your special day, and can take care of every design detail – from the table linens to the lighting. This Virginia Beach florist and planner is also certified to manage butterfly releases at your event.
Source: http://www.projectwedding.com/wedding-ideas/virginia-beach-wedding-florist
Virginia Beach wedding florists offer a broad spectrum of services, making it easy to find a floral company that can deliver exactly what you need without going over your budget. Boutonnieres and bouquets are the foundation to your wedding flowers. For simple, intimate weddings, you may be happy with a florist that only creates these essential elements, or you can choose from the many Virginia Beach florists that design these pieces as well as centerpieces and other arrangements.
Full-service wedding florists can design and plan your entire celebration – from the most basic floral needs to enhancing your wedding look with lighting and accessories. Whether you’re looking for a few flowers or a complete wedding designer, these creative Virginia Beach wedding florists will get you moving in the right direction.
Virginia Beach Wedding Florist: Palette of Petals
A freelance floral design studio in Virginia Beach, this wedding florist specializes in unique floral arrangements that add texture and creativity to your event. From elegant, colorful bouquets and boutonnieres to romantic flower girl headpieces and flourishing table centerpieces, Palette of Petals can enhance your wedding theme with fragrant blooms and intriguing style. Consider an all-natural bamboo arch, draped with muslin and accented with flowers, to add romance to your beach wedding (rental rates start at $525).
Virginia Beach Wedding Florist: Catherine’s Distinctive Floral Designs
With 30 years of experience in the wedding industry, owner and Master Designer Catherine Gustafson takes pride in being one of Hampton Road’s most sought after wedding florist. Each arrangement is a unique work of art, designed and created specifically for the bride and groom requesting it. Schedule a consultation with Distinctive Floral Designs to discuss your ideas, wedding details, and budget.
Virginia Beach Wedding Florist: Cloud Nine Events
A full-service Virginia Beach wedding florists, Cloud Nine is a Bride’s Choice Award winner and offers an assortment of services to make your wedding day a beautiful and memorable event. Cloud Nine can help you plan and coordinate your special day, and can take care of every design detail – from the table linens to the lighting. This Virginia Beach florist and planner is also certified to manage butterfly releases at your event.
Source: http://www.projectwedding.com/wedding-ideas/virginia-beach-wedding-florist
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Funeral Floral Arrangement Is Mandatory For Florists
If you are planning to work as a floral designer or open your own floral shop (florists), we recommend you to learn and acquire the skills of funeral floral decorations in addition to wedding flower arrangements because it is said that the demand for funeral decoration is pretty high and we cannot ignore the market demand. However most of people look like paying special attention only to wedding flower arrangements seemingly because wedding decorations are happier and the colors used for the decoration is brighter and more beautiful. As far as you make a decoration as your hobby, you can ignore funeral decorations. However when it comes to doing business as florists or floral shop, it is better for you to learn and offer funeral decorations as well so that your business operations can be stabilized. California Flower Art Academy has been educating uncoutable number of students who would like to earn practical skills of various floral designs and flower arrangements or become a floral designer/floral decorator. One of programs/courses we offer is Funeral Floral Decoration Course for $268. Since the unit price of each deccoration/design is offered in the market at $130-$200, your investment for $268 to attend this course can be easily paid back/amortised within a short period of time. Classes are available at our San Jose main class room (near the intersection of freeway 85 and De Anza Blvd) and also at our Burlingame extension class (in San Mateo County near San Francisco Airport) and you can take this class not only on weekdays but also on weekend. School is authorized by Flower Decorators Association Tokyo Japan. If you live in Greater San Francisco or Silicon Valley (South and East Bay), we recommend you to join our school to attend this particular training session. Apart from funeral decorations, if you are interested in learning entry level of floral designs or wedding floral decorations, we have a wide range of courses which will meet your requirement. Please email to info@california-academy.com to raise any sort of questions you may have.
Related Crafts & Hobbies News and Articles From adzines
Woodworking: Protection When Working With Wood - Ignoring Could Potentially Harm Your Health Or Kill
Woodworking: Basic Safety Tips Woodworking can be a dangerous undertaking if you are not careful and choose to disregard safety guidelines. A circular saw, router, or other piece of power equipment can disfigure and even kill if not used properly. Even hand tools, which must be extremely sharp to provide best results, can cause serious injuries. In addition, the sawdust and fumes from wood can be harmful to the lungs if inhaled on a regular basis, especially if the wood was harvested from an orchard or tree farm where pesticides were used to control insects.
Family Fun on the Rails
Imagine your are five years old. As your family arrives at the train station, your hand slips free of your Mom's and you dash over to the tracks. Looking left, then right, your eager eyes scan the horizon, searching for your train.
Woodworking Tools: Right Selection And Care Will Save You Money, Part 6
Woodworking: Tools Of The Trade, Part 6 - Finishing Equipment A civilization's maturity and intelligence is judged, in part, by the diversity and sophistication of its tools. When it comes to woodworking, the human race is quite advanced. There are general tools that work well in many situations, and there are specialty tools made for one specific purpose. There are tools that require only manpower and a rudimentary knowledge, and others that utilize computer programs, a wide range of knowledge, and a powerful motor. We have even learned how to harness power for our tools and package it in a small battery component, giving us the freedom to take our tools wherever we need them.
Source: http://craftarticles.net/Funeral-Floral-Arrangement-Is-Mandatory-For-Florists/223
Related Crafts & Hobbies News and Articles From adzines
Woodworking: Protection When Working With Wood - Ignoring Could Potentially Harm Your Health Or Kill
Woodworking: Basic Safety Tips Woodworking can be a dangerous undertaking if you are not careful and choose to disregard safety guidelines. A circular saw, router, or other piece of power equipment can disfigure and even kill if not used properly. Even hand tools, which must be extremely sharp to provide best results, can cause serious injuries. In addition, the sawdust and fumes from wood can be harmful to the lungs if inhaled on a regular basis, especially if the wood was harvested from an orchard or tree farm where pesticides were used to control insects.
Family Fun on the Rails
Imagine your are five years old. As your family arrives at the train station, your hand slips free of your Mom's and you dash over to the tracks. Looking left, then right, your eager eyes scan the horizon, searching for your train.
Woodworking Tools: Right Selection And Care Will Save You Money, Part 6
Woodworking: Tools Of The Trade, Part 6 - Finishing Equipment A civilization's maturity and intelligence is judged, in part, by the diversity and sophistication of its tools. When it comes to woodworking, the human race is quite advanced. There are general tools that work well in many situations, and there are specialty tools made for one specific purpose. There are tools that require only manpower and a rudimentary knowledge, and others that utilize computer programs, a wide range of knowledge, and a powerful motor. We have even learned how to harness power for our tools and package it in a small battery component, giving us the freedom to take our tools wherever we need them.
Source: http://craftarticles.net/Funeral-Floral-Arrangement-Is-Mandatory-For-Florists/223
Monday, September 27, 2010
Everything’s Rosy for International Florist and its Web Retailing Provider
When your retail Web site directly generates much of your income and it crashes unexpectedly during the busiest time of the year, how do you prevent it from happening again?
You find the right outsourcing provider.
That is was what confronted Interflora UK a few years ago. Interflora is part of the world’s largest and most popular flower delivery network covering over 58,000 florists in over 140 countries.
“An enterprise can lose hundreds of thousands of sales dollars and chase away customers very quickly when its site crashes. This makes a pretty strong case for outsourcing, regardless of the size of the client company,” says Susan Plonka, President of her own Corporate Interactive Sales Consulting firm.
Adapting to a Changing World
Interflora UK was established in the 1920s as an association to represent the interests of that country’s flower industry. A lot of things have changed since the First World War. One was the global economy. Interflora took on more marketing and sales responsibilities for its members. It established a World Wide Web presence, outsourcing the design, management, and site hosting to a small UK firm. For a while, it was adequate and served the needs of the professional association.
After a time, the requirements of keeping pace with its competitors revealed shortcomings in not only its Web marketing and sales strategy, but its execution. This led to its Web site crashing during the Mother’s Day buying season a few years ago — the single busiest period of the year in the florist industry.
“We needed reliability from a new provider that could grow with us,” says Michael Barringer, Marketing Director at Interflora UK. “We wanted one who understood our business and had some floral Web retail experience — hopefully, a lot.”
So in 2005, Interflora encountered Novator Systems Ltd. of Toronto, Canada, a provider of Web marketing, design, and hosting solutions to many retail firms such as Lucas Films, Adidas, and Warner Brothers. Novator’s first Web client in 1993 happened to be the international florist FTD. Due to the provider’s long-term success with FTD, Barringer knew he had found the provider he needed to take Interflora into the future.
Online Retailing Today
“Today’s online shopper is extremely Web-savvy and expects more than ever, forcing retailers to raise the stakes,” says Scott Silverman, Executive Director of Shop.org. “Companies must invest in new features in order to keep customers coming back. Retail Web sites everywhere are getting major facelifts.”
Shoppers are becoming more discriminating about online shopping, raising the stakes for retailers to provide a consistently positive, sophisticated experience. In the summer of 2007, Forrester Research and Shop.org surveyed 150 retailers to discover their top priorities for accommodating increasingly savvy online shoppers over the next 12 months.
According to the study, released in September, top priorities include fixing Web site design and performance issues, improving the efficiency of online marketing, and enhancing cross-channel integration.
Provider Helps Power Interflora’s Business Model Transition
Those are some of the reasons Interflora selected Novator’s Virtual Retailer (VR) suite, an integrated system encompassing site design, hosting and mirroring, as well as merchandising, marketing, personalization, analytics, loyalty programming, and catalogue management.
“The fact that we didn’t have the resources in house to put together such a sophisticated program was a given,” Barringer says. “In a way, what we needed–and got–is a provider who could help us learn about the online florists business and help us to anticipate the future and plan for it.”
Virtual Retailer has the sort of scalability that Barringer and his associates were searching for during Interflora’s transition from business association to commercial model.
Another advantage of outsourcing: Interflora doesn’t have to worry about “the always-changing infrastructure.” Barringer knows Novator will “support our future growth producing additional site support for individual member florists without having to manually manage each one.”
As the partnership approaches its three-year anniversary, Barringer likes what he sees. Conversion rates (percentage of sales transactions to site visits) are up 20 percent and there have been no dramatic site crashes since the engagement began. “And we’ve saved on internal marketing, site design, and hosting,” he adds, “plus avoided a lot of mistakes we would have made had we tried to do these ourselves.”
The Novator/Interflora outsourcing partnership is moving to the next stage. “Now that I can look at real-time analytics on my screen and recognize the results, it’s easier for me to anticipate our next moves, and there are a lot of them,” says Barringer.
One Size DOESN’T Fit All in the Web Marketplace
Meeting the needs of an increasingly discriminating Web customer is not easy. Not only are the tools changing, but the interplay between features of retail Web sites and how they interact are unique.
“The issue for retail sites is matching up the capabilities with the actual needs of the client,” says Novator CEO Mark Fox. “It’s not just what they want because often there’s a gulf between what they want and what actually works for them.”
Fox says suppliers “have to mirror the way their buyers market.” For example, Interflora sells a lot of flowers. “That produces more interest in the merchandising. And they are willing to make the necessary investment that those who do not sell a lot will not.”
He has found the larger the buyer, the more aggressive its marketing tactics. “It’s the responsibility of the Web marketing provider to anticipate, understand, and respond appropriately,” Fox says. This produces better conversion rates and average order values since the idea is to produce more sales without having to deal with more traffic.
“There can’t be any surprises,” he adds. “This is why it has to be a partnership.”
Barringer says Novator provides “a seamless experience to our Internet customers, enhancing our reputation as ‘The Flower Experts.’ Our membership receives the latest technology and marketing support. And that’s why this outsourcing engagement has been such a success.”
Source: http://www.outsourcing-center.com/2007-12-everythings-rosy-for-international-florist-and-its-web-retailing-provider-article-37587.html
You find the right outsourcing provider.
That is was what confronted Interflora UK a few years ago. Interflora is part of the world’s largest and most popular flower delivery network covering over 58,000 florists in over 140 countries.
“An enterprise can lose hundreds of thousands of sales dollars and chase away customers very quickly when its site crashes. This makes a pretty strong case for outsourcing, regardless of the size of the client company,” says Susan Plonka, President of her own Corporate Interactive Sales Consulting firm.
Adapting to a Changing World
Interflora UK was established in the 1920s as an association to represent the interests of that country’s flower industry. A lot of things have changed since the First World War. One was the global economy. Interflora took on more marketing and sales responsibilities for its members. It established a World Wide Web presence, outsourcing the design, management, and site hosting to a small UK firm. For a while, it was adequate and served the needs of the professional association.
After a time, the requirements of keeping pace with its competitors revealed shortcomings in not only its Web marketing and sales strategy, but its execution. This led to its Web site crashing during the Mother’s Day buying season a few years ago — the single busiest period of the year in the florist industry.
“We needed reliability from a new provider that could grow with us,” says Michael Barringer, Marketing Director at Interflora UK. “We wanted one who understood our business and had some floral Web retail experience — hopefully, a lot.”
So in 2005, Interflora encountered Novator Systems Ltd. of Toronto, Canada, a provider of Web marketing, design, and hosting solutions to many retail firms such as Lucas Films, Adidas, and Warner Brothers. Novator’s first Web client in 1993 happened to be the international florist FTD. Due to the provider’s long-term success with FTD, Barringer knew he had found the provider he needed to take Interflora into the future.
Online Retailing Today
“Today’s online shopper is extremely Web-savvy and expects more than ever, forcing retailers to raise the stakes,” says Scott Silverman, Executive Director of Shop.org. “Companies must invest in new features in order to keep customers coming back. Retail Web sites everywhere are getting major facelifts.”
Shoppers are becoming more discriminating about online shopping, raising the stakes for retailers to provide a consistently positive, sophisticated experience. In the summer of 2007, Forrester Research and Shop.org surveyed 150 retailers to discover their top priorities for accommodating increasingly savvy online shoppers over the next 12 months.
According to the study, released in September, top priorities include fixing Web site design and performance issues, improving the efficiency of online marketing, and enhancing cross-channel integration.
Provider Helps Power Interflora’s Business Model Transition
Those are some of the reasons Interflora selected Novator’s Virtual Retailer (VR) suite, an integrated system encompassing site design, hosting and mirroring, as well as merchandising, marketing, personalization, analytics, loyalty programming, and catalogue management.
“The fact that we didn’t have the resources in house to put together such a sophisticated program was a given,” Barringer says. “In a way, what we needed–and got–is a provider who could help us learn about the online florists business and help us to anticipate the future and plan for it.”
Virtual Retailer has the sort of scalability that Barringer and his associates were searching for during Interflora’s transition from business association to commercial model.
Another advantage of outsourcing: Interflora doesn’t have to worry about “the always-changing infrastructure.” Barringer knows Novator will “support our future growth producing additional site support for individual member florists without having to manually manage each one.”
As the partnership approaches its three-year anniversary, Barringer likes what he sees. Conversion rates (percentage of sales transactions to site visits) are up 20 percent and there have been no dramatic site crashes since the engagement began. “And we’ve saved on internal marketing, site design, and hosting,” he adds, “plus avoided a lot of mistakes we would have made had we tried to do these ourselves.”
The Novator/Interflora outsourcing partnership is moving to the next stage. “Now that I can look at real-time analytics on my screen and recognize the results, it’s easier for me to anticipate our next moves, and there are a lot of them,” says Barringer.
One Size DOESN’T Fit All in the Web Marketplace
Meeting the needs of an increasingly discriminating Web customer is not easy. Not only are the tools changing, but the interplay between features of retail Web sites and how they interact are unique.
“The issue for retail sites is matching up the capabilities with the actual needs of the client,” says Novator CEO Mark Fox. “It’s not just what they want because often there’s a gulf between what they want and what actually works for them.”
Fox says suppliers “have to mirror the way their buyers market.” For example, Interflora sells a lot of flowers. “That produces more interest in the merchandising. And they are willing to make the necessary investment that those who do not sell a lot will not.”
He has found the larger the buyer, the more aggressive its marketing tactics. “It’s the responsibility of the Web marketing provider to anticipate, understand, and respond appropriately,” Fox says. This produces better conversion rates and average order values since the idea is to produce more sales without having to deal with more traffic.
“There can’t be any surprises,” he adds. “This is why it has to be a partnership.”
Barringer says Novator provides “a seamless experience to our Internet customers, enhancing our reputation as ‘The Flower Experts.’ Our membership receives the latest technology and marketing support. And that’s why this outsourcing engagement has been such a success.”
Source: http://www.outsourcing-center.com/2007-12-everythings-rosy-for-international-florist-and-its-web-retailing-provider-article-37587.html
Sunday, September 26, 2010
For Health's Sake
Send someone this basket of fresh fruits filled with all the essential vitamins which will help revitalise a weary soul and prepare one for life's journey ahead
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Sweet Moments
Share sweet moments together with your loved one as you present to her this gorgeous floral vase blooming with red carnations and red roses and accented with an apple.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Purple Mist
A lovely and natural view to send to someone special on any celebration. Presenting a purple orchid plant in a matching pot.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Golden Road
Send your Mid Autumn Festival greetings with style through this classy gift basket. A bouquet of red roses comes with a selection of drink and tasty nibbles in this hamper.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Mid-Autumn Festival Chinese Traditions
Food items that look like the moon are popular at the Mooncake Festival, including the pomelo – a large sweet grapefruit that is in season in the fall. Other seasonal fruits that are popular include persimmons and pomegranates.
Many people celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival by lighting paper lanterns, which they carry on the end of a stick, or by lighting sky lanterns, paper balloons that float into the sky with the buoyancy provided by the hot lantern lit under them. Dragon dances are also popular performances at this time, and many people wear traditional Chinese clothing.
Mid-Autumn Festival Chinese Legends
Many of the stories surrounding the Mid-Autumn Festival center around the story of Chang’e, the lady who, according to legend, lives on the moon along with her companion, the Jade Rabbit. Chang’e was purportedly the wife of a famous hunter, whose search for eternal life finally yielded a single pill of immortality.
Chang’e accidentally swallowed the pill and became an immortal, floating up to the moon and leaving her husband behind on earth. Many Chinese people burn incense to the Moon Goddess, and her image is often featured on boxes of mooncakes.
Another story about mooncakes comes from Chinese folklore. In this legend, Ming dynasty fighters who were rebelling against the Mongolian Yuan dynasty used mooncakes to smuggle messages to and from rebel bands, enabling them to defeat the Mongols.
In China and in many Asian countries, Chinese mooncake festival is a legal holiday, and many people return to their hometown to celebrate this important Chinese festival with their families.
Source: http://www.suite101.com/content/the-chinese-midautumn-festival-a155100
Many people celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival by lighting paper lanterns, which they carry on the end of a stick, or by lighting sky lanterns, paper balloons that float into the sky with the buoyancy provided by the hot lantern lit under them. Dragon dances are also popular performances at this time, and many people wear traditional Chinese clothing.
Mid-Autumn Festival Chinese Legends
Many of the stories surrounding the Mid-Autumn Festival center around the story of Chang’e, the lady who, according to legend, lives on the moon along with her companion, the Jade Rabbit. Chang’e was purportedly the wife of a famous hunter, whose search for eternal life finally yielded a single pill of immortality.
Chang’e accidentally swallowed the pill and became an immortal, floating up to the moon and leaving her husband behind on earth. Many Chinese people burn incense to the Moon Goddess, and her image is often featured on boxes of mooncakes.
Another story about mooncakes comes from Chinese folklore. In this legend, Ming dynasty fighters who were rebelling against the Mongolian Yuan dynasty used mooncakes to smuggle messages to and from rebel bands, enabling them to defeat the Mongols.
In China and in many Asian countries, Chinese mooncake festival is a legal holiday, and many people return to their hometown to celebrate this important Chinese festival with their families.
Source: http://www.suite101.com/content/the-chinese-midautumn-festival-a155100
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Something About the Intention
Allah instructs in the Qur'an: "And they are ordained nothing else than to serve Allah, keeping religion pure for Him." The Prophet, upon whom be peace, said: "Actions are judged according to the intention behind them, and for everyone is what he intended."
The intention must be made before fajr and during every night of Ramadan. This point is based on the hadith of Hafsah, which reported that the Prophet said: "Whoever does not determine to fast before fajr will have no fast" (that is, it won't be accepted). This is related by Ahmad, an-Nasa'i, at-Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, and Ibn Majah. Ibn Khuzaimah and Ibn Hibban have classified it as sahih.
The intention is valid during any part of the night. It need not be spoken, as it is in reality an act of the heart, which does not involve the tongue. It will be fulfilled by one's intention to fast out of obedience to Allah and for seeking His pleasure.
If one eats one's pre-dawn meal (Suhoor) with the intention of fasting and to get closer to Allah by such abstinence, then one has performed the intention. If one determines that one will fast on the next day solely for the sake of Allah, then one has performed the intention even if a pre-dawn meal was not consumed.
According to many of the jurists, the intention for a voluntary fast may be made at any time before any food is consumed. This opinion is based on 'Aishah’ s hadith: "The Prophet came to us one day and said: 'Do you have any [food]?' We said, 'No.' He said: 'Therefore, I am fasting." This is related by Muslim and Abu Dawud.
The Hanafiyyah and Shaf'iyyah stipulate that the intention must be made before noon (for voluntary fasts). The apparent opinion of Ibn Mas'ud and Ahmad is that the intention may be made before or after noon.
Source: http://www.ramadhanzone.com/intention.asp
See Also: idul fitri, hamper hari raya, hari raya hampers
The opinion of Abu Bakr ibn alMundhir
This event is confirmed by sighting the new moon, even if it is seen by only one just person, or by the passage of thirty days in the immediately preceding month of Sha'ban.
Ibn 'Umar said: "The people were looking for the new moon and when I reported to the Messenger of Allah that I had seen it, he fasted and ordered the people to fast." This is related by Abu Dawud, al-Hakim, and Ibn Hibban, who declared it to be sahih.
Abu Hurairah reported that the Prophet instructed: "Fast after you have seen it [the new crescent] and end the fast [at the end of the month] when you see it. If it is hidden from you, then wait until the thirty days of Sha'ban have passed." This is related by al-Bukhari and Muslim.
Commenting on these reports, at-Tirmidhi states: "Most knowledgeable people act in accordance with these reports. They say that it is correct to accept the evidence of one person to determine the beginning of the fast. This is the opinion of Ibn alMubarak, ash-Shafi’i, and Ahmad. An-Nawawi says that it is the soundest opinion.
Concerning the new moon of Shawwal [which signifies the end of the fast], it is confirmed by completing thirty days of Ramadan, and most jurists state that the new moon must have been reported by at least two just witnesses. However, Abu Thaur does not distinguish between the new moon of Shawwal and the new moon of Ramadan. In both cases, he accepts the evidence of only one just witness."
Ibn-Rushd comments that: "The opinion of Abu Bakr ibn alMundhir, which is also that of Abu Thaur and, I suspect, that of the Dhahiri school of thought, is supported by the following argument given by Abu Bakr al-Mundhiri: there is complete agreement that breaking the fast is obligatory, that abstaining from eating is based on one person's report, and that the situation must be like that for the beginning of the month and for the ending of the month, as both of them are simply the signs that differentiate the time of fasting from the time of not fasting."
Ash-Shaukani observes: "If there is nothing authentic recorded that states that one may only accept two witnesses for the end of the month, then it is apparent, by analogy, that one witness is sufficient, as it is sufficient for the beginning of the month.
Furthermore, worship based on the acceptance of one report points to the fact that such singular reports are accepted in every matter unless there is some evidence that specifies the peculiarity of specific cases, such as the number of witnesses concerning matters of wealth, and so on. Apparently this is the opinion of Abu Thaur."
Source: http://www.ramadhanzone.com/arrival.asp
See Also: idul fitri, hamper hari raya, hari raya hampers
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Frangipani as Known as Plumeria
There is a lore which says that the name Frangipani derives from a perfume created by an Italian family of the same name. Frangipani, also known as the Plumeria, is native to warm tropical areas of the Pacific Islands, Caribbean, South America and Mexico.
They can grow to be large shrubs or even small trees in mild areas of the U.S. In tropical regions, Plumeria may reach a height of 30' to 40' and half as wide. Their widely spaced thick succulent branches are round or pointed, and have long leather, fleshy leaves in clusters near the branch tips.
Leaves tend to fall in early winter since they are deciduous and sensitive to cold. Plumeraia rubra acutifolia has very fragrant white flowers with yellow centers. The petals are small and strongly overlapping, giving the impression of a flower in the process of unfolding.
Source: http://www.flowersofindia.net/catalog/fragrant.html
They can grow to be large shrubs or even small trees in mild areas of the U.S. In tropical regions, Plumeria may reach a height of 30' to 40' and half as wide. Their widely spaced thick succulent branches are round or pointed, and have long leather, fleshy leaves in clusters near the branch tips.
Leaves tend to fall in early winter since they are deciduous and sensitive to cold. Plumeraia rubra acutifolia has very fragrant white flowers with yellow centers. The petals are small and strongly overlapping, giving the impression of a flower in the process of unfolding.
Source: http://www.flowersofindia.net/catalog/fragrant.html
See Also: idul fitri, hamper hari raya, hari raya hampers
About the Delicate Flowers Appear
Wax flower is a slow-growing, woody, evergreen vine which has thick, fleshy, two to four-inch-long, green or variegated leaves, and produces in spring and summer large, round, hanging clusters of creamy white to light pink, 0.5-inch, fragrant flowers, each with a perfect five-pointed pink star in the center.
Bloom fragrance is subtle and you must come close to the plant to enjoy it but it is well worth the effort. These long-lasting, showyblooms emerge on old flower spurs, which should never be pruned off.
The delicate flowers appear to be made of porcelain and are truly unique. The flowers produce abundant nectar which drips down in warm weather. Because Wax Plant is especially sensitive to nematodes, plants are often grown in containers where the soil can be carefully controlled.
Source: http://www.flowersofindia.net/catalog/fragrant.html
Bloom fragrance is subtle and you must come close to the plant to enjoy it but it is well worth the effort. These long-lasting, showyblooms emerge on old flower spurs, which should never be pruned off.
The delicate flowers appear to be made of porcelain and are truly unique. The flowers produce abundant nectar which drips down in warm weather. Because Wax Plant is especially sensitive to nematodes, plants are often grown in containers where the soil can be carefully controlled.
Source: http://www.flowersofindia.net/catalog/fragrant.html
See Also: idul fitri, hamper hari raya, hari raya hampers
Monday, August 23, 2010
Amazing Benefits Of A Winter Wedding
Amazing Benefits Of A Winter Wedding
A romantic winter wedding can be one of the most exciting, beautiful and memorable events in the life of a bride and groom. The romantic nature of winter weddings makes the winter season a favorite time of year the world over, to exchange wedding vows and say "I do".
The picturesque winter landscapes, the freshly falling snow, the romantic sleigh rides, its the stuff dreams are made of! But what's will the cost of those dreams be? Well, not as much as you might think!
One of the primary benefits of having a winter wedding is that it'll be the off season for most merchants you'll do business with. You'll have stronger negotiating power when it comes to purchasing wedding products and services items like the invitations, wedding dress, tuxedos, decorations, DJ's, catering, honeymoon vacation. Even renting a location for the ceremony and reception can be negotiable. With such negotiating power, it can be easier for the bride and groom to keep their wedding budget without turning their dream of a romantic fairytale winter wedding into a nightmare.
The benefits of planning a winter wedding are numerous......
http://www.floweradvisor.com.sg/lifestyle/women/weddings/11767/amazing_benefits_of_a_winter_wedding/
See Also: International Flower Delivery, Florist, Flowers Discount Code
A romantic winter wedding can be one of the most exciting, beautiful and memorable events in the life of a bride and groom. The romantic nature of winter weddings makes the winter season a favorite time of year the world over, to exchange wedding vows and say "I do".
The picturesque winter landscapes, the freshly falling snow, the romantic sleigh rides, its the stuff dreams are made of! But what's will the cost of those dreams be? Well, not as much as you might think!
One of the primary benefits of having a winter wedding is that it'll be the off season for most merchants you'll do business with. You'll have stronger negotiating power when it comes to purchasing wedding products and services items like the invitations, wedding dress, tuxedos, decorations, DJ's, catering, honeymoon vacation. Even renting a location for the ceremony and reception can be negotiable. With such negotiating power, it can be easier for the bride and groom to keep their wedding budget without turning their dream of a romantic fairytale winter wedding into a nightmare.
The benefits of planning a winter wedding are numerous......
http://www.floweradvisor.com.sg/lifestyle/women/weddings/11767/amazing_benefits_of_a_winter_wedding/
See Also: International Flower Delivery, Florist, Flowers Discount Code
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