Local Flower Shop News
How To Build A Blooming Business Without Experience - Forbes
Tuesday, March 19, 2019How did you get into the flower business? Farbod Shoraka: Funny enough I didn’t really have a background in flowers or e-commerce. It was actually my aunt who was a local florist in Irvine, California. She was going out of business. She was having trouble with her flower shop and not getting any customers. She kept relying on these big brokers like 1-800- Flowers, FTD and Teleflora to get orders, but they weren’t really coming in at a profitable rate. Those guys take so much fees off the top that it was really hard for her to make any money, and a lot of people have stopped walking into flower shops. She was in a really tight situation where she didn’t know how to get her own orders from online. So, I was working in investment banking. I was doing mergers and acquisition advisory. I was actually helping a client in the floral space and I started learning a lot about it. I realized there was a big problem. I decided to quit my job and start this company that will kind of fix the floral industry, which is about a $30 billion dollar industry. Ultimately, I helped my aunt survive and keep her shop open. Blount: When did you decided to quit your job? A lot of entrepreneurs have that moment when they have a day job, and they want to take the leap into doing the thing they love full- time. Shoraka: I was working, because I was on a deal. The client I had at the time was in the industry. I was lucky. It give me enough understanding and fire power to leave and just dive in head first into the start-up. Some people start off with getting their feet wet, and doing it at night. I was lucky enough to be able to do it all in. At the same time, I was making enough money where I could quit my job and not have to worry about supporting myself or taking that risk. Blount: I heard that your business partner, David, won $30,000 in a poker game to help get the company started. Was $30k enough to start BloomNation? Shoraka: That was really interesting. We didn’t have the background to make this work. Three guys with no experience in technology, e-commerce or ... https://www.forbes.com/sites/joresablount/2018/07/09/how-to-build-a-blooming-business-without-experience/
New online flower service helps florists in Inland Empire, nation - San Bernardino Sun
Tuesday, March 19, 2019Sharoka, a former investment banker, got the idea after he listened to the difficulties experienced by his aunt, Shirin Kazemi, who works as a florist in Irvine. Kazemi said wire services had charged her about 20 to 30 percent of sales, in addition to monthly service charge of $600.“Her business was struggling,” Sharoka said. “No one was walking into the flower shop. She has no connection with the customers and pumps out and fulfill the orders sent from wire services. She felt like an employee of the services. As a consumer, I’m frustrated with the services and my aunt is frustrated with service. I’m paying fees. The florist is paying a lot of fees to be a part of these services and a lot of money is wasted and nobody’s happy.”So Sharoka and his partners began the Santa Monica-based BloomNation in 2011. There are now 3,000 florists who use the service nationwide. Florists get free use of the website and no fees, other than a 10 percent cut of sales to BloomNation, said Sharoka.“I think it’s going to help a lot as far as low cost and giving the customer a better product,” said Kazemi. “Also we don’t have to wait for the money. With the other wire services, we have to wait one month to get our money back. With BloomNation, the money is in our bank account the next day.”BloomNation has received funding from Spark Capital, Chicago Ventures, and CrunchFund. It’s among winning companies named by the University of Chicago, Booth School of Business’s New Venture Challenge. Information: bloomnation.com... https://www.sbsun.com/2014/05/03/new-online-flower-service-helps-florists-in-inland-empire-nation/
Mexican man who generates $5million in annual sales could be deported after driving infraction - Daily Mail
Tuesday, March 19, 2019Undocumented immigrant florist who has lived in California for two decades could be deported after accidentally driving into Canada when got lost 18 years agoGualterio Santos emigrated from Oaxaca, Mexico, and settled in New York City where he sold flowers off a supermarket cart During a road trip in 2000 the Mexican businessman did not have a road map and got lost, driving across the Michigan-Canada border U.S. immigration officials briefly detained him and made him sign documents - he was to report to a Detroit ICE agency for a hearing but completely forgot Santos applied for a permanent residency in 2017 - he met with an immigration judge in August of last year and was informed of the deportation orderOn October 19, Santos was almost deported at the Tijuana-San Diego border but he was taken back to Los Angeles and released by ICE on October 23ICE has given Santos 60 to 90 days to leave the countryBy Adry Torres For Dailymail.com Published: 23:25 GMT, 9 November 2018 Updated: 00:13... https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6372739/Mexican-man-generates-5million-annual-sales-deported-driving-infraction.html
Cleveland's newest "it" florist has set up shop in Cleveland Heights - freshwatercleveland
Tuesday, March 19, 2019Giugni. “And coming from Ohio, he kicked the old design [styles] out of me. He was tough on me, but I learned a lot.”Robertson also secured the title of weekly florist for a store selling fashion icon Carolina Herrera’s designs while in New York. “It taught me a lot,” he says. “I got to be around really beautiful fashion and that kind of world every week.”Then, six years ago, Robertson and Rojice decided it was time to come home. The two moved to Shaker Heights and started their own business in the basement three years ago—Robertson working the creative end and Rojice doing bookkeeping (alongside his day job at Dealer Tire’s IT department).“We literally started from scratch in the basement, banging my head on everything, making arrangements, wrapping them, and delivering them,” Robertson says. “That grew up into the dining room and kitchen and out into the garage. Finally, Chet was like, ‘Okay, I think we need to find another space.’ We were getting too big, and I couldn’t do weddings out of the house.”Robertson and Rojice decided to rent an old warehouse in Ohio City, which offered more workspace but wasn’t geared toward attracting customers. Then, last summer, the couple's friend Shawn Paul told them about a storefront that had opened up next door to his salon. “I came in here and was like, ‘It’s perfect,’” recalls Robertson of his new store.Robertson and Rojice spent two months renovating the shop to their liking and opened Stems Fleur in September. He describe the new store as a “European flower shop with a modern twist to it.”“Chet and I built [and] painted everything, because we were on such a budget,” Robertson says. “It was a knife store before, so everything was dirty and old and beat up.The large studio allows Robertson to easily create his custom interior designs. "The back studio is great for me because everything is right at my fingertips," says Robertson. "When we have more work, we have more people who come in and we can all work around the table.”In addition to custom arrangements and interior floral and plant designs—such as a moss Zen garden in a mid-century modern house—Robertson has a selection of “designers choice” arrangements starting at $59.95 and themed arrangements, available both in the store and online. He employs a retired couple to deliver flowers all over Cuyahoga County.Robertson’s local projects include Fashion Week Columbus, Columbus Museum of Art, and Eton Chagrin Boulevard. He has also designed Orchid Mania at the Cleveland Botanical Garden for the past two years, as well as their annual holiday Glow show.Moving forward, Robertson has his eyes on the courtyard outside his back door, where Shawn Paul Salon patrons often gather. When the spring arrives, he plans to adorn the courtyard with planters full of his designs. He has been working with a Cleveland Heights event planner and says he hopes to host local vendors in the courtyard this summer.“I want to start doing more local things,” he says. “The neighborhood has really embraced us... http://www.freshwatercleveland.com/breaking-ground/StemsFleur010919.aspx
Easton area florist giving away flowers on Petal It Forward Day - lehighvalleylive.com
Tuesday, March 19, 2019Edwards, who works for the Flower Essence flower and gift ship in Forks Township, was part of the nationwide Petal It Forward Day organized by the Society of American Florists.Edwards was giving away two roses each, one to pay it forward to someone and allow that person to do the same to someone else. She had already given away 15 stems by 9 a.m. and people's reactions were "amazing," said the Upper Mount Bethel Township resident. "Everybody's smiling."Flower Essence, owned by Brandi Lynch, plans to give away 1,000 roses on Wednesday in its delivery area, including Easton, Bethlehem, Palmer Township, Nazareth and the Slate Belt.The Society of American Florists said flowers will be given away in more than 400 cities in all 50 states.The society says it has science on its side; a Rutgers study showed giving flowers helped spread positive emotions, some that lasted for days.People were posting on social media using the #PetalItForward hashtag. Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @SarahCassi. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. https://www.lehighvalleylive.com/easton/2018/10/easton_area_florist_giving_awa.html
Bloomex Partners with ALS Canada - MENAFN.COM
Tuesday, March 19, 2019Canada on Bloomex.ca during ALS Awareness Month in June 2019. Fifteen percent of each bouquet purchase will be donated to ALS Canada. Bloomex is also proud to be the Official Florist of this year's ALS Canada Research Forum in Toronto. Hosted by ALS Canada, this invitation-only event is an opportunity to hear about the promise that scientific advancement holds for ALS. It will be attended by over 300 passionate and engaged leaders including researchers, clinicians, partners, donors, advocates and people and families living with ALS. Bloomex will be providing centerpieces, as well as $10 gift cards for all attendees. "We are delighted to partner with ALS Canada," says Sue McDonald, Director of PR and Corporate Sponsorship at Bloomex Canada. "ALS can take a devastating toll on both patient and family. Bloomex is proud to help the effort in providing support for those diagnosed and in funding research to find new treatments, or even a cure." "It's so exciting to see this partnership with a company like Bloomex," said Denis Blais, who was diagnosed with ALS in 2015. "It means a lot to the ALS community as well as the many people who have connections with the disease. With a partnership like this, people can donate to the cause all through the year, just by offering flowers, or gift baskets to their loved ones. Everybody wins, it's fabulous! Thank you Bloomex for stepping up and supporting people living with ALS." About Bloomex Canada Bloomex is the largest florist in Canada. Orders are taken and processed through the company's site at Bloomex.ca or by phone, and then delivered to customers via local courier. In addition to flowers, Bloomex offers a variety of other gift items including plants, gift baskets, gourmet foods, sweets and treats, balloons and other items. The company serves Canada, the US, and Australia. To learn more about other Bloomex campaigns click here . About ALS Canada Founded in 1977, the ALS Society of Canada (ALS Canada) works with the ALS community to improve the lives of people affected by ALS through support, advocacy and investment in research for a future without ALS. We are a registered charity that receives no government funding – all of our services and research are funded through the generosity of our donors. Through the ALS Canada Research Program, we fund peer-reviewed research grants, foster collaboration and build capacity within Canada's ALS research community and participate in new areas of research where we are well-positioned to have an impact. Within Ontario, ALS Canada has a role similar to that of the provincial ALS societies providing services and support to help meet the needs of people living with ALS. Through advocacy federally and provincially within Ontario, ALS Canad... https://menafn.com/1098275350/Bloomex-Partners-with-ALS-Canada
Cary flower shop prepares for the busiest day of the year - WRAL.com
Tuesday, March 19, 2019By Claudia Rupcich, WRAL reporterCary, N.C. — Studies show fewer people are celebrating Valentine's Day this year, but those who celebrate will are spending more money.At Cary Florist in downtown Cary, workers are getting ready for their busiest day.A survey shows that about 35 percent of people who celebrate Valentine's Day will give flowers to someone this year.According to a recent survey, Americans will spend a record amount on Valentine's Day this year. On average, a person will spend about $162 this year -- or 13 percent more than last year.The study shows total spending is expected to be $20.7 billion nationwide, up 6 percent from 2018. Money will mostly be spent on jewelry, clothes and a night out.An average of almost $2 billion will be spent on flowers -- and at Cary Florist, workers told WRAL News they will be going out with more deliveries than ever before. More On This... https://www.wral.com/cary-flower-shop-prepares-for-the-busiest-day-of-the-year/18191630/
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