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Perspective | This D.C. florist secret to surviving 114 years and four generations - The Washington Post

Day is bustling. And then, of course, Valentine’s Day.It’s do-or-die day. The truck fleet grows to 30 just for Valentine’s Day, and the staff doubles.[My conversation with Warren Buffett about bridge, Bill Gates and a bus ride] “We may go up to 1,500 deliveries,” Mike said. “You want to get them all on that one day, but you can only take so many orders. Sometimes we ask them to take the flowers on the day before, or even two days before if they wait too long.”Cheryl Diaz MeyerFor The Washington PostPhil Caruso and his son Michael Caruso, who says, “with flowers, you want to move those out two, three days after you get them in.”The Carusos have been selling flowers since Teddy Roosevelt was president. It is one of only a few old-school Washington survivors, along with Ben’s Chili Bowl (a youngster at 1958), Tiny Jewel Box (1944), Cleveland Park’s Uptown Theater (1936) and Wagshal’s delicatessen (1925). It didn’t take me long to figure out why Caruso is still in business after more than a century.Two words: asset light.They own no warehouse. No gardens. No greenhouses. They have zero debt, save for a few thousand dollars on the delivery trucks. They lease 2,600 feet across two buildings separated by a driveway instead of owning the buildings. “People say, ‘Gosh, why don’t you put a shop in Virginia? Why don’t you put one in Maryland?’” Mike said. “The thing about this is we like to have control over the product and the employees and everyone. That way, you can take care of your quality. If you start branching out more and more, then you have more headaches.”Boxes of flowers come in the back door, and beautiful arrangements fly out the front. Besides the trucks, they have some refrigerators and a computer. “With flowers, you want to move those out two, three days after you get them in,” Mike said. “It’s not like food where you can put it in the freezer. You want to keep that product moving.”The Washington economy does its part.“You are insulated by being in D.C., between the government, the individual businesses and the law firms,” he said. “We have been at this location since 1968. The rents keep escalating. I try to get in as long a lease as I can. I signed one a couple of years ago for 10 years.”[A first lesson on the stock market: Don’t run from a good sale]Mike’s brothers, Tim and Steven, split responsibilities. Tim takes care of technology and billing. Steve handles hard and soft items such as vases and fruit. Phil orders most of the flowers and is the ambassador and face of the company.Everything about Phil is flowers. He lives in a Montgomery County neighborhood called (I am not making this up) Flower Valley. His house is on Jasmine Drive. He wore a green flower-print Brooks Brothers silk tie when I saw him.Phil doesn’t take a salary. He and Peg, his wife of 63 years, live on Social Security and stock investments.“We bought a new truck with my salary [instead... https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/this-dc-florists-secret-to-surviving-114-years-and-four-generations/2017/08/18/ee1a0152-836e-11e7-b359-15a3617c767b_story.html

Perspective | This D.C. florists secret to surviving 114 years and four generations - The Washington Post

Day is bustling. And then, of course, Valentine’s Day.It’s do-or-die day. The truck fleet grows to 30 just for Valentine’s Day, and the staff doubles.[My conversation with Warren Buffett about bridge, Bill Gates and a bus ride] “We may go up to 1,500 deliveries,” Mike said. “You want to get them all on that one day, but you can only take so many orders. Sometimes we ask them to take the flowers on the day before, or even two days before if they wait too long.”Cheryl Diaz MeyerFor The Washington PostPhil Caruso and his son Michael Caruso, who says, “with flowers, you want to move those out two, three days after you get them in.”The Carusos have been selling flowers since Teddy Roosevelt was president. It is one of only a few old-school Washington survivors, along with Ben’s Chili Bowl (a youngster at 1958), Tiny Jewel Box (1944), Cleveland Park’s Uptown Theater (1936) and Wagshal’s delicatessen (1925). It didn’t take me long to figure out why Caruso is still in business after more than a century.Two words: asset light.They own no warehouse. No gardens. No greenhouses. They have zero debt, save for a few thousand dollars on the delivery trucks. They lease 2,600 feet across two buildings separated by a driveway instead of owning the buildings. “People say, ‘Gosh, why don’t you put a shop in Virginia? Why don’t you put one in Maryland?’” Mike said. “The thing about this is we like to have control over the product and the employees and everyone. That way, you can take care of your quality. If you start branching out more and more, then you have more headaches.”Boxes of flowers come in the back door, and beautiful arrangements fly out the front. Besides the trucks, they have some refrigerators and a computer. “With flowers, you want to move those out two, three days after you get them in,” Mike said. “It’s not like food where you can put it in the freezer. You want to keep that product moving.”The Washington economy does its part.“You are insulated by being in D.C., between the government, the individual businesses and the law firms,” he said. “We have been at this location since 1968. The rents keep escalating. I try to get in as long a lease as I can. I signed one a couple of years ago for 10 years.”[A first lesson on the stock market: Don’t run from a good sale]Mike’s brothers, Tim and Steven, split responsibilities. Tim takes care of technology and billing. Steve handles hard and soft items such as vases and fruit. Phil orders most of the flowers and is the ambassador and face of the company.Everything about Phil is flowers. He lives in a Montgomery County neighborhood called (I am not making this up) Flower Valley. His house is on Jasmine Drive. He wore a green flower-print Brooks Brothers silk tie when I saw him.Phil doesn’t take a salary. He and Peg, his wife of 63 years, live on Social Security and stock investments.“We bought a new truck with my salary [instead... https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/this-dc-florists-secret-to-surviving-114-years-and-four-generations/2017/08/18/ee1a0152-836e-11e7-b359-15a3617c767b_story.html

The Best Flower Shops in Phoenix, Mesa, Scottsdale, Tempe - Phoenix New Times

I like you" / "I want to make your co-workers jealous" than sending a beautiful bouquet on Valentine's Day. The Hallmark holiday falls on Tuesday, February 14, this year — and florists across the Valley are already plucking and arranging an array of colorful ways to show someone you care. Whether you want a pre-made design delivered to the office or plan to hand them over — and create them! — yourself, here are 10 great local florists (including one boutique plant destination) to choose from.Continue ReadingEXPANDWhether red roses or a spring bouquet, Watson's Flowers in Mesa has plenty of options for Valentine's Day.Janessa HilliardWatson's FlowersIt's no surprise that dozens of long-stemmed red roses are the Valentine's Day standard, an oft-anticipated but still always appreciated arrangement. If it's roses you seek, Watson's is the place to visit.Located on the border of Tempe and Mesa in the east Valley, Watson’s Flowers is a family-owned spot for all things floral. The business began back in 1927 when Irene Watson started going door to door selling roses from her own garden, becoming known as the Rose Lady and eventually buying the property that still stands today.Roses are still the shop’s big draw, and fourth-ge... https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/arts/10-metro-phoenix-florists-that-do-valentines-day-right-8012520

Tips for Valentine’s Day Flower Shopping - NBC 7 San Diego

Then you’re gonna be in big trouble.”Waiting could have other consequences.=Valentine's Day Flowers“Some florists will up the delivery costs on the holidays, so it’s best to order at least a few days ahead of time.”Another tip; make sure that the flowers you want to order are in season.Otherwise, there’s a good chance the recipient will get something other than what you ordered. If that’s the case, take some photos and contact the florist. You may be entitled to a refund.Also, shop around. Some florists boost their prices on Valentine’s Day. Just as a reminder, remember the longer you wait the fewer choices you may have and more expensive those options might become.  ... https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/Tips-for-Valentines-Day-Flower-Shopping-505589531.html

Red trees: Florist honored to decorate red trees. Shocked by reaction - Cincinnati.com

First Lady Melania Trump unveiled this year’s White House Christmas trees including 45 that are ruby red? Amelia Florist Vickie Wenstrup is struggling to find an answer to this question. She was caught off-guard by the social media reaction to the red berry Christmas trees that she and a team of other volunteers labored over for three days. The reactions were unexpected and "horrible," she said. "I don't know who first said it. Or why," Wenstrup recalled. "The first thing I saw (on Google) was 'Melania Trump covers the White House in blood for Christmas.'" That certainly wasn't how Wenstrup saw the trees which are located in the East Colonnade of the East Wing. She thought that the design was perhaps inspired by the sculpted and shaped holly topiary trees in the garden that are visible outside the hallway's windows. The garden is one of two designed by former first lady Jacqueline Kennedy, Wenstrup said.  The cranberry tree that adorns the White House Red Room could have also served as an inspiration, she suggested. Whatever the idea's source, it was not Wenstrup's. The first lady's team worked on that. Wenstrup and the other volunteers were there to work. For three days ... https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2018/11/29/red-trees-florist-honored-decorate-red-trees-shocked-reaction/2147307002/

Better Than Roses - The Newtown Bee

The Gardenist of Norwalk offers floral arrangements and designs, along with garden design support and maintenance, according to her Facebook page, The Gardenist. She mostly sells her flowers to local florists and people who contact her directly. A farmer florist, Ms Collette said she has private properties where she plants seasonal flowers, all organically. She harvests and creates bouquets along with maintaining a dahlia farm in New Haven. Growers in Connecticut, unless they have a greenhouse, do not grow flowers out of season, she observed. This makes it harder for local shops to maintain locally grown flowers in the winter months.When asked for ideas for alternative Valentine’s Day presents, Ms Collette recommended gifting a living flower arrangement or foraging for a bouquet of seasonal elements. Potted plants from a nursery also provide year-long enjoyment.“If it is a perennial, you can enjoy the plant from when you purchase it [until you] plant it in the spring,” said Ms Collette, who is currently selling house plants.Around mid-January, Evelyn Lee of Butternut Gardens LLC of Southport shared a presentation in Bloomfield with local farmers on flower growing in Connecticut.“We’re trying to get Connecticut-grown flowers to become a thing in people’s minds,” said Ms Lee, adding that this time of the year is hard for local growers. “... I think for next year, there is a better opportunity.”Ms Lee shared information about the Slow Flowers Movement, which, according to a website for the movement, slowflowers.com, is “a response to the disconnect between humans and flowers in the modern era. It aspires to reclaim the act of flower growing, recognizing it as a relevant and respected branch of domestic agriculture. Slow Flowers connects consumers with the source of their flowers, putting a human face of the flower farmer and floral designer behind each bouquet or centerpiece. The value of local, seasonal, and sustainably grown flowers is heightened when there is transparent origin labeling of all botanicals sold to consumers and professional florists.” The website was created by author Debra Prinzing. Ms Lee recommended Ms Prinzing’s book The 50 Mile Bouquet: Seasonal, Local, and Sustainable Flowers and Flower Confidential: The Good, the Bad, and the Beautiful, by Amy Stewart, for those who wish to know more about the flower industry and the positive impact of supporting local farms.Locally grown flowers stay fresh longer and have a smaller carbon footprint than those purchased from afar. As a result of her discussion with local farmers in mid-January, Ms Lee said she is working to build a stronger consortium of growers. She is also looking for partners in various towns in Connecticut to create flower pickup points for her flower subscription service, which is offered seasonally. Anyone interested in reaching Ms Lee can contact her through her website, butternutgardens.com.Since locally grown flowers are hard to come by at the moment, Ms Lee suggested Valentine’s Day gifters can purchase a flower subscription service for their loved ones or a subscription to a local Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program. (Shortts Farm & Garden Center of Newtown, an organic fruit and vegetable farm, offers a CSA program. Questions about 2019’s CSA program can be e-mailed to f... https://www.newtownbee.com/better-roses/02102019

UrbanStems flower delivery review: sustainably sourced, beautiful bouquets - Business Insider

Giving flowers should be a simple process, yet for many of us, it's not. You may not have time to go into your local flower shop and have a bouquet made, or your florist just might not have time to put together a bouquet with such short notice. You could order one online, but you've heard too many horror stories of botched bouquets bought on the internet. With Valentine's Day in less than a week, we figured it was high time to tell you about UrbanStems, the company many of us personally use to order flowers for our friends and loved ones. This flower delivery service was born out of the same concerns many of us have about ordering flowers online — there's a lack of trust, awareness, and transparency that makes it difficult to know what we're really getting into. UrbanStems founder Ajay Kori was fed up with sending flowers as gifts. Every experience he had doing so ended in catastrophe. Instead of giving up on the gesture altogether, Kori enlisted his college classmate to try and fix the floral industry.What they've created is an easier, more affordable way to order beautiful flowers online — one that ensures your bouquets actually are delivered in time for those special moments. How the service works:When you head over to the UrbanStems, you'll find a small but diverse selection of bouquets. UrbanStems is a member of the fewer, better camp, which is reflected in their selection — a few beautifully-crafted bouquets and potted plants, rather than a mass of mediocre arrangements. All of the flowers and plants are sourced from sustainable farms, which UrbanStems' in-house floral designers collaborate with to create unique bouquets. With prices that start at $35, UrbanStems is a pretty affordable option as well. Once you've picked which bouquet you like, put in your desired delivery address and choose from the delivery date options listed. UrbanStems provides a calendar that shows which delivery dates are available, as well as notes when the bouquet will be back in stock if it has been sold out. UrbanStems also suggests vases that compliment each bouquet, should you want to spend a little extra to send a vase as well. Moving to checkout is simple. UrbanStems has you sign up with your email  so they can inform you on the status of your order. Then all you have to do is fill out the delivery information, and my favorite part — a cute note to g... https://www.businessinsider.com/urbanstems-flower-delivery-review

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