Branford, CT Florists

Branford Flower Shop News

Love in the time of coronavirus: Weddings postponed - The Advocate

Hope Looney, owner of JCakes bakery in North Branford, had to let her 10 employees go just to help preserve the business. “We were pushed into a corner in the blink of an eye,” she said. JCakes has been around nearly 30 years and in her 13 years running the business, she’s never had to consider layoffs. She’s had to cancel 40 orders that were scheduled for the next few weeks, but she’s just waiting for more to come, she said. Without large events happening, florists are another domino on the line taking a fall. “The floral industry isn’t in a good place right now — growers to retail, grocery and mass market is taking a hit,” said Nicole Palazzo of City Line Florist in Trumbull. Palazzo said the business has been slowing down, with fewer trucks making deliveries and the demand for flowers overall having decreased. With those canceled orders, if businesses can’t find another way to sell or re-purpose their products, they just have to eat the cost of it, she said. Palazzo said it’s crucial for businesses to examine their contracts to help ensure they’re not wiped out by cancellations. With so much uncertainty about how long these cautionary measures will last, businesses such as JCakes and City Line Florist are doing what they can to adapt. Both are offering no-contact pickups and delivery and trying to find new ways to market themselves. Looney said she shipped her first “quarantine cake” that says “wash your hands” to her friend, and she’s hoping she can do more of them. Antonecchia bought a JCakes sheet cake to get delivered to Yale New Haven Hospital to say “thank you” to the staff. Palazzo is encouraging customers to remember flower shops can help bring relief to some symptoms of social distancing and quarantine. “Right now, people don’t usually think of flowers, but there’s so many studies that sh... https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/Love-in-the-time-of-coronavirus-Weddings-15152335.php

Fifty Years After Newark Burned, Gates Tell Story of Changing Landscape - TAPinto.net

Two downtown corners, one block apart, offer a dramatic example of how much Newark has changed in 50 years.On the corner of Halsey Street and Branford Place are two restaurants and two clothing stores, all of which have one thing in common: corrugated metal shutters, pulled down every evening after closing time. The gates were installed sometime after the civil upheaval in July 1967 that led to widespread looting of downtown stores and prompted shopkeepers – at least those that stayed – to adopt a bunker mentality.One block south near the corner of Halsey and Maiden Lane, the newly opened Tonnie’s Minis bakery in the recently completed Teachers Village looks more like a storefront in suburban Essex County, with a sign touting "world famous cupcakes." There are no gates to cover the expansive plate-glass windows.More than just a visual contrast, the two scenes offer evidence that Newark has finally emerged from the pall cast over the city after the riot that began on July 12, 1967 and lasted for five days.During the riot, looters smashed windows of shops throughout downtown and walked off with inventory – an image seared into...

North Branford Small Business Spotlight: Candi's Floral Creations - Patch.com

Business: Candi’s Floral CreationsOwner: Candice Milliard, Artistic DirectorWebsite: www.candisfloralcreations.comMore from North Branford PatchAddress: 2400 Foxon Road (Route 80), Town & Country Plaza, North Branford, CTWhy start a business in this town?I own a wedding and event floral studio in town. I live in this town and I wanted my shop to be close by. I do have a store front because I think it looks more established than working from out of my home, but it is by appointment only. Half of my shop is a showroom filled with vignettes of various wedding and event themes and where I meet clients. The other half is where I design.What’s the most difficult moment or challenge you’ve faced as a business owner?My business is seasonal and that can be challenging but I try to think outside the box to find extra income during the slow months. I offer holiday decorating for residential and business and will design for some holiday parties. I am spearheading a sidewalk sale August 27, 28 and 29 and all the shops at Town and Country Plaza will be having sales and promotions. If it goes well, we may do one every year.What’s been your favorite moment or proudest achievement since opening?I have been designing since I was 16 so over 25 years and have been designing weddings for about 20 ... http://patch.com/connecticut/northbranford/north-branford-small-business-spotlight-candis-floral-creations

Flower shop among many businesses fighting to blossom - The Riverdale Press

That has sent Columbia delivery drivers throughout New York City, as well as New Jersey, Westchester County and Connecticut. Those are some tall orders, especially since social distancing requirements limits the number of workers allowed in the small shop. “We cannot have many people working in the store, so it has been busier for us,” Dennis said. “Most of the time it has just been my sister, myself and one worker. I have even been taking deliveries out myself.”Sales have dipped, but so have supplies in some cases. In late March, as many were trying to adjust to the “new normal,”  Columbia struggled to stock its flower inventory, both in quantity and variety. For example, one thing missing from the store’s offerings has been tulips. Fortunately, most flowers purchased from South America are still available, Dennis said. Pricing hasn’t changed much, but delivery costs have increased since the shop is going without its regular delivery staff.Flowers also are a crucial part of large events like weddings and baby showers. Yet, all events are now canceled or postponed. It’s unclear when they’ll return, but at least one customer found a creative way to repurpose her ordered flowers into a kind gesture.The woman had put together a sizable order for a baby shower, but ended up hospitalized with the virus that causes COVID-19. Fortunately, she recovered, Dennis said. She was so thankful for her recovery, in fact, she sent the flowers intended for her shower instead to the nurses who took care of her.Unfortunately, many small businesses aren’t having the same luck as Columbia, as the coronavirus shutdown languishes on. While many storefronts are shut because they’re deemed “non-essential,” those that can stay open operate at a reduced capacity. The big question is whether many of the now-shuttered businesses will be able to reopen once New York City is allowed to open its doors again. Some businesses — even essential ones — are choosing to stay closed with hopes of being around long-term, said Christopher Rizzo, a board member of the Riverdale Main Streets Association.“Some of these small businesses have such small profit margins to begin with,” Rizzo said. “So staying open when your revenues are cut in half does not make sense for a lot of businesses. They are choosing to stay closed so that they can stay open in the future.” Dennis says she’s thankful Columbia Florist can stay open in some capacity. She receives many calls from customers thanking her for the flower deliveries, especially to funerals, where a lot of people aren’t present. Says Dennis: “Having a flower there makes a big difference.” ... https://riverdalepress.com/stories/flower-shop-among-many-businesses-fighting-to-blossom,71820

‘Going to be insane:’ Mother’s Day flower delivery during a shutdown - CTPost

Photo: Brian A. Pounds / Hearst Connecticut Media Photo: Brian A. Pounds / Hearst Connecticut Media Image 1 of / 71 Caption Close Image 1 of 71 A customer shops for flowers at Filanowski Farms on Wheelers Farm Road in Milford, Conn. on Thursday, May 7, 2020. A customer shops for flowers at Filanowski Farms on Wheelers Farm Road in Milford, Conn. on Thursday, May 7, 2020. Photo: Brian A. Pounds / Hearst Connecticut Media ... https://www.ctpost.com/news/coronavirus/article/Going-to-be-insane-Mother-s-Day-flower-15256607.php

Florists Impacted by Coronavirus Restrictions - NBC Connecticut

Connolly.“This year has proven to be a bit of a challenge for obviousreasons,” said Leah Van Ness, the co-owner of the Montville Florist and thepresident of the Connecticut Florists Association.She says many shops are dealing with limited deliveries offlowers, as well as a drop in sales because of canceled events such as proms,weddings and graduations.“Florists are people who tend to be able to very quicklydevelop a new plan and way to make a challenging situation work,” said VanNess. Back in Wethersfield, Notaro says while some business hasdecreased, sadly there’s been an increase in people not being able to attendfunerals and choosing to send flowers instead. She’s run her shop for 11 years and says it was important tokeep it open, though only for curbside service and deliveries.“I felt flowers were a necessity. Everybody loves them,” saidNotaro.Many florists remain closed and some are just reopening forthis week. And they’re stressing deliveries and pick-ups will be non-contact to help ease any worries. ... https://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/florists-impacted-by-coronavirus-restrictions/2267250/

Love in the time of coronavirus: Weddings postponed - The Advocate

Ginel doesn’t know when she’ll be able to wear the wedding dress hanging in her closet. She had planned her church wedding for May, but when the coronavirus started to spread in Connecticut, those plans changed quickly. “Everything is obviously emotional and disruptive, but we’re willing to work around whatever obstacles come our way,” Ginel said. “When you think about marrying someone, you think about the difficult times and it just so happens that our difficult time came before the wedding.” As of Sunday morning, the state had confirmed more than 225 cases in Connecticut and five people had died of COVID-19, which is caused by the coronavirus. In the past week, Gov. Ned Lamont has ordered all restaurants to close their dining rooms, limited any gatherings to 10 people or fewer and municipalities have closed public buildings, an end to all events, including weddings. House of worship also have stopped public services. At this point, Ginel and her fiance were just wrapping up the finishing touches to the big day — invitations had been sent, RSVPs ... https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/Love-in-the-time-of-coronavirus-Weddings-15152335.php