Bradenton Flower Shop News
After 125 years, Manatee company delivering fresh flowers differently - Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Friday, May 29, 2020Palma Sola Bay. It's at 11703 40th Ave W, Bradenton, just off Cortez Road before the bridge to Anna Maria Island.The greenhouses are a wonderland of blossoms. Turn one way and you might find yourself hedged in by rows of tulips. Stumble backward and you could suddenly be staring into a purple sea of peonies and bougainvillea.The company ships to a variety of retail chains and independent garden centers. You can find Manatee Farms products at more than 150 retail florists throughout Florida, 50-plus independent garden centers from Naples to Central Florida, and at supermarkets, such as Albertson’s and Safeway, as well as wholesalers and brokers nationwide.Flowers and feelingsThough the business depends on executing the logistics of delivering fresh products, Preston is equally comfortable talking about the value of what Manatee Fruit Co. brings to its customers.“Flowers are a business of feelings," he said. "There’s a saying that flowers are the language of love, and they really are. When you think about the unspoken word, the word you can never really say, you can say that with flowers.“Flowers fulfill that moment when no one really knows what to say, and we’ll always need that.”That's the message of the company's latest transformation.Hurricane Irma slowed the rollout of the company's re-branding effort last year, damaging several buildings, including greenhouses and a packing house that was built in 1926. But by April the new Manatee Farms brand was fully formed and public with a new look, feel and focus as well as name.Cortez Floral and Manatee Floral, two companies under the umbrella company Manatee Fruit Co., were consolidated.Beyond fresh, sustainably grownManatee Farms now is offering “choices that matter” to consumers that care about how the products they buy are produced. The goal is to attract, engage and inform consumers and to be as transparent as possible about where and how their flowers are produced.Robert McLaughlin, chief sustainability and marketing officer for Manatee Farms, has largely spearheaded the re-branding.“This is the decade of responsible choices, and that resonates with consumers,” McLaughlin said. “We focus on eco-friendly flowers and plants, ensuring that they are certified so that we can ensure that every flower is held to certain standards.”According to Manatee Farms, its eco-friendly flowers also are good for the people who work on the farms that grow them and means that “every purchase helps improve the lives of farmworkers by providing fair wages, health care benefits, education programs and employment of women.”The company requires that farms they work with have sustainability certifications, such as USDA Organic, Rainforest Alliance or Fresh from Florida. According to the company, certified farms employ 60 percent women and are far more likely to offer higher wages and produce higher standards of living for their workers.Many of these farms also use integrated pest management as opposed to heavy pesticides, meaning that more common-sense, long-term practices are used to achieve the same results. Examples are vacuuming pests out of plants and using organisms like spiders to eat harmful pests, such as thrips, which puncture and damage plants.Getting the word outIn an effort to create a more direct link between customers and its product, the company is placing interactive digital kiosks in some stores that can help educate consumers about where their flowers come from.“We want to create a source for the consumers so that we’re reaching out in different ways and allowing access to all this information right in the retailer,” McLaughlin said.The ultimate goal is to attract customers, engage them, inform them and send them to the retailers that carry the Manatee Farms brand.For McLaughlin, part of the re-branding is taking into account a balanced three-pill... https://www.heraldtribune.com/news/20180611/after-125-years-manatee-company-delivering-fresh-flowers-differently
Valentine’s Day is a labor of love for many small businesses - Bradenton Herald
Tuesday, January 22, 2019From signature red roses to colorful carnations, Louise Josey has spent the past 30 Valentine’s Day holidays keeping up with the demand of Bradenton-area customers eager to court that special someone. And despite the hustle and bustle that can make this time of year overwhelming for businesses that specialize in gifts from the heart, she’s loved every minute of it. “It’s wonderful, it’s stressful and it’s rewarding,” said Josey, now 83 and celebrating her 30th year as owner of Josey’s Posey Florist at 6100 Manatee Ave. W. in Bradenton. “We’ve had a very, very heavy flow the last week. We expect to be busy right through (Tuesday) and we’ll take on as much as we can.”... https://www.bradenton.com/news/business/article132445549.html
Ribbon cutting: Bradenton Flower Shop - Bradenton Herald
Tuesday, June 27, 2017A ribbon cutting was held for Bradenton Flower Shop, 5262 State Road 64 E., Bradenton. The company offers fine floral arrangements and gifts to the Bradenton area and all of Manatee County, backed by service that is friendly and prompt. For more information, call 941-727-4111 or bradentonflowershop.com.Do you have a ribbon cutting you’d like to submit? Send it to Angie Monroe at amonroe@bradenton.com.Photo courtesy of Manatee Chamber of Commerce. http://www.bradenton.com/news/business/article157332689.html
Valentine's Day is a labor of love for many small businesses - Bradenton Herald
Tuesday, February 21, 2017From signature red roses to colorful carnations, Louise Josey has spent the past 30 Valentine’s Day holidays keeping up with the demand of Bradenton-area customers eager to court that special someone.And despite the hustle and bustle that can make this time of year overwhelming for businesses that specialize in gifts from the heart, she’s loved every minute of it.“It’s wonderful, it’s stressful and it’s rewarding,” said Josey, now 83 and celebrating her 30th year as owner of Josey’s Posey Florist at 6100 Manatee Ave. W. in Bradenton. “We’ve had a very, very heavy flow the last week. We expect to be busy right through (Tuesday) and we’ll take on as much as we can.”Florists, jewelers, candy shops and restaurants are among those doing all they can to try to cash in on the romantic holiday that has become big business.It’s wonderful, it’s stressful and it’s rewarding.Louise Josey, 83, who is celebrating her 30th year as owner of Josey’s Posey Florist in Bradenton, on the buildup to Valentine’s DayAccording to a survey from the National Retail Federation, spending for Valentine’s Day is expected to reach $18.2 billion this yea... http://www.bradenton.com/news/business/article132445549.html
Manatee History Matters: Don Flowers was a local hero, veteran - Bradenton Herald
Monday, October 12, 2015Manatee County where he went to work for Foster Drug for years. Later he bought the business (keeping the name) and became well-known to residents as the local pharmacist in downtown Bradenton. At this time, Flowers also commanded the Palmetto National Guard unit and was instrumental in integrating the Florida National Guard. He retired as a lieutenant colonel after 55 years' service.Flowers was a local hero and was responsible for training hundreds of young men to defend our county. During his active duty service, Flowers received 18 air medals, a Distinguished Flying Cross, a Purple Heart, and a commendation letter signed by World War II heroes Gen. George S. Patton Jr. and endorsed by Gen. Omar Bradley.There are many veterans all over the United States with similar stories. As Americans, it is our responsibility to remember and honor those who have served and sacrificed for our freedom.Steve Ahern, maintenance technician at Palmetto Historical Park, is knowledgeable about military artifacts and he can build whole museum exhibits out of popsicle sticks and other "junk." Reach him at steve.ahern@manateeclerk.com or call 941-723-4991. http://www.bradenton.com/news/local/article37056954.html
Calif. flower shop with no connection to Capitol riot flooded with threats, negative reviews - SFGate
Sunday, January 17, 2021I hope you rot in jail,’” he said. “And those are the polite ones.” Contrarily, Alberti added that the shop even received a love letter intended for Cudd from a firefighter living in Florida. “To be honest, they both concern me,” he said. In response to the harassment, Alberti notified the Roseville Police Department, which has been periodically sending out officers to check in on the shop. He also contacted Yelp, which he said acted quickly to remove the misguided comments, as well as Google, though he’s still awaiting a response. of this store since 1973.We are getting hate messages and bad reviews as a result. To our customers, please know that we were not part of that. Thank you for your continued trust and please ignore the hate reviews that are not meant for us.— Becky's Flowers (@BeckysFlowersCA) January 8, 2021 “It was just crickets,” he said. “Which was frustrating, because somehow all of (Cudd’s) negative reviews were removed from her page and likely identified as a targeted attack, and we’re the ones dealing with the repercussions.” (At the time this article was published, most of the negative Google reviews for Alberti’s business appeared to have been removed from the platform. However, Cudd’s business also has a 4.6 rating.) Two other florists bearing the same name in Kentucky and Scotland were burdened with similar harassment. Alberti said all of them have given up on deleting the comments, and are instead attempting to respond to each one in order to set the record straight. “I offered to send some people maps of the United States,” joked Alberti. “Most people apologize and then they reverse, but some are steadfast. My thing is, I understand the need to vent and get rid of that hostility, but just spend an extra five seconds of time to see that we’re not in Texas. The very platforms that these people are using to type these rants and tirades … it would take them less time to find out we’re not that business than it would take for them to write the post.” He’s concerned about what the future holds for his business, which has been around since 1973 and spans four generations. “We’re just trying to survive,” said Alberti. “Being a florist is hard enough. We don’t have a high profit margin. We do it because we love it and love flowers. To already be suffering through COVID and add this on top of it, it’s stressful.” source srcset="https://s.hdnux.com/photos/01/16/13/46/20494742/3/700x0.jpg 1x, https://s.hdnux.com/photos/01/16/13/46/20... https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Beckys-Flowers-Roseville-mistaken-Capitol-rioter-15871654.php
Import ban to affect shipments to Hawaii florists - Honolulu Advertiser
Sunday, January 17, 2021HONOLULU ? Seeking to prevent introduction of a fungus that would threaten Hawaii's native ohia forests, the state Board of Agriculture has banned plant products from California, Florida and South America that could be disease hosts.The prohibition will primarily affect shipments to Hawaii florists, who rely on imported flowers and greenery in bouquets and floral displays.At Kihei-Wailea Flowers by Cora, Manager Thelma Garso said about 40 percent of their products used in displays may be affected by the ban.At the smaller A Special Touch shop in Lahaina, florist Leann Lum said she hoped she can purchase more of what she needs from local growers."I think local is always better anyway. It's always fresher," she told The Maui News.The order approved at a board meeting on Aug. 28 takes effect Friday on shipments of any plants of the Myrtaceae or Myrtle family, which includes eucalyptus and guava as well as ohia, which are endemic to Hawaii, and ohia-ai or mountain apple, which is Polynesian introduced.According to Department of Agriculture information officer Janelle Saneishi, the state Plant Quarantine Division has notified Hawaii florists that any Myrtaceae famil... http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2007/Sep/06/br/br8430721956.html
Water Mill Flowers Opens “Fort Lauderdale Flower Market” a Wholesale-to-the-Public Flower Market - PR Web
Wednesday, December 02, 2020Fort Lauderdale Flower Market is a local resource in all things floral and conveniently located just minutes from I-95 and the Florida Turnpike. The market is open 7 days a week helping customers discover the meaning of flowers and their arrangements. It is dedicated to providing the highest quality and variety of fresh-cut flowers at reasonable prices and commits to working one-on-one with customers to assists them with expressing and sharing their feelings of delight, beauty, hope, joy, gratitude, faith, and love.The Ft. Lauderdale Flower Market is the preferred source of fresh-cut flowers for brides-to-be. Specializing in DIY wedding flowers and on-site creation of unique wedding bouquets for brides, bridesmaids, ceremonies, and reception centerpieces. We invite our customers to bring in sample swatches of materials and colors to help determine the best flowers for their occasion.For more information about the Flower Market please call the shop at 954-340-3101, go online to http://www.fortlauderdaleflowermarket.com or check out their social media page at http://www.facebook.com/FortLauderdaleFlowerMarket and of course, stop by in person at 5600 NW 12th Ave #304-C Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309.The Signature Specials include:$14.15 Dozen Red Roses wrapped in a presentation-style bouquet with ribbons, with tax $15.00 (cash-n-carry, not for delivery)$23.58 Growers Pack of 25 Premium Long Stem roses, direct from the farms$5 Fridays, $5 off any single item Friday’s between 3pm-6pmCustom Floral Arrangements, Florist Designed Baskets & Gifts, Fruit Arrangements, Teddy Bears, Boxes of Chocolate and Truffles and Mylar Balloons and same-day-delivery are available from Water Mill Flowers next to the Fort Lauderdale Flower Market. Share article on social media or email:... https://www.prweb.com/releases/2015/09/prweb12984524.htm
Suits Star Abigail Spencer On Her Florist Side Hustle and Self-Care - The Kit
Wednesday, October 28, 2020I got a phone call from him saying, ‘Abby I’m having a heart attack. Call 911.’ Ten minutes later, he was gone. It radically changed my life. He’s buried in Gulf Breeze Florida, where I’m from, but he lives on in County Line for me; that’s where I go to visit him. I always wanted to do something to homage him and my surf background.I always say that I’m in the business of gratitude. I was sending flowers every single week. I found this old 1965 Volkswagen van, Betty, and met a young couple, Alyssa and her husband, Jordan. They had a little flower shop and they converted an old surf truck into a mobile flower shop. I asked if I could bring this to set and they said yes. So I would do flower shows on set for different departments, then culminating in bringing the truck to set. I thought about it and realized we don’t have this in Los Angeles. So, I started working with them and brought it out to the West Coast.County Line Florals is Valentine’s Day, birth, life, death and rebirth. It’s also the symbolism of what we do with our pain. We can invest in the soil and make something beautiful or it can destroy us. Flowers are a great symbol of that. One bad flower can ruin the whole bunch. I want people to buy flowers for themselves. When I think about my mission, it is an act of self-care.”How do you define self-care?“I feel like it’s expanding this year. I enjoyed the space to not travel and be at home. I don’t like all the things that come with the pandemic, but I think it’s been a great reset. I am a single mother, I have a 12-year-old son, and we needed that time together. He’s inside doing Zoom school and I love it. I just love that I can go in, kiss and hug him, and tell him how much I love him in the middle of the day. There’s a sweet quality to it.My joke is that I have extreme apocalypse optimism, but I feel the collective grief. We need deep change, it’s overwhelming and it’s clear. I want to give and commit my life to things that are part of the change and not part of the problem. I feel this deep personal optimism and sometimes I can’t explain it, but I think what has given me that is just a lot of space. If I were to whittle it down, self-care is a space. Giving myself that space and listening to my intuitive knowing, and then being able to bravely tiptoe forward from there. Sometimes space is getting under the covers and not getting out of bed.”You’re working with the Montreal glasses brand BonLook. Why did you name the sunglasses collection Betty?“Betty is a term from the ’50s and ’60s. When BonLook asked me to name the sunglasses collection, I remember I was dragging Betty around all day and thought, what about the Betty BonLook, the Betty Collection?In surf slang, Betty means a beautiful woman. I love that, and I think that’s so appropriate for the collection. They’re classic and feminine frames. It’s also about feminizing all of these spaces like the 1965 Volkswagen, wh... https://thekit.ca/life/celebrity-life/abigail-spencer-suits-county-line-florals/