Astoria Flower Shop News
Palmer Florist Persists Despite No Easter Church | Joliet, IL Patch - Joliet, IL Patch
Sunday, February 28, 2021Joliet Patch's growing list of open and closed businesses, you can do so here. Paul Palmer, owner of Palmer Florist in Joliet. Image via John Ferak/Patch Related: Illinois Coronavirus Update April 9: 462 Deaths Feed A First Responder Becomes Hit For Jody's Hot Dogs Kafe De Kasa Back In Business Thanks To Window Joliet's Dan's Homemade Candies Still Going Strong... https://patch.com/illinois/joliet/palmer-florist-persists-despite-no-easter-church
Sugar Flower owner creates intricate cake designs in backyard of her Cedar Rapids home - The Gazette
Wednesday, December 02, 2020I was dabbling in both things — design and food.”After operating her own cafe for three years, Smith earned a degree in graphic design from Southern Illinois University in 2007. She and her husband, Loughton Smith, moved to Cedar Rapids in 2011 and she began working at the Hotel at Kirkwood Center, operated by Kirkwood Community College’s hospitality management program, in 2013.“They wanted me to work with edible flowers, and I’d never worked with the stuff before,” she recalled. “It just kind of fell into my lap, and I just started helping the pastry chefs with wedding cakes.”Smith became an adjunct instructor — “basic, advanced and wedding cake classes” — in Kirkwood’s baking program, where her husband is an instructor. She started thinking about starting her own business about three years ago.“I just decided I wanted to steer my own course,” Smith said. “I thought, ‘Well, I’ve got my studio here and I can make it into a little cake boutique.’”Sugar Flower launched in late 2019. Smith continued teaching but stopped working regularly in the hotel kitchen. The studio is a small building in Smith’s backyard. It may have been built as a hobbyist’s workshop or children’s playhouse, but it has stainless steel countertops, plumbing, electricity, and ample natural light.Smith bakes Sugar Flower cakes in her home’s kitchen, then takes them to the studio for assembly and detailing.Working out of her home means low overhead costs at the expense of some convenience and efficiency.“I have to do certain things in one p... https://www.thegazette.com/subject/news/business/sugar-flower-cakes-cedar-rapids-jennifer-smith-20201113
Chicago Florist Delivers Free Pandemic Pick-Me-Ups - WTTW News
Wednesday, October 28, 2020There haven’t been many special events since mid-March – even before the statewide stay-at-home order took effect – when, in an early attempt to prevent spread of the coronavirus, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker put the kibosh on gatherings of 50 or more people.“I had a bunch of St. Patrick’s Day events coming up. Within that week they were all canceled. And within a matter of days the event industry laid flat. Everything was canceled. The entire (special events) industry was at a standstill,” she said. “I would say 95% of my business was done with or forfeited within a matter of days … I didn’t even think something like that was possible. It was like a dream, one long day, because the days blend into each other, you know?”Since then, Breslof pivoted, from special events to special deliveries.She created a gender-reveal arrangement (in pink) to expecting parents.She delivered flowers to a bride who postponed her wedding, sent from the woman’s bridal party.“She said ‘This is the best thing that was ever given to me – other than my ring of course.’ And I was a part of that … when I hear feedback like that, I cry,” Breslof said.And it felt good when – for the first time in weeks – she crafted a bouquet for a bride who went through with an early May wedding on its long-scheduled date.Ananda Zoe Breslof and her 21-month-old daughter. (Courtesy Ananda Zoe Breslof)Then there’s the arrangements sent to bereaving relatives.Breslof said she doesn’t ask customers questions about the circumstances, though a couple have shared with her that she’ll be delivering flowers to someone who lost a loved one to COVID-19.“I’m hearing stories … I hear the way,” she said.Sometimes the stories are more tender than they are sad.“I’m getting people who are ordering flowers for friends who are having a difficult time with this, birthdays they can’t really celebrate. People who just really want – they’re stuck inside now – they want something pretty to look at,” she said. “It’s nature, isn’t it? Being in nature elevates your mood exponentially. Flowers provide that.”Some flowers have gone to people who never ordered or paid for them.Breslof, who has been using Facebook to promote her business, has also been using social media to solicit requests for health care workers, volunteers and lonely hearts deserving of a free floral pick-me-up.“I’ve been doing … several free bouquets as a thank you,” she said.People can nominate anyone who they think could use flowers to “cheer them up a bit.”Deliveries have gone out to an ER nurse whose husband is an ER doctor, a team at Northwestern Memori... https://news.wttw.com/2020/05/09/chicago-florist-delivers-free-pandemic-pick-me-ups
Josh Bilicki, Rich Mar Florist and Lemons of Love Bring Cancer Awareness to the Roval - Kickin' the Tires
Wednesday, October 28, 2020Now today, Lemons of Love shares chemo care packages with cancer patients around the world and also provides programming at its Lemons of Love Cancer Resource Center located in Mt. Prospect, Illinois.This weekend at the @CLTMotorSpdwy Roval, we’re partnering with @LemonsOfLove14 and @RichMarFlorist to bring breast cancer awareness to the forefront. We’ll be running this beautiful #51 Ford Mustang in Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race. Learn more ????https://t.co/eU9QgRUygR pic.twitter.com/v1VLnmxBHg— Josh Bilicki (@joshbilicki) October 6, 2020This weekend, Rich Mar Florist will adorn the hood of Bilicki’s No. 51 Ford Mustang as a co-primary sponsor. The company isn’t new to NASCAR as a sponsor or tracks in general as the florist company is now a proud track partner of both Pocono Raceway and Dover International Speedway.“Josh and I have worked on small sponsorships these past two seasons, I am honored to finally have a primary sponsorship with him,” said Jonathan Morrissey, Vice President of Rich Mar Florist. “Cancer awareness is near and dear to our family, so I want to thank Josh and Rick Ware Racing for embracing it. Josh is a great road course driver, and I am very excited to see the results this weekend.”This Sunday’s Bank of America Roval 400 will be Bilicki’s 18th start in the NASCAR Cup Series in 2020 as he also will also have partners The Builders Outlet Super Store (BOSS), Custom Fiberglass Molding, Insurance King, and Fort Worth Screen Printing on board.In 18 NCS starts this season, Bilicki has a best finish of 25th twice coming at both Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Kansas Speedway.The Bank of America Roval 400 NASCAR Cup Series race will take place on Sunday, October 11th at 2:30PM ET. It will be televised on NBC.?????? pic.twitter.com/6JAfZs8YFQ— Josh Bilicki (@joshbilicki) October 7, 2020Photo Credit: Josh Bilicki Racing... https://kickinthetires.net/nascar/josh-bilicki-rich-mar-florist-and-lemons-of-love-bring-cancer-awareness-to-the-roval/
