Blackstone, MA Florists

Blackstone Flower Shop News

New business: Six stores opening up in Fresno & Clovis CA - Fresno Bee

This is the company’s second store, the first one is at 5412 N. Blackstone Ave. in Fresno. The comic book and board game seller recently moved its Clovis store at Sierra Vista Mall to a larger space in the Bonanza Center. The new space allows them to stay open longer to accommodate more board game players and they have more room to stock new stuff. There is also an entire wall devoted to the popular vinyl figures made by Funko. “People can’t get enough of these,” said Darrick Oyama, one of Legends’ owners. “They aren’t too expensive and they are fun to collect.” Along with carrying collectibles, the new store also sells new and vintage video games, graphic T-shirts, card games, model kits, and hundreds of comic books. They also have room for up to 40 board game players. Oyama allows players to come in with their own board games or they can try out a new one from the store’s game board shelf. And don’t be surprised if you see a line of people outside the store on Wednesday mornings. That’s the day comic book companies issue their new releases. The store opens extra early at 9 a.m. to handle the rush. Legends’ new store is located at 1752 Clovis Ave. (559) 207-3659. Jorge Flores poses with a popular flower arrangement that displays roses in a... https://www.fresnobee.com/living/food-drink/bethany-clough/article226272515.html

Worcester florist readies for FTD America's Cup - Worcester Mag

Ecuadorian greenhouse, is located in Quinsigamond Village. It was built in the 1870s to accommodate Swedish immigrants destined for careers in Worcester’s wire manufacturing industry. Today, 19 Blackstone River Road is inhabited by one of America’s most distinguished floral design competitors: Sally Jablonski. Jablonski lives above the fragrant oasis of Herbert E. Berg Florist Inc., which has operated in the space for the last 83 years. Berg, who excelled as an agriculture student at North High School in his adolescence, sold the shop to Jablonski 23 years ago, just as she was making a name for herself as a fierce competitor in the country’s most prestigious floral design circuit. In 1989, she was a contender at the FTD World Competition in Tokyo, and in 1996 she competed at what she imagined would be her final FTD America’s Cup. The ’90s marked a pivotal time in the flower industry as online business disrupted the market. The Economist reports that between 1992-2014, the number of florist shops in America fell from 27,000 to 15,000. But flowers are timelessly extravagant, heart-stirring and sophisticated, and florists willing to evolve persisted with ease. Herbert E. Berg Florist Inc. was no exception. Jablonski’s selection as a competitor in the 2018 FTD America’s Cup in July marks her reentry into the...

Mark Cullen: Six favourite plants to attract butterflies - Ottawa Citizen

Get his free monthly newsletter at markcullen.com. Look for his new book, The New Canadian Garden published by Dundurn Press. Follow him on Twitter @MarkCullen4 and Facebook.Blackstone home built for New Home Buyer's Guide sells to young familyDownsizer recalls the move from family home to condoAdvice from Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation and movers Two Men and a Truck... http://ottawacitizen.com/life/homes/gardening/mark-cullen-six-favourite-plants-to-attract-butterflies

East Africa: Ethiopia Wins Big As Cement, Flower, Shoe Firms Set Up Shop - AllAfrica.com

By Allan OlingoEthiopia is using a range of incentives to woo investors to the country. Already, US private equity groups KKR and Blackstone have announced their interest in the country's infrastructure and floriculture sectors.Dangote Cement has set up shop in the country too and one of India's largest paint-makers, Asian Paints, has entered the market through the acquisition of a local manufacturer last year. Unilever is building a factory there too, while Chinese shoemaker Huajian Group set up shop in the country four years ago.Ethiopia offers investors in the horticulture sector Customs duty exemptions of up to 100 per cent on imports of capital goods for eligible areas of investment; income tax exemptions for up to nine years; a duty drawback scheme and loss carry forward for businesses that suffer losses during the income tax exemption period for half of the tax exemption period. This has seen several Kenyan-based flower firm diversify their operations into Ethiopia.Fitsum Arega, head of Ethiopia's investment agency, said they expect the country's FDI to increase by at least 20 per cent from last year, with... http://allafrica.com/stories/201609190463.html

Life is beautiful with houseplants, according to Queen of Green - Ottawa Citizen

The Indestructible Houseplant: 200 Beautiful, Easy-care Plants that Everyone can grow, by Tovah Martin (Timber Press, 2015). $30.95 at Amazon.caAilsa Francis blogs at hortus2.wordpress.comBlackstone home built for New Home Buyer's Guide sells to young familyDownsizer recalls the move from family home to condoAdvice from Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation and movers Two Men and a Truck... http://ottawacitizen.com/life/homes/gardening/life-is-beautiful-with-houseplants-according-to-queen-of-green

Florists wilt under COVID-19's impact, losing Easter and Mother's Day would be devastating - yoursun.com

Linda Stevens, a fourth-generation florist and owner of Stevens the Florist South in Englewood.Her great-grandfather, Charles Stevens, first opened a florist shop in Plymouth, Massachusetts, and the family had wholesale greenhouses as the business flowered. But COVID-19 and new state rules have forced closure of her Englewood shop at 3455 S. Access Road. She delivers or takes orders off the web or from regulars that include Keith Rowley of Rowley Insurance in Englewood. On Wednesday he had purchased flower arrangements for his staff, all isolating at home to show support.“Just trying to help others and keep our town strong,” Rowley said.Pushed on what may happen to her shop, Stevens choked back tears.“We’re taking every precaution,” she adds of keeping everyone safe through COVID-19’s run.But not just florists are suffering through COVID-19, of course. For the public’s safety, retail, bar and restaurant owners deemed non-essential are being told to close their shops or limit their services to take-out or delivery. The American economy is being devastated, losing billions in sales and value in March alone.Aside from the loss of life and millions of laid-off workers, COVID-19’s impact on business is unprecedented.But even as U.S. flower sales wilt as supermarkets and web services elbow into the trade, independent florists still account for $7 billion in annual sales. There are more than 32,000 related businesses employing 75,000 or so workers.It’s estimated that Americans alone will purchase 110 million roses in a normal year, three-quarters of them by men. Wholesale fresh-cut flowers and plants account for billions more in revenue.And while hurricanes and other natural events damage florists, COVID-19 is especially hurtful, as it closes off weeks of sales and the places to which flowers, arrangements and things related to the business go.At the 1-800-Flowers in Port Charlotte shop, for instance, March 2019 sales blossomed. Should COVID-19 keep its pace and the country remain tucked away in isolation, however, this season could be devastating, said Vanessa Carusone, the shop’s manager and a North Port city commissioner.“Probably looking at one-third of last year,” she said of 2020’s predicted sales for March and April, should trends continue. “The odds are stacked against us.”Easter and Mother’s Day, she added “are our bread and butter.”COVID-19 has also changed delivery rules... https://www.yoursun.com/northport/news/florists-wilt-under-covid-19s-impact-losing-easter-and-mothers-day-would-be-devastating/article_2e88771e-75de-11ea-a009-0b875913d327.html

Fitchburg’s Cauley’s Florist and Garden Center is partnering with Operation Service to provide free trees to vets - Sentinel & Enterprise

Spot, and with the addition of Cauley’s we hope to take some pressure of the Leominster location,” Firmani said.Firmani said they provided an additional 100 trees last year with the support of the Massachusetts VFW Foundation and the Boston Bruins Foundation.“We delivered those trees to Fort Devens for families that could not make it out this way,” he said.Firmani said the pandemic was part of the inspiration behind adding another Trees for Soldiers location.“With COVID-19 affecting all of our day to day decisions the timing to reach out and add a new site seemed right,” he said. “We wanted provide people with another option to promote social distancing and still continue the growth of the program.”Firmani said Cauley’s is an ideal location because it already has the infrastructure in place to handle the additional trees inventory and it has a similar set up to The Gardner’s Spot.“Not only can U.S. service men and women go and get their tree at no charge as a thank you from Operation Service and their community for their service and sacrifice, but they can also shop for flowers, wreaths, garland, all in one place,” he said.Cauley’s does have ties to the military. Bob Cauley opened the first greenhouse in 1966 on Lancaster Street in Leominster after he retired from the Army. He was stationed at Fort Devens. His son Bill Cauley purchased the business from his parents and built the current location in the early 1990s. Landry, Bill’s nephew and Bob’s grandson, has worked there since 2001. Francine Bergeron is the florist manager.Landry said they enjoy interacting with community members and various groups and organizations at the garden center.“Whether it’s people shopping  for their home gardens, churches decorating for the holidays, schools doing fundraisers or the Friends of the Leominster Library doing their annual poinsettia sale, we are here to help in whatever ways we can,” Landry said. “That said, an annual event like Trees for Soldiers simply doesn’t happen without somebody like Joe and the folks at Operation Service doing the hard work and having a big idea. When somebody like Joe tells you that this program can become even bigger and better, and that he thinks you can help, it’s an absolute no-brainer – you want to get involved.”Landry said Cauley’s has remained busy throughout the pandemic, beginning in the spring with people “stuck at home” looking to start their first vegetable garden, decorate their new home office with plants, clean up their landscaping, “or simply just adding some colorful flowers to have a nicer staycation.”“Those trends have continued through the year and now that the holidays are here we are doing everything we can to provide our customers the seasonal products they come to us for, and help them have as happy and normal a holiday season as they can,” Landry said.Christmas trees arrived at both Cauley’s and The Gardner’s spot last week. Veterans and military mem... https://www.sentinelandenterprise.com/2020/12/02/fitchburgs-cauleys-florist-and-garden-center-is-partnering-with-operation-service-to-provide-free-trees-to-vets/

ROUNDUP: JP Parker Flowers vacates Indy store, adds retail truck - Indianapolis Business Journal

Parker said. “It’s a very fun, trendy thing to do right now.”In other news this week:— Fast-casual seafood chain Slapfish opens Monday at 345 Massachusetts Ave. The restaurant takes the space formerly occupied by Louie’s Wine Dive, which closed in March.Franchisees are long-time friends Mark Weghorst and Nick Smith. Weghorst opened the area’s first Slapfish location in July 2019, inside the Broccoli Bill’s grocery store that his father, Bill Weghorst, owns in Noblesville.California-based Slapfish offers a mostly seafood-focused menu, with an emphasis on sustainably sourced fish. Menu items include fish tacos, burritos, grilled fish bowls and other items, including a children’s menu. The chain is based in the Los Angeles suburb of Fountain Valley and has about 20 locations in several U.S. states, plus England.— Fast-casual Indian restaurant Tandoor & Tikka has opened its third Indianapolis store, and its fourth overall, at 5650 W. 86th St. The restaurant’s grand opening was June 26.It opened in Indianapolis in June 2018 at 805 W. 10th St. near IUPUI, followed by a Castleton location in 2019. Tandoor & Tikka also has a location in Bloomington.— The culinary establishment Studio C, 1051 E. 54th St., has discontinued its coffee service though it is continuing with its other lines of business. Local chef Greg Hardesty opened Studio C in 2019 as a place for a variety of food-oriented offerings based on market demand. The business’ offerings include carry-out meals, private dining and a wine club.— Peppy Grill opened June 19 at 910 W. 10th St. in The Avenue, a mixed-use development near the IUPUI campus. The restaurant is in the spot formerly occupied by Madd Greeks Mediterranean Grille, which closed in March after 3-1/2 years.The new Peppy Grill is associated with the Peppy Grill at 1004 Virginia Ave. in Fountain Square—it is not affiliated with Burt’s Peppy Grill at 3401 E. 10th St.— The Fudge Kettle plans to open its first brick-and-mortar retail space... https://www.ibj.com/blogs/property-lines/roundup-jp-parker-flowers-vacates-indy-store-adds-retail-truck

On Mother’s Day, Mass. Florists Struggle to Meet Demand - nbcboston.com

Florists in Massachusetts struggled to meet the demand for flowers this weekend as families observed Mother's Day, Sunday. Many florists stopped taking orders for Mother’s Day after selling out. Central Square Florist in Cambridge was one of the few still taking orders and delivering.Herbert Berg Florist in Worcester said demand was too high because they are short staffed and have a limited supply. "When we all closed up the beginning of March and April, nobody was buying flowers so the suppliers had nowhere to sell them to," said Sally Jablonski, owner of Herbert Berg Florist. "They were just dumping all the flowers."Gov. Charlie Baker allowed florists and some other non-essential businesses to open — on a remote basis — in time for Mother’s Day, but some business owners said it wasn’t enough time to prepare.Some businesses, however, got creative to make the day special. Monument Restaurant in Charlestown partnered with a local florist, Junebug, to create dozens of pre-ordered breakfas... https://www.nbcboston.com/news/local/businesses-adjust-to-mothers-day-during-pandemic/2121803/