Local Flower Shop News
'It's up in the air': Louisville-area florists hustle ahead of a pandemic Valentine's Day - Courier Journal
Wednesday, March 31, 2021LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Valentine's Day hustle at Susan's Florist gets started well before the calendar turns to February.Myriad roses need to be ordered for the storefront at 2731 Preston Highway. Grids have to be taped on top of colorful vases to hold up flowers during transportation. And, of course, flowers must be arranged in said vases for the special occasion.And though this year's Valentine Day is anomalous for multiple reasons — it's on a Sunday, a non-workday for many, and in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic — the 73-year-old flower shop is ready to do what it has done for nearly a year now: stay nimble and make special deliveries for its many customers.But like other holidays, COVID-19 continues to throw a wrench in everyone's plans."We really don't know what to expect," said Jessie Smith, lead designer for Susan's Florist. "We're just kind of rolling with the punches."As with businesses nationwide, the deadly coronavirus pandemic has impacted Louisville-area florists. On one hand, workers now suddenly... https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/local/2021/02/11/valentines-day-2021-louisville-area-florists-hustle-amid-pandemic/4435860001/
Bloomin’ good: Clinton florist business is awards finalist - 100 Mile House Free Press
Wednesday, March 31, 2021I’m still trying to make heads or tails out of it. I’ve never been very good at honouring myself, but I’m very proud, and very thankful, to whoever nominated me.”Lawrence began working at a florist shop in Prince Rupert when she was 14, and continued until she went off to college for theatre school. At that point, she put flowers aside, but found they kept coming back to her: “I did my own wedding flowers, and flowers for friends.” Finally, at her mother’s encouragement, she decided to go for it, and Bubbles’ Blossom Design was born in time for Mother’s Day 2018.When Lawrence and her husband Jordan moved to Clinton in October 2016, she realized a florist shop was something the area needed.“At first I thought I’d research it for a couple of years, see how it goes, see how much interest there was, but then I decided just to jump in and do it. If an opportunity comes along you jump in with both feet.”READ MORE: Clinton hires new Chief Administrative OfficerShe says that the overhead was low: “I bought a used cooler and a couple of buckets, so it was an easy thing to do.” Until recently she worked out of her kitchen and dining-room, but last year an extension was added to the back of their house at the corner of Dewdney Avenue and Cariboo Highway for a small storefront.Lawrence nearly sold out of flowers that first Mother’s Day, and she says that the support from the community has been incredible. “It was a great initial reception, and I have the best customers. It was all by word of mouth and Facebook.”The business has since expanded beyond Clinton, with Lawrence delivering orders to Cache Creek and Ashcroft.“My end goal is to have ... https://www.100milefreepress.net/news/bloomin-good-clinton-florist-business-is-awards-finalist/
Valley Florist in E. Templeton receives $10K in startup money - Worcester Business Journal
Wednesday, March 31, 2021Valley Florist and Greenhouse in East Templeton has received a $10,000 small business loan from the North Central Massachusetts Development Corp., the Fitchburg organization announced Friday.Brendan Loughman, owner of the company, received the loan, with funds earmarked for startup costs and inventory.Loughman has an advanced certification in floral design, as well as years of experience as a floral designer, according to a NCMDC press release. NCMDC, the economic development arm of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce, is a microloan lender which can provide loans to small businesses up to $150,000.Loughman was referred to NCMDC by the Massachusetts Small Business Development Center at Clark University in Worcester. https://www.wbjournal.com/article/valley-florist-in-e-templeton-receives-10k-in-startup-money
N.J. communities mourn those lost to COVID-19 with flowers and memories - NJ.com
Wednesday, March 31, 2021Passaic EMT.At each location, including a Passaic fire station and Anthony E. Russo Park in Union, family and friends eulogized their loved ones and laid a flower for them, said Amanda Elisca, the florist who coordinated the events across the state.The effort is part of the Floral Hearts Project, a nationwide initiative pushing for an official national day of morning for those lost to COVID-19, said Elisca. As of Tuesday morning, there were more than 100 hearts laid out across the country, she said.But for Elisca, the push to bring the memorial to New Jersey was more personal. Her father, Cesar Perez, an EMS supervisor in Passaic, was a mentor and longtime friend of Israel “Izzy” Tolentino, the Passaic firefighter who died last March from the coronavirus, and a friend of Kevin Levia, an EMT in Passaic who also died from the virus.The day of mourning was for those who were left behind, missing their loved ones and in need of a way to express their grief a year later, she said.“These people don’t have anyone to reach out to,” said Elisca. “Usually if you lost someone you can get a hug from a friend. And we can’t do that now. Even a year into the pandemic, it’s even more important for us to reach out to people and to do these types of things.”In Passaic, mourners gathered at the West Side Fire Station, remembering Tolentino and Levia. Both Perez and Tolentino’s wife, Maria Vazquez, were at the event, with Vazquez laying flowers for her husband and Perez in full uniform remembering his friend he’d call, “Nudge.”“It was very, very emotional at the firehouse,” said Perez. “There had to be 100-something people.”In Union, mourners gathered at Anthony E. Russo Park,... https://www.nj.com/coronavirus/2021/03/nj-communities-mourn-those-lost-to-covid-19-with-flowers-and-memories.html
After the shooting, a boy gave flowers to workers at King Soopers stores near the attack - The Washington Post
Wednesday, March 31, 2021He purchased dozens of carnations in a variety of bright colors and paid for them with money he earned from dog-walking. When JJ told the florist his plan to give a flower to every store employee, she offered him a generous discount.That’s when he turned to his mother and excitedly said, “kindness is spreading!” Witmer recalled.They did several laps around the supermarket and handed out one flower to every employee. With each flower, JJ shared an earnest message.“We just wanted to let you know you’re appreciated. Thank you for being here today. It must be hard,” he said to each employee.“At first, I was a little bit timid because I wasn’t sure how they would react,” JJ said.But then he saw that employees instantly responded with overwhelming gratitude.“They were really thankful. Lots of them were crying and giving me first bumps and air hugs,” JJ said. “It made me feel so good. I was filled with joy and happiness.”While chatting with the store employees, “they said they were kind of scared to go do their job,” JJ added. “I think we made the right decision because it made a lot of people feel good.”Although Witmer followed closely behind her son, “I just stood in the background and let him do his thing,” she said. “This was his idea, and I was just there to support him.”After about 45 minutes in the store, they moved on to another King Soopers location in Reunion, a community in Commerce City, which is where the Witmer family usually gets their groceries.“We know most of the employees there,” JJ said.He purchased three dozen red roses that the store’s florist also offered at a heavily discounted price. Again, he circled the supermarket, handing out flowers to every employee in sight.“He even waited for a staff meeting to end so he wouldn’t miss anybody,” Witmer said.Marsha Esparza-Barnabe, 58, who works in the pharmacy at the Commerce City King Soopers, was surprised when JJ approached her with a rose.The atmosphere in the store was “very somber,” she said. “Everybody was talking about [the shooting], and it was just very sad. It could have been our store.”Then JJ appeared, rose in hand.The small gesture of kindness was so overwhelming, Esparza-Barnabe said, that “I actually turned and walked to the back and cried.”Not far away, in the baking aisle of the supermarket, Zerelda Todd — a King Soopers employee of 46 years — was on her knees, stocking the shelves with tubes of frosting.“All of a sudden, I heard this quiet voice go ‘Ma’am,' ” Todd, 64, said. ... https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2021/03/25/king-soopers-shooting-flowers-colorado/
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