Local Dog wants to Model with our Flowers

In the past, I mentioned we have partnered with the +The Humane Society of the United States, specifically in Atlantic County. We will donate a portion of the proceeds for every "Puppy Love" we sell until December 31, 2014 to help benefit +Cats and +Dogs in our area. With almost three months to go until our deadline, we have an interesting story. A local dog has expressed an extreme interest in wanting to model with our Puppy Loves. Sandy, a 5 year old +Golden Retriever from Somers Point, NJ, loves the idea of the fundraiser and wants to help out in any way she can. So, we agreed to set up a modeling shoot and here are just 2 out of the hundreds of photos we snapped of Sandy. She is really picky with what we can and cannot post online... models.

Our Fundraising Efforts in Action! Thank You.

The Humane Society of Atlantic County and South Jersey Florist working together for a common goal.

Picture originally from 1800Flowers.com

Facebook Success

Hello All,
Short news update on the status of our Facebook Page. Thanks to all our customer's support and friend's "Likes,"  we recently hit 900 Likes on Facebook. That is 900 individual people who have all deemed South Jersey Florist as desirable by their personal standards. That fact blows my mind sometimes. Thank you for that support everyone!!! The second big update is we now offer the ability to order products through our Facebook page. We partnered with BloomNation.com and Facebook to bring you some of our most unique pieces and products. This partnership is still new, so we only have about a dozen products listed, but more are coming all the time. Keep and eye out for the latest and best floral arrangements our designer's can make. 

Once more, thank you for the support your Likes.
~South Jersey Florist

Let The Stars Be Your Guide For A Floral Birthday Gift

Everyone has been here: wondering what to get a woman for her birthday gift and having no idea. Everything seems so impersonal and cliché. You don’t know what size to buy, where to shop, or even what she really wants. Gift certificates, candles, and most everything else seem impersonal, and you want it to be special. Then it hits you. Send flowers! Perfect! You can make it more unique by matching the flowers to her astrological sign.

Flowers mean a woman is extraordinary. They are not practical, nor are they functional. However, that’s the charm. They serve one purpose: to tell a woman she is important to you. They are gorgeous, smell amazing, and are sure to make her smile. Isn’t that the entire idea?

Tulips Great For Aries To take the gesture of sending flowers and really make it exceptional, match the flowers to her zodiac sign. Imagine her face when she learns the birthday flowers you sent were designed specially for her. Grandmothers, mothers, girlfriends, or whomever she may be, when her birthday rolls around it’s time to invest in something that will express how much she means to you. By matching the flowers to her sign, you can turn this one-size-fits-all gift into something spectacular! So, what’s her sign?

Aries are passionate ladies born between March 21 and April 19. They are traditionally adventurous, confident, and enthusiastic. Red roses are the perfect flower for an Aries, as are tulips. These vibrant flowers are sure to please such a vivacious woman! Send a classic arrangement of only red roses or mix it up by adding white tulips for a more romantic gesture. You can also match tulips to an endless list of other flowers, such as Stargazer lilies, for a cheerful, friendly display on her birthday.

If your birthday girl was born between April 20 and May 20, she’s a Taurus who are typically patient, conventional, and warmhearted. To really impress her, give her a bouquet including lilac, sweet pea, or Lily of the Valley.

Delicate, sweet-smelling flowers like these will tell this home-lover you truly understand and treasure her. Fragrant lily of the valley would go well with gently hued blooms that don’t overpower it and creating a visually appealing and fragrant bouquet. It has a small, light bloom, much like sweat pea and lilac. Combining it with more considerable blooms, like roses or calla lilies, allow them to be noticed while creating a bouquet worthy of this loving lady.

Gemini’s were born between May 21 and June 21. They are talkative, intellectual, and eloquent. Goldenrod is ideal for this witty woman! Goldenrod is a versatile flower with a deep, saturated yellow orange hue. It can be paired with stargazer lilies for a bright, festive arrangement or with other autumnal colors for a monochromatic look. Either way, the beautiful goldenrod is a welcome addition to a birthday arrangement for a Gemini!

Iris, hydrangea, Queen Anne’s lace, or ferns would make a perfect gift for a Cancer, whose birthday falls between June 22 and July 22. Cancers are traditionally loving, imaginative, and intuitive. Ferns are a hardy and practical plant that requires little maintenance and will add flair to any room or office. Queen Anne’s lace is a light, feathery flower that is paired beautifully with white roses for an understated, elegant look that will not go unnoticed by a sensitive Cancer.

Leo's Love Sunflowers The sign of the Lion, or Leo, are people who are typically extroverted, creative, and generous. Their birthdays are between July 23 and August 22. Great ideas for flowers would be carnations, peonies, or anthuriums. Brightly hued blooms will suit this larger-than-life woman perfectly!

Virgos were born between August 23 and September 22. They tend to be practical, modest, and meticulous. Flowers that compliment a Virgo are St. John’s Wart, chrysanthemum, and violet. These subtle blooms will complement the aesthetic of an unfussy Virgo.

Libras are romantics whose birthdays lie between September 23 and October 22. They are traditionally social and charming. Orchids, gardenias, and tuberose are just the thing to please an elegant Libra on her birthday. For example, orchids are a stunning stand-alone flower that can be potted and enjoyed for years, or it is easily incorporated into arrangements due to its simple, yet striking bloom. Also, tuberose and gardenias are lovely choices that will speak to the romantic side of a Libra!

The sign of the Scorpio is classically determined, sensual, and passionate. Their birthdays lie between October 23 and November 21. If your special woman were a Scorpio, a bouquet including hibiscus or peony would surely do the trick! Hibiscus and gerbera daisies have dazzling blooms that ideally reflect the passion of a Scorpio!

If her birthday is between November 22 and December 21 she is a Sagittarius. Straightforward and optimistic, she is a playful individual who is also good-humored and honest. Carnations, foxtail lilies, and blazing stars (liatris) would make an ideal gift! Unique and lively blooms such as these would certainly bring cheer to an already good-natured Sagittarius!

Capricorns were born between December 22 and January 19. Capricorns are usually traditional, practical, and ambitious. Flowers that match the sign of the goat are jasmine, snowdrop, and African violet. These unexpected flowers will surely surprise her and make her day! However, they are also fairly low-key blooms. It would be a good idea to mix them with more eye-catching flowers to complete the arrangement.

Aquarius Arrangement Independent Aquarius’s birthday falls between January 20 and February 18. They are forward-thinkers who are honest, loyal, and unconventional. Flowers such as the stargazer lily or bird of paradise will definitely please this quirky gal! The Stargazer and the Bird of Paradise are both famous for their striking blooms, much like the Aquarius is for her personality!

Pisces are creative, compassionate, and intuitive. Their birthdays are between February 19 and March 20. Jasmine, lilacs, and Madonna lilies are great ideas to include in a birthday bouquet for this unworldly individual. These unpretentious flowers will suit a Piscean who will appreciate them for their subtle splendor.

Valentine’s Day Aftermath: Don’t Give Up After a Bad Bouquet

This Article was written By Gina B. Kellogg and found in the Florist Chronicles Blog.

Chances are, if you received a gift for Valentine’s Day, you received flowers. After all, statistics for 2011 showed that 40 percent of all purchases were for fresh flowers. And chances are, the blossoms you received brought a smile to your face for many days after their arrival. But for a few recipients, the only emotion they received from their gift was disappointment — from the moment their blossoms arrived.

Traditional Red Rose Valentine's Bouquet

Unfortunately, many givers this past Valentine’s Day (as in holidays past) didn’t understand the importance of buying flowers from a local florist. Instead, they saw and heard ads on TV and the radio. They noticed banner advertisements alongside their Facebook profiles. And they called or clicked and ordered.

Flowers for Sale From Faraway

Most of the ads in the national media were for companies known in the florist industry as “order-gatherers” or “wire services”. In other words, they are not florists. They are simply companies that take orders. These companies hire thousands of individuals sitting in cubicles all over the globe to accept and handle these orders.

Once they process your credit-card number, these companies begin contacting florists near the recipient’s home to try and fulfill the order. In handling the transaction, these businesses either add a fee to the cost of the original bouquet, increasing the price substantially over what a local florist probably would have charged for the same arrangement. Or the company offers to pay the florist a low-ball fee to create and deliver the bouquet — often at such a reduced rate that the florist makes little to no profit if he or she accepts the order. As a result, many reputable florists simply say no to such requests. However, some florists do accept these orders, and because those florists receive such a decreased reimbursement for the bouquet, they may include fewer and less expensive flowers than the giver originally ordered.

The resulting floral arrangement often looks nothing like the original design ordered.

Flower Blossoms in a Box

Then there are the companies who advertise prolifically with images of gorgeous, bountiful bouquets in stylish vases overflowing with massive blooms. It’s only in the fine print that the purchaser may discover that these bouquets are sent in a box, without a vase, without water, without cold packs and without any of the other tools that a reputable firm uses to prolong the life of fresh-cut flowers. Recipients simply receive a box of flowers — often drooping, wilted, broken and faded.

Pink Rose

Flowers, Failure and Facebook

This Valentine’s Day was no different. Well, actually, it was different in that it was worse. It turns out that at least one of the major order-gathering firms, ProFlowers, was accused of allegedly sabotaging small local floral shops by placing ads on Google that proclaimed the retailers were “sold out for Valentine’s Day” when online shoppers went searching for local florists. Thus, consumers who might have used local brick-and-mortar stores ended up turning to the online order gatherers because they believed they had no other option for their last-minute orders.

Rose and Ribbon Heart

On Valentine’s Day and the days after, the Facebook pages of some of the biggest floral advertisers in the world blew up with messages of disgust, regret and disappointment. Many of the people posting comments vowed they would never buy from those companies ever, ever again.

Unfortunately, many of them may also decide never to buy flowers ever again — from that company or any other. And that’s a crying shame. Because respectable, trustworthy, honest and talented florists all over the world will never be able to prove to those people that sending flowers doesn’t have to end with a recipient embarrassed to show off the otherwise thoughtful gift their loved ones went to the time and expense to send them. And those people will never experience the long-lasting value of buying quality flowers from a florist who doesn’t lower his or her standards to deliver a subpar product.

The Ease of Becoming a Floral Connoisseur

It’s a lesson you don’t have to learn if you buy your flowers from a florist with whom you’ve developed a trusting relationship. Even if you want to send flowers to some other city, you can find reliable, responsible florists you can call to create your bouquet. One of the easiest ways is viawww.Yelp.com or a similar site that offers consumer reviews. Simply search for a florist in the city in which you want flowers delivered. Another option, especially if you need to send sympathy flowers, is to find the name of a nearby funeral company and ask its director what florist he or she can recommend.

Stacked Red Roses

Reputable florists are in abundance, but most are independent businesses without the high-dollar marketing budgets to advertise on TV, radio or the web. So, the next time you see those expensive, ubiquitous ads, see them as a reminder that flowers are a lovely, thoughtful and appreciated gift. Then call or visit a local florist to discuss a custom-prepared bouquet that will perfectly fit your budget and reflect the recipient’s personality.

Whether it’s Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, an anniversary, birthday or “just because,” the result will be a loved one with a smile of absolute adoration and pure, unadulterated delight.

How about you? Have you had a good or bad experience with a wire service or local florist? Tell us all about it or share your own view point on the florist industry in the comments below…

Written by

Gina Kellogg

These Dogs are moving fast!

"This is the most adorable thing I have ever seen in flowers!"
~Corrine Wilsey

In 2008, while experimenting with new creative designs, South Jersey Florist made a very similar dog-like flower arrangement.  Who would of guessed it would of become such a hit with our customers? Sadly, we did not give it enough credence to attach any trademark to it, so 1800flowers.com takes the credit for this one.

Memories from the Flowers in My Mind

Reprinted with permission from FlowerShopNetwork.com

A perfectly arranged vase of red roses greeted me as I opened the hotel room door. With my heart pounding, I walked across the room to read the enclosure card. “Do you miss me yet?” read the card. Tears ran down my face as a wave of excitement rushed through my body. Those gorgeous flowers have long gone; but even after fifteen years, the breathtaking memory has not diminished one bit. Every time I see a red rose, it reminds me of those beautiful flowers and the sweet card message.

Flowers have a way of creating strong and lasting memories. Flowers may fade; but the memories and the emotions felt never will. I remember the first flower I ever received; it was Valentine’s Day (ninth grade). Several girls, in my class, had received beautiful flower arrangements from their boyfriends. Although happy for them, I was a little sad. Since I had no boyfriend, this Valentines Day would be like all the others – flowerless. Suddenly an office aid walked into my classroom with another flower arrangement – a single yellow carnation in a green vase. When the teacher handed the flower to me, a rush of warmth shot to my head and a grin as wide as the Mississippi appeared on my face. Nervously, I read the enclosure card; it was signed “Secret Admirer”. Several years later, two of my closest male friends confessed that they sent the flowers. Why? Because, I was always happy when someone received flowers and deserved some of my own. Yellow carnations still trigger a wide grin and a flash back to that exciting day even twenty-eight years later.

Flowers and memories go hand in hand celebrating the good times, bad times and so-so times in our life. Flowers can make a difficult day better, acknowledge our efforts or celebrate a milestone. Large quantities of white flowers remind me of the beautiful casket spray at the funeral of a classmate’s sister. I see her golden blond hair and her contagious smile in every flower. I will always remember the comfort those flowers gave her family, her friends and me. Her beauty and energetic personality are forever linked to the purity and splendor of white flowers. I am drawn back to that day; not to mourn the loss of an unfulfilled life, but to celebrate the wonderful life she had for eighteen years.

Stargazer Lilies Some of the sweetest memories I have, of my husband, involve flowers, beginning with the hotel roses. My husband has a sixth sense of somehow knowing when I need a little pick me up. I am plagued with anxiety any time my husband has to leave town worried that I won’t be able to run our family business the way he does. Then one time, harried by the day’s activities, I swung the door open to find a stunning vase arrangement with Stargazer Lilies on my kitchen counter. The card read, “I never worry when I’m gone because I know you’ll take care of every thing.” Now anytime I feel stressed or under appreciated, I remember those flowers and my anxiety fades away.

Flowers express a deep heartfelt emotion that can’t be vocalized. Working in my sister-in-laws’ florist shop and our garden center, I’ve seen this phenomenon many times. Like the time an older gentleman asked, “Where is your most beautiful flower arrangement”. As I pulled a gorgeous mixed flower arrangement from the cooler, I ask, “What’s the occasion”. The gentleman gruffly replied “My wife’s anniversary and on the card write - These can’t compare”. Basically that was the extent of our conversation. He may have been a man of few words, yet very expressive. I’m sure those flowers reminded his wife that she is and will always be beautiful to him. Flowers help us articulate messages we can’t express. A little boy dumped the entire contents of his piggy bank on our counter. Pointing to a potted geranium he asked,“Is this enough money for that flower?” Because he and his new puppy hurt her favorite one, he explained, his mother desperately needed it. I guarantee the frustration the mother previously felt melted away when she saw the flower. That little boy is now a grown man, but I am sure his mother sees her little boy in every geranium. Those memories will live with them forever and the love expressed never forgotten.

Basket of Flowers
There is a saying by Oscar Lavant: “Happiness isn’t something you experience; it’s something you remember.” Memories are what define our lives. They are what get us through the hard and trying times. They are what propel us to experience new things. Memories make us who we are and who we become. Flowers help us rejoice, celebrate, ponder and relax with every event in life. If I had to add something to Mr. Lavant’s quote it would be this: flowers help you experience and remember happiness at the same time.

The essence of life depends on memories; our memories and the memories we create for others. Flowers celebrate the essence of life creating strong and lasting memories. Let flowers speak for you, creating memories that last a lifetime. Florists can help us articulate our thoughts and emotions into powerful expressions. So contact your local florist and discuss the ways you can create memories today that will last forever.

Reprinted with permission from FlowerShopNetwork.com