The Business & Pleasure of Flowers

Episode 186:  Vonda and Lori chat with their friend and Cliquer, Abby Chick, owner of Blakemore's Flowers in Harrisonburg, VA,  to get the inside scoop on the workshop we're hosting on July 19th. She shares a whole new perspective on substituting flowers in your designs. It’s called The Subtle Art of Substitutions, and the purpose is to educate our industry on  the art and science behind effective flower substitution. It’s perfect for you and your team to learn something new and get inspired this summer season.

We designed the original content with retail florists in mind, but have expanded it into effective education for wedding & event florists as well! Our content includes an in-depth exploration of the art of substituting flowers in arrangements, bouquets, and installations, without compromising aesthetics or client preferences.

Get 10% off your workshop registration using this link, and we'll see you in the classroom!

Sponsored by:
Flower Clique
Flower Clique Prep School
Real Life Retail Florist

Episode 185:  Join Lori and Ellie as they sit down with our good friend, Sam Bowles, the General Manager and Creative Director of Allen's Flowers in beautiful San Diego, CA. Get ready for an inspiring episode that will leave you motivated and eager to take your floral business to new heights!

In this captivating conversation, Sam shares his incredible journey from being a middle-school educator to diving headfirst into the world of flowers. Discover how he experienced personal growth and embraced the evolving floral industry, becoming a true expert in his field.

But that's not all! Sam also reveals the hard-hitting truth on delivering exceptional 5-star customer service. Whether your customers purchase flowers online, over the phone, or in person at your shop, this episode will provide you with valuable tools, ideas, and concepts to elevate their experience and surpass their expectations.

Attracting and retaining customers is crucial in today's competitive market, and Sam's expertise will guide you on how to ensure your business stands out. Learn how to demonstrate your unrivaled knowledge, readiness, and commitment to superior customer service, making your business the go-to destination for all things floral.

Don't miss out on this opportunity to gain valuable insights from a veteran floral business educator. Tune in to this enlightening episode and discover how you can exceed customer expectations and create an unforgettable floral experience!

Sponsored by:
Flower Clique
Flower Clique Prep School
Real Life Retail Florist

Episode 184:  Vonda and Lori step back from the business of flowers to reflect and respect our country and share some little known facts about the 4th of July. In this family friendly episode, we encourage you to share it with your family and friends. Celebrate safely! 

Sponsored by:
Flower Clique
Flower Clique Prep School
Real Life Retail Florist

Episode 182: What qualities do you look for in a leader? We believe it starts with leading by example, however, do you notice the subtle signs of a leader? Lori shares eight signs that will give you food for thought and get the wheels turning on who the leaders were / are in your life, while Vonda challenges you to take action. 

Sponsored by:
Flower Clique
Flower Clique Prep School
Real Life Retail Florist

Episode 182: Next Gen Live! is an event held by SAF (Society of American Florists) for floral pros age 45 and under,  from all segments of the floral industry. It was held in Miami June 11-13, 2023 and was a huge success! Ellie and Lori attended and enjoyed every bit of it. Vonda interviews Lori and Ellie, who attended and represented Flower Clique, to hear their favorite takeaways. 

Sponsored by:
Flower Clique
Flower Clique Prep School
Real Life Retail Florist

Episode 181: Handling employee conflict in the workspace seems to be a subject that's not talked about often and not because it doesn't happen! Vonda and Lori share stories of real life experiences as well as tips as to when and how to intervene if necessary. 

Sponsored by:
Flower Clique
Flower Clique Prep School
Real Life Retail Florist

Episode 180: Setting your new hire up for success in the beginning is essential to keeping and retaining your team. In this rewind from 2022, Vonda and Lori share a check list that you'll find helpful in the onboarding process as well as retaining your current team ~  and can implement right away!

Sponsored by:
Flower Clique
Flower Clique Prep School
Real Life Retail Florist

Episode 179: Respect is defined as admiration for someone or something elicited by their abilities, qualities or achievements. Oftentimes respect is combined with liking a persons' personality and their abilities, when, especially in the workspace, personal feelings should be set aside. Vonda and Lori chat about the What and How of workspace respect and then Lori jumps in as Devil's advocate. 😉

Sponsored by:
Flower Clique
Flower Clique Prep School
Real Life Retail Florist

Episode 178: Lori takes an opportunity to pitch the book, Unreasonable Hospitality: The Remarkable Power of Giving People More Than They Expect,  written by Will Guidara to Vonda and you. When it comes to customer service, Lori knows what it takes as she has a great appreciation for creating superior experience. She shares a few of the many stories and recommends the book for both a good read and source of inspiration. 

Sponsored by:
Flower Clique
Flower Clique Prep School
Real Life Retail Florist

Episode 177:  Vonda has been known to quote Warren Buffet a time or two on the podcast, so it only seems natural that she would want to know all about the Berkshire Hathaway Annual Shareholders meeting that was held on May 6th.  Ellie LaFever, PFCI, made the trip to Omaha and we've invited long time attendee Sayer Martin, CFA, who is son and brother, to join us to hear the key takeaways from the days' events. Even the floral industry has much to learn from the wisdom of Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger.

Sponsored by:
Flower Clique
Flower Clique Prep School
Real Life Retail Florist