Episode 247: Vonda and Lori are on the road and picked a great rewind for you. It's a rewind from last summer of 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 246: Join Lori and Vonda in a heartfelt conversation as they reflect on their recent experience designing wedding flowers for a personal wedding. Though they don't typically work together in this capacity, their shared dedication and admiration for the special couple shine through. Listen in as they share  takeaways and tips that are food for thought for anyone working in the industry. 

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

Episode 245: Today's episode is short and sweet as we share a brief history of Labor Day and highlights a valuable lesson that continue to resonate today. Learn  the important highlights of origins of Labor Day and the impact of the labor movement on workers' rights. Discover the power of unity, collective action, and standing up for justice as we reflect on the lessons gained from this important holiday.

Additionally, as we close out summer and look ahead to the next few weeks, we offer a few tips to help you refocus and navigate the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. 

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

Episode 244: Join hosts Lori and Vonda as they delve into a collection of mind-altering quotes by Wayne Dyer. Discover quotes that may resonate with you with a simple "yep" and others that challenge you to truly ponder and potentially transform the way you view certain aspects of life. Tune in for an insightful discussion on the profound impact of words that have the ability to inspire change and growth.

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

Episode 243: We recap the exciting session at Camp Clique last week and delve into a thought-provoking discussion with industry experts Bill McKinley AIFD from Texas A & M and Abby Chick, shop owner of Blakemore's Flowers in Harrisonburg, VA.

Join us as Bill and Abby share their insights on incorporating sustainability into floral design. They answer burning questions such as: What design mechanics can we adopt to move the sustainability needle in our craft? How can retail flower shops implement best practices on a daily/weekly basis to work towards a more sustainable future? Tune in to discover practical tips and innovative ideas that can help shape a greener, more sustainable floral industry.

Want to listen to the entire session:
Realistic Sustainability for Retail Florists

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

Episode 242:   In this episode, Vonda interviews Lori about her experience at the Society of America Florist (SAF) Convention in Miami last week. Lori shares her insights and highlights from the convention, from the networking opportunities and meeting up with our Cliquers to her participation as a moderator for a panel discussion, she gives great tips and takeaways. You won't want to miss her story about "that flower feeling"!  Whether you attended this year's SAF Convention or not, you won't want to miss Lori's perspective. 

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

Episode 241: Join us for an inspiring interview with Stefani and John Goetz, the couple behind 21 Petals in Lafayette, IN. Stefani, a dedicated assistant principal, and John, a law enforcement professional, share their remarkable journey of starting a flower farm and eventually building a successful flower business. With a child with extraordinary needs, they embraced life's challenges and turned them into opportunities to create something beautiful and life-giving. Discover how this resilient pair navigated unexpected twists in life and used them as stepping stones to realize their dream of owning a flourishing flower shop.

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

Episode 240:  In this episode, hosts Lori and Ellie chat with Williee Armellini, the artist, musician, writer and owner of the Flowers and Cents website and newsletter. Williee shares some fascinating anecdotes about his personal journey and talks in-depth about his book "Flowers Come from Where?". The book offers insight into the growth and history of the importer and domestic flower industry. As Lori says, Williee is a character, and this episode is a delightful conversation about his many passions and experiences in the world of flowers.

Flowers and Cents

Order Williee's Book: Flowers Come From Where? 

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

Episode 239: In this episode, we'll share highlights from an recent webinar session provided and sponsored by Flower Clique. Join Ellie LaFever as she delves into the exciting world of upcoming color palettes in the floral industry. She shares the insights presented by J. Keith White at the 2024 AIFD convention, featuring the American Floral Trends Forecast. Ellie LaFever also imparts valuable knowledge providing an in-depth look at the latest trends and how they apply to a local business.

This Forecast is made possible by the AIFD Foundation. Their research and development make this forecast possible. Don't miss this opportunity to be ahead of the curve in the dynamic world of floral design and retail.

For the webinar session with slides, join here. Camp Clique Session #3

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

Episode 238: In this episode, Vonda and Lori explore the impact of different leadership traits on employee retention. They discuss five leadership habits to avoid that can drive employees away and undermine your authority. By self-evaluating and identifying these destructive traits, leaders can course-correct and create a more engaging work environment. Additionally, Vonda and Lori share five positive leadership traits that make employees want to stay for the long haul. By embodying these traits, leaders can foster loyalty, trust, and commitment among their team members. Tune in to learn how to become the type of leader that employees never want to retire from working for!

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