Article Presented by:
Wesley Berry, AAF
It's a sad fact that the American culture lacks in romance-a recent survey conducted by Brusking/Goldring Research for the Society of American Florists (SAF) revealed just how bad the situation is. According to the survey, only 19 percent of men rate themselves as at least a seven on a scale of one to 10. Even worse, women agree! Only 19 percent of them rank their husbands or significant others as at least a seven. Valentine's Day may be just the opportunity men need to step up to an 8 or maybe even a 9 on the romance scale.
The good news is that boosting those ratings could be pretty easy for most men. And, since so few men have much of a romantic streak, those who make even a small effort are sure to really stand out.
One important step is simply to plan ahead. The SAF survey showed that only about 33 percent of men prepare for Valentine's Day at least one week in advance by buying gifts or making other special arrangements. In contrast, 30 percent wait until the day before the holiday to do anything at all. To really up their romantic rating, men should plan romantic Valentine's Day surprises for their sweethearts ahead of time.
When ordering Valentine's Day flowers, call your florist at least a week ahead of time and ask your florist to make a floral gift that is uniquely suited to the one you love. Tell your florist a bit about her-her favorite flowers, favorite colors, and a little about her personality. To make the gift even more special, have your florist deliver it to your sweetheart when she's at work or in some other location where flowers will draw maximum attention.
If you're on a budget, flowers might just be the best use of the money you're able to spend. Even the less expensive varieties of flowers make beautiful arrangements and are a great way to make any woman feel special. Your florist can help you get the most for your money, and your loved one is sure to appreciate the gift even if it's as simple as a single rose in a lovely bud vase.
With just a little thought, your gift of flowers on Valentine's Day can go a long way toward making you at least an eight...or maybe even a 10 on the romance scale.
About the Author:
Wesley Berry is member of the American Academy of Floriculture (AAF) and President of Wesley Berry Flowers, a successful multi-million dollar floral business that was established in 1946. As a major sponsor of local-library.com and Localschoolfinder.com, Wesley Berry has worked hard on behalf of improving literacy. Visit Wesley Berry Flowers on the web at www.800wesleys.com.
Tuesday, December 26, 2006
Thursday, December 21, 2006
Online Learning For Florists Is As Informative As Wikipedia
Article Presented by:
Wesley Berry, AAF
Online, or e-learning, is a growing trend in many industries, with large companies including IBM jumping onto the bandwagon. Given America's love of the online world and informational sites like Wikipedia, it's not surprising to hear that computer-based learning has become a major part of the training offered by many companies. In fact, organizations in the floral industry, including FTD and the Society of American Florists (SAF), have begun offering online learning so that those who work with flowers can offer customers even better products and service.
In October, 2006, FTD introduced FTD University, its own web-based training program for its members. FTD University offers people in the floral industry short classes dealing with subjects like customer service, general flower knowledge, order and delivery handling, and the care and handling of cut flowers. Each course concludes with a short quiz that allows users to track their progress. Those who take advantage of FTD University will, hopefully, find themselves being of better service to their customers and learning new ways to make their businesses run more smoothly.
One FTD University user, Jim Clifford of Clifford's Flowers (Quincy, Massachusetts), found the program to be of great benefit. He cites the customer service course as being particularly helpful saying that it was good "not only for florists who are new to the industry, but also for those who think we already know everything."
SAF has also begun offering its members online training in a partnership with TrainNow.net. Classes offered by SAF include The Perfect Sale and Plant and Flower Care in the 21st Century. Many of the courses, available via the Internet or on CD-Rom, are interactive, which helps to keep users engaged. Users of SAF's training program are also able to track their training activities and save records so that their employers can see their progress as well.
These new online training courses for florists are great not only for the florists themselves, but also for their customers. Their newfound knowledge translates into fresher flowers of better quality and excellent customer service. So, florists may be able to learn a great deal about different plant and flower varieties on Wikipedia, but they can take advantage of online training to put those facts to work.
About the Author:
Wesley Berry is member of the American Academy of Floriculture (AAF) and President of Wesley Berry Flowers, a successful multi-million dollar floral business that was established in 1946. He is also the developer of Localnewsdelivery.com a website that delivers local news to over 40,000 communities across the country. Recently he also launched a website providing information about various places of worship throughout the United States. Visit Wesley Berry Flowers on the web at www.800wesleys.com.
Wesley Berry, AAF
Online, or e-learning, is a growing trend in many industries, with large companies including IBM jumping onto the bandwagon. Given America's love of the online world and informational sites like Wikipedia, it's not surprising to hear that computer-based learning has become a major part of the training offered by many companies. In fact, organizations in the floral industry, including FTD and the Society of American Florists (SAF), have begun offering online learning so that those who work with flowers can offer customers even better products and service.
In October, 2006, FTD introduced FTD University, its own web-based training program for its members. FTD University offers people in the floral industry short classes dealing with subjects like customer service, general flower knowledge, order and delivery handling, and the care and handling of cut flowers. Each course concludes with a short quiz that allows users to track their progress. Those who take advantage of FTD University will, hopefully, find themselves being of better service to their customers and learning new ways to make their businesses run more smoothly.
One FTD University user, Jim Clifford of Clifford's Flowers (Quincy, Massachusetts), found the program to be of great benefit. He cites the customer service course as being particularly helpful saying that it was good "not only for florists who are new to the industry, but also for those who think we already know everything."
SAF has also begun offering its members online training in a partnership with TrainNow.net. Classes offered by SAF include The Perfect Sale and Plant and Flower Care in the 21st Century. Many of the courses, available via the Internet or on CD-Rom, are interactive, which helps to keep users engaged. Users of SAF's training program are also able to track their training activities and save records so that their employers can see their progress as well.
These new online training courses for florists are great not only for the florists themselves, but also for their customers. Their newfound knowledge translates into fresher flowers of better quality and excellent customer service. So, florists may be able to learn a great deal about different plant and flower varieties on Wikipedia, but they can take advantage of online training to put those facts to work.
About the Author:
Wesley Berry is member of the American Academy of Floriculture (AAF) and President of Wesley Berry Flowers, a successful multi-million dollar floral business that was established in 1946. He is also the developer of Localnewsdelivery.com a website that delivers local news to over 40,000 communities across the country. Recently he also launched a website providing information about various places of worship throughout the United States. Visit Wesley Berry Flowers on the web at www.800wesleys.com.
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Flowers To Help You Ring In The New Year
Article Presented by:
Wesley Berry, AAF
If you're planning to throw a huge New Year's bash or even just a small get together, don't forget to order flowers to make your celebration even brighter. Flowers make an excellent addition to any decorating theme, whether it's lavish and elegant or colorful and fun. And, they're an incredibly easy way to decorate-your florist does all the work!
Be sure to call your florist at least one week in advance to discuss your party needs. Here are some things you'll need to talk to him or her about:
Tell the florist the kind of party you're planning to throw. Is it a fancy, formal affair or a more casual, spirited event? The atmosphere of the party will make an enormous difference in the style of arrangements your florist creates.
Describe the location of the party and how much space is available for flowers.
If you need centerpieces, let your florist know how many tables you plan to set.
Talk about your budget. Your florist will help you choose flower varieties that will be a beautiful addition to your party without breaking your budget.
When thinking about how to use flowers to enhance your New Year's party, think outside the traditional uses like centerpieces. The more creative you are in your use of flowers, the more likely your guests will be to remember your party and continue talking about it for a long time to come. Below are some ideas for creative uses of flowers:
When midnight strikes, skip the confetti and throw flower petals instead.
Rather than uncomfortable party hats, present each female attendant with a brightly colored bloom to tuck in her hair or behind her ear.
Instead of dropping balloons from the ceiling, shower your guests with blossoms. Not only will the drop be memorable, the flowers will provide a lovely fragrance for the evening.
As your guests leave, present each of them with a single stem. Tie each stem with a ribbon and a note bearing your wishes for a prosperous year to come.
Make your florist your partner in planning your New Year's party. He or she will be happy to assist you in making the event a success and getting your year off to a great start.
About the Author:
Wesley Berry is member of the American Academy of Floriculture (AAF) and President of Wesley Berry Flowers, a successful multi-million dollar floral business that was established in 1946. His shops provide flower delivery worldwide through Flower Delivery Express. Visit Wesley Berry Flowers on the web at www.800wesleys.com
Wesley Berry, AAF
If you're planning to throw a huge New Year's bash or even just a small get together, don't forget to order flowers to make your celebration even brighter. Flowers make an excellent addition to any decorating theme, whether it's lavish and elegant or colorful and fun. And, they're an incredibly easy way to decorate-your florist does all the work!
Be sure to call your florist at least one week in advance to discuss your party needs. Here are some things you'll need to talk to him or her about:
When thinking about how to use flowers to enhance your New Year's party, think outside the traditional uses like centerpieces. The more creative you are in your use of flowers, the more likely your guests will be to remember your party and continue talking about it for a long time to come. Below are some ideas for creative uses of flowers:
Make your florist your partner in planning your New Year's party. He or she will be happy to assist you in making the event a success and getting your year off to a great start.
About the Author:
Wesley Berry is member of the American Academy of Floriculture (AAF) and President of Wesley Berry Flowers, a successful multi-million dollar floral business that was established in 1946. His shops provide flower delivery worldwide through Flower Delivery Express. Visit Wesley Berry Flowers on the web at www.800wesleys.com
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