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| Florists from coast to coast tell us what tools they depend on daily. |
The floral industry has undergone big changes over the past few decades, helped along by technology and all manner of bright, shiny new tools to help us become more efficient and creative. We asked florists across Canada to tell us what tools and/or products they just can’t function without. Read on for the surprising answers, plus a few ideas for the next time you and your team are stocking up!
“A knife – it’s a tool that we cut our flowers with every day. And our website. And the telephone. Without the telephone, forget it!”
Peter Lutz, co-owner, Ambassador’s Ridley Flowers & Gifts, St. Catharines, Ont.
“As a designer, my knife. And for my business, the computer. For storing information, our marketing, our direct mail, it’s all done in house. Without marketing you don’t grow!”
Pat Cull, owner, Allan’s Flowers, Calgary, Alta.
“Preservative. Cellophane. Ribbon scissors, glue gun…Oh, tubes. And we can’t do without the little stem cleaners, for removing thorns. They’re in the shape of a little daisy. We just love them.”
Bronia Depedrina, designer, Heywood Flowers Ltd., Coquitlam, B.C.
“The telephone. We’re a flower shop! Telephone orders – the majority of our business, come though the telephone or the Internet. I’m also looking at headsets, so we could operate hands-free.”
Diane Bald, owner, Arbour’s Flower Shoppe, Penetanguishene, Ont.
“Floral knife. Our website, too. And we’re always on the hunt for decorative wires for more contemporary pieces.”
Vance Carroll, manager and floral designer, My Mother’s Bloomers,
Halifax, N.S.
“These little glue dots, I use them for everything, especially for doing corsages, wrist corsages. I used to use that floral adhesive, it was so sticky and messy, but this works like a charm. I bought them from shipper supplies, super high tack glue dots they’re called. They come on a roll, you peel them off, and they’re super strong. For just a little bit of filler or to finish off a wrist corsage with a bit of green. I’d be lost without them. They work really slick.”
Susan Chickowski, manager, Burkitt’s Flowers (1977) Ltd., Prince Albert, Sask.
“We use zip ties to tie our bouquets, a lot quicker than the old green string. And I have a watering wagon that I use to water my outside flowers, so I don’t have to drag a hose with me. It’s really cool.”
Melanie Harrold, manager, Floral Expressions, Vineland, Ont.
“Canadian Florist magazine! And in the office we’d be lost without our computers. Our design staff really appreciate an underwater cutter. It’s a big help. And a chicken plucker. To strip the thorns and foliage off the roses. One of our staff is a farm boy and he brought in his dad’s handmade chicken plucker. On our 800 line, we get between 30 and 40 area codes calling us for flowers. I can get 800 calls from so many area codes for such a minimal cost, compared to all the business it generates. I’m just in the process of buying a new computer, my first cost me $10,000 and this one will be under a thousand. Over the length of time you use these things, the cost is so minimal. I don’t see how any shop can do without a website and a fax machine!”
Bruce Hatcher, owner, Regina Florist Co. Ltd., Regina, Sask.
”People! The employees, of course. Besides my staff, good product, and obviously customers. Weather, but we don’t really have control over the weather. So, quality product, excellent staff, and customers. Oh, and proper utensils.”
Donna Friesen, owner, Page Florist, Kenora, Ont.
“Right now the computer seems to be the best thing. At a fingertip my staff can get all the info they need, even a year later. We’re also getting new glass vases. They’re nice, cylinder, rectangular, nice, new shapes, at a pretty reasonable price. But a good florist only needs a way to cut. Clippers help with the woody stems, so they’re a distant second. But a trusty knife is all a good florist needs.”
Nathan Vanderkooy, owner, Brown’s Flowers, Toronto, Ont.
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