Eye On DVFlora

Congratulations and we wish everyone good luck in the upcoming weeks!

 And now, drum roll please…. the winners are:

Week 6 drawing

Cooks Florist in Runnemede, NJ

Black Eyed Susan Florist Inc in Gambrills, MD

Westchester Floral Decorators in Pelham, NY

Hansen’s Florist in Fairfield, CT  

Week 5 drawing

Aversa’s Flower Shop, Inc in Glendora, NJ

Richardson’s in Bel Air, MD

A Special Place in West Hartford, CT

Caesar Colonial Flower Shop in North Bellmore, NY

Week 4 drawing

Plaza Flowers in Norristown, PA

Cross Street Market in Baltimore, MD

It’s So Ranunculus in Marlborough, CT

Evergreen Florist & Greenhouses in Lindenhurst, NY

Week 3 drawing

Tarrytown Floral Designs in Tarrytown, NY 

Feastivities, Inc  in Philadelphia, PA 

Roaring Oaks Florists, LLC in Sharon, CT 

Village Flower Mart in Baltimore, MD 

Week 2 drawing

Petal Pusher Inc. in Hamilton Square, NJ

Kitty’s Flowers, Inc. in Salisbury, MD

Just For You in Middlefield, CT

Angelone’s Florist in Raritan, NJ

Week 1 drawing

Rosebud’s Florist II of Whiting, NJ

Bayberry Flowers of Rehoboth Beach, DE

Haworth’s Florist & Gifts of Farmington, CT

Plant Shed of New York, NY

Watch this short video taken at our Edison Distribution Center to see our cool chain in action. This shows one small part of what we do in order to deliver the freshest product from farms around the world to your store.

This product has been received, picked, packed and labeled in our Sewell location, then trucked on refrigerated tractor-trailers to the Edison facility. There we sort it and load it onto refrigerated delivery trucks for the last leg of its journey to you.

By Jon Gordon www.JonGordon.com

1.       Tell yourself a positive story. Life is a story. The story we tell ourselves and the role we play in that story determines the quality and direction of our life. Successful people are able to overcome adversity by telling themselves a more positive story than the rest. Instead of a drama or a horror movie, they define their life as an inspirational tale. Instead of being the victim, they see themselves as a fighter and over-comer. You may not be able to control the economy, but you can influence the outcome of your story.

2.       Model yourself after success. Are there people in your industry succeeding today? Of course there are. Seek out those people in your industry and ask to meet with them. Learn from their advice and model their attitudes and actions. If they can succeed, so can you.

3.       Focus on the important stuff. Tune out the negative voices and start making positive choices. What are you doing on a daily basis to grow yourself, your team, and your business? Don’t focus on the negative things other people and the media are saying. Instead, focus on marketing your business, taking care of clients, and building loyal relationships. Every morning ask yourself this question: “What are the three most important things I need to do today that will help me create the success I desire?” Then take action on those items.

4.       Replace “have to” with “get to.” This simple word swap can change your mind-set and your approach to work and life. It turns a complaining voice to an appreciative voice, and acknowledges that life is a gift—not an obligation. So often we grudgingly say things like “I have to go to this meeting,” “I have to meet with this client,” or “I have to make a bunch of phone calls.” In reality, it’s not about what we have to do. It’s about what we get to do. Research shows that when we practice gratitude, we get a measurable boost in happiness that energizes us and enhances our health. It’s also physiologically impossible to be stressed and thankful at the same time.

5.       Refuse to participate in the recession. Professionals who’ve thrived during past recessions continued to go about business as usual regardless of market conditions. They worked hard and focused on taking actions to grow their business. As others are paralyzed by fear, take the opportunity to charge forward.

6.       Boost your marketing and advertising. It may seem counterintuitive to spend more money on advertising and marketing right now. But with so many of your competitors cutting back in these areas, this is a great opportunity to build your brand and gain market share. People are still buying and selling, and they will buy from those whom they trust and see in the marketplace.

7.       Create a positive vision. Instead of being disappointed about where you are, make the decision to be optimistic about where you are going. Create a positive vision for your future and the future of your team. Vision helps you see the road ahead and it gives you something meaningful and valuable to strive towards.

8.       Invite others on your bus. Invite colleagues and customers to board your bus for a positive ride. Send them an e-bus ticket at www.TheEnergyBus.com. Share your vision with team members and ask them to join you in making this vision a reality. Be a positive influence.

9.      No more complaining. Abide by the “no complaining” rule. When you realize you’re about to complain, replace your thoughts and words with positive actions. Let your complaints help you identify what you don’t want so that you can focus on what you do want. The key is to turn complaints into solutions.

• We will be closed on Monday 9/6 in observance of Labor Day.
• Our After Hours Team will be on duty Monday 9/6 from 1:00PM to 8:00PM, taking orders for Tuesday 9/7 delivery.
• Friday 9/3 will are open until 2:00PM. The following Friday 9/10 we resume our 4:00PM hours
• Our Web Site www.dvflora.com will be open for placing orders until 8:00PM Monday 9/6 for Tuesday 9/7 delivery.
• Standing orders: All Monday 9/6 and Tuesday 9/7 orders will be delivered on Tuesday 9/7
• Dutch Direct-Holland: All Monday 9/6 orders will be delivered on Tuesday 9/7. No change in cutoff dates or times.
• Grower Direct: All Monday 9/6 orders will be delivered on Tuesday 9/7. There will be no California offerings for Friday 9/10, due to limited shipping from California Labor Day week.

New Update To DVFlora.com!

In our continuous effort to make your online shopping experience easier and more user-friendly, we have made a minor change to dvflora.com. Beginning Wednesday, August 25th, the pricing columns will be arranged in order of Best Value, Value Price, and Unit Price.

Best Value - normally you will find box lot pricing in this column. Not all items are available in box lots, so from time to time this field could be blank.

Value Price - this column will include a break price for either bulk loose product or box lots.

Unit Price - here you will be able to see the pricing on single loose units. Items that are sold strictly in box lot quantities will not appear in this field.

Get Brides to Say Yes – On Your Terms

SAF August 11, 2010

Brides can really give your business a boost. They can also drive you nuts—underestimating their budgets, requesting a style that’s not in line with yours, flooding your inbox and answering machine with nagging questions.

From the minute she first walks through your door, clicks onto your website or calls, you’re setting the tone and laying the groundwork for a relationship that’s more harmonious than harried (and, consequently, a healthy or barely visible profit once the job is done).

Floral Management talked to six seasoned florists—from a nationally recognized event designer to a one-woman shop owner—who don’t just hope for chemistry at the consultation, but rather follow procedures and have policies in place so there’s clear communication, and ultimately, control.   They reveal their 11 rules of engagement in this August cover story. Here’s just one.

Don’t be meek about money. Pick a day when money’s due and enforce it. “Don’t expect [brides] to pay you when the party’s over and they’re broke,” said Liz Ash, owner of Ambience Florals in Colorado Springs, Colo. For her brides, the balance is due four weeks before the big day, so there’s plenty of time to ensure she doesn’t get stiffed. Wendy Rockcastle, owner of Rockcastle Florist in Rochester, N.Y., tells clients straight up that she won’t order any flowers until the money’s in.

Katie Hendrick khendrick@safnow.org

Weekly newsletter T.G.I.T By Barry Gottlieb

“Everyone has an attitude”. Obviously, some are better than others. There are those people who always beam with positive energy and consequently have a positive impact on those around them.

Then there are those people with negative attitudes. They are the ones that somehow take even the best of circumstances and find some way to put a dark cloud over it.

Even the people that tend to do nothing or have no opinion about things have an attitude… The attitude to do nothing or be apathetic.

Research studies over the past fifty years indicate that your attitude is a key factor in determining your level of happiness and success. These studies also point out the impact of your attitude on your health. When it comes to your success in your career, the research indicates that 85% of the reason a person gets a job, keeps a job, and gets ahead in their job is directly related to their attitude.

To quote Zig Ziglar: “It is your attitude, not your aptitude, that determines your altitude.”

Think about your own personal experiences in restaurants and retail stores. If you are like me, the attitude of an employee can either make or break the deal. I will not go back to a restaurant where the food was good, but the attitude of the employees was negative. It reflects on the entire experience. Conversely, great service and positive attitudes can make an average place into a memorable experience.

Attitude does make a difference.

Consider this: Who would you choose, the doctor that says, “You are the one in a hundred that will survive”; or the doctor (equally skilled) that says, “Ninety-nine out of a hundred die from this, your chances aren’t very good”?

The choice is obvious.”

On October 24th the Connecticut Florists Association will be holding it’s annual Florist Success Program in North Haven, CT.  Last year’s seminar was a hit and they had quite a few retail florists from the Delaware Valley travel north to attend.  We are hoping that those of you that went last year found value in it and will participate again this year.  If you were not able to go, I’ve posted some details below so you can get an idea of what it’s about.

CFA Presents A Vital Fall Program To Sharpen Your Business Skills & Get You Ready for the Holidays     Tough economy got you down?     There’s still plenty of money to be made out there if you want to be a successful florist. CFA brings two renowned florist business-design experts to the region for an inspiring program, Sunday, October 24, in close-by North Haven, CT. We’ve also added a pre-season florist trade show of suppliers to our industry who have profitable products for the advancing holiday season.     You’ll get up to five hours of thought-provoking instruction, the trade show, and a luncheon, for the low price of $69.     Check out our speakers below and sign up online today.   A Fresh Look at the Business of Flowers Presented by: Teleflora’s Vice President of Education Marie Ackerman AIFD AAF PFCI   Marie Ackerman AIFD AAF PFCI Every aspect of the retail flower business is changing. Here’s a fast-paced look at key areas that impact your business today:  merchandising, marketing, designing, selling and service – just to name a few. You’ll walk away inspired with dozens of “best practice” ideas that can build your business! See Marie’s program from 9:00am-Noon. Sponsored by Teleflora. Reality Florist: Can You Cope in Today’s World? Jeff Corbin AAF, AIFD, PFCI Listen to respected florist business & design expert Jeff Corbin AAF, AIFD, PFCI on the ways florists can boost their profits. You’ll enjoy Jeff’s entertaining style that’s packed with ideas to save costs, attract customers, and enhance your shop’s bottom line. Hear Jeff’s valuable advice from 1:00-4:00pm at the Florist Success program. Sponsored by FTD.       You Can Register Online For this Program CLICK HERE The $69 fee includes morning coffee & pastries, the special trade show, five hours of educational instruction, and a luncheon.   Sunday, Oct. 24 at Fantasia North Haven CT just off I-91 Route 5, 404 Washington Ave., North Haven CT (203) 285-8534 Our conference is close to I-91… ·Exit 13, Turn left on Route 5, and Fantasia is on the left. ·Exit 12, go north on Route 5 and Fantasia will be on the right. Get the map   Exhibitors: Show Your Holiday Products Companies who want to sign up for the trade show portion of the program, CLICK HERE   You Can Register Online For this Program CLICK HERE The $69 fee includes morning coffee & pastries, the special trade show, five hours of educational instruction, and a luncheon.

California Dreamin’

By Jose Escudero

We are very fortunate to have Jose from Transflora out taking care of business for us in California.  Every week Jose walks the various farms that we do business with and gives us the “thumbs up & thumbs down” on crop production.  The upside of this is we always know what we have coming to us and to our customers and where the real deals are! 

Here are some photos that Jose took at two farms on snapdragon, Lisianthus and dahlia production. 

Seize The Moment (Excerpt from Training Camp)

Jon Gordon www.jongordon.com

 The best seize the moment because they don’t allow their fear of failure to define them. They know this fear exists, and they overcome it. Their faith is greater than any score, performance, or outcome. Even if they lose, they are still on the path to greatness. And even if they fail, they are one step closer to the perfection they seek.

 Ironically, even though the best have a dream and a vision within their sights, it is the journey, not the destination, that matters most to them. The moment is more important than any success or failure. The moment is the success. The moment is the reward.

 When the best are in the midst of their performance, they are not thinking “What if I win?” or “What if I lose?” They are not thinking, “What if I make a mistake or miss the shot?” They are not interested in what the moment produces but are only concerned with what they produce in the moment. When all eyes are watching, they know that this is the moment they have been preparing and waiting for.

 Rather than hiding from pressure, they rise to the occasion. As a result, the best define the moment rather than letting the moment define them. To seize the moment, don’t let your failure define you; let it fuel you. Don’t run from fear; face it and embrace it. Don’t let fear rob you of your love and joy for the game; let it push you into the moment and beyond yourself. Let it inspire you to live and work each day as though it was your last.

 Don’t let the moment define you. You define the moment. Define it by knowing that your practice and preparation have prepared you well. Define it with your mental strength, faith and confidence. Define it by knowing that regardless of the outcome, you have given your very best.

Everyone talks about destiny. Everyone searches for it, not realizing that each and every moment is your destiny. Make every moment of your life count.

 Don’t focus on the past, and don’t look to the future. Focus on the now. Success, rewards, accolades, fame, and fortune are merely byproducts for those who are able to seize the moment—not those who look beyond it. Ironically, to enjoy success you must not focus on it.

 Rather, you must focus on the process that produces success. You are more than your successes. You are more than your failures. You are who you are in the moment. Enjoy it. Live it. Make the most of it. Make it yours.