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The Top Gifts for Father's Day

Posted by Rick Canale on Sat, Jun 04, 2016

While father's day could never hold a candle to mother's day, the holiday is still a great chance to show the dads out there how much they are appreciated. While my sons' love remains my greatest gift, the gifts below are great symbols to share love and appreciation.

fathersday4

Red Meat: we tend to get in touch with our inner caveman as we spark up the grill and indulge in burgers, dogs, chops, sausages, ribs and steaks. I have yet to find a better butcher than Butcher Boy Market in North Andover, MA. My recent favorite is their two pound bone-in sirloin. 

fathersday3 Red Wine - I drink red wine. I drink red wine a lot and have found some great bottles for under $20, but when I splurge the best wine I have ever had is from Drew Bledsoe. Yes, #11 Pats QB. HisDoubleback Cabernet is hands down the best red wine I have ever had.

 

 

 

 


Baseball Cards -
 specifically, the 2016 Topps Archives Series. These cards include past and current stars, along with throwback designs and special autographed inserts. 

 16_Topps-Archives-Baseball_Page_6.jpg

 Books - sticking with my favorite sport and one of my favorite pursuits. Buy him a book.Not sure which one, Veeck as in Wreck by baseball hall of famer Bill Veeck is one of the greatest books on baseball and marketing I have ever read. I am now reading it for the fourth time.fathersday2

Gardening - of course, I would be remiss if I did not suggest the spectaclar hibiscus that we have at Exotic Flowers. 

hibiscus

Tags: Baseball, Bill Veeck, Father's Day, Steak, Wine, Baseball Hall of Fame, #EXFL

What Florists Can Learn from Baseball Hall of Famer Bill Veeck

Posted by Rick Canale on Wed, Jun 24, 2015

I know. I am sad to say that not many of you are baseball fans. But watch a game with me sometime and you might become one. See I like baseball. No, I love baseball. Over-paid, self-indulgent babies on the field you say? I say, watch the 6-4-3 double play while sitting on the first base side and I will show you a visual masterpiece.

I not only watch the game, I am absorbed in its history. I am a lifelong Red Sox fan, but I am a fan of Major League Baseball even more. Fred Lynn, Dale Muphy, Ron Kittle; just names to some, but to me these guys were a pleasure to emulate in my childhood. While learning the game, I also learned a lot about its Hall of Famers. Bill Veeck (1914-1986) never played Major League Baseball, but he certainly left his mark on the game and my approach to the floral industry. 

veeck1

Some know Veeck as a Hall of Famer. Some recall that Veeck was responsible for planting the first ivy on the walls of Wrigley Field in Chicago. Some know that Veeck owned the Cleveland Indians (1946-49), the St. Louis Browns(1951-53) and the Chicago White Sox(1959-61 & 1975-81). He even was the President of Suffolk Downs horse racing track in East Boston, (1968-71). Many sports business students know Veeck from his books. His most famous, Veeck as in Wreck, I have read four times. I have a copy at my desk at work and in my library at home. I have owned first editions and signed copies too. But, I always want to share the book's wisdom, so these valuable copies rarely stay in my possession. 

Last night, I found another passage in the book and had to share its relevance with my floral, hospitality and business colleagues. What Veeck wrote more than fifty years ago about selling tickets applies to any restaurant, florist or retail store

BILL_VEECK

Chaper 7 - Every Day was Mardi Gras...

The best way to tell you what we did to draw these crowds is to tell you what we did not do. We did not open the ticket windows and expect the citizenry to come rushing up with their money in their fists. We have never operated on the theory that a city owes anything to the owner of a baseball franchise...

Exactly, Veeck hammers a valuable lesson for every florist. Our clients owe us nothing, we do not sell insulin and they do not need our flowers. We, however, need them to buy flowers from us at the price we have deemed valuable.

...There is nothing owed to you. A baseball team is a commercial venture, operating for a profit. The idea that you don't have to package your product attractively as General Motors packages its product, and hustle your product the way General Motors hustles its product, is baseball's most pernicious enemy.

Appearance, attitude, humility, gratitude and accountability are the traits he espouses. Like baseball, people want flowers in their life. They do not need them. Take Bill's lessons to your storefront. Note, the importance of also operating at a a profit.

I connect with Bill's wisdom. Bill was even an avid gardener. Decades ago, Bill suggested a store where you can buy plants, flowers and books in the same place. They did not have that then, but places like Terrain in Westport, CT offer that now. He was not only a Renaissance man, but a visionary.

You might like to know, the apple does not fall far from the tree. Veeck's son Mike is also an author and owner of multiple minor leage baseball teams.His philosophy of Fun is Good, has infected many lives with happiness. Mike's son Night Train (Bill's grandson) is also a chip off the block. Night Train works for the White Sox and has even guest blogged for us.I suggest making his acquaintance on Twitter. He is a great guy.

 

 

 

Tags: Baseball, Bill Veeck, Floral Indusrty, Floral Management, Baseball Hall of Fame

The Top Gifts to Give for Father's Day

Posted by Rick Canale on Mon, Jun 08, 2015

While father's day could never hold a candle to mother's day, the holiday is still a great chance to show the dads out there how much they are appreciated. While my sons' love remains my greatest gift, the gifts below are great symbols to share love and appreciation.

fathersday4

Red Meat: we tend to get in touch with our inner caveman as we spark up the grill and indulge in burgers, dogs, chops, sausages, ribs and steaks. I have yet to find a better butcher than Butcher Boy Market in North Andover, MA. My recent favorite is their two pound bone-in sirloin. 

fathersday3 Red Wine - I drink red wine. I drink red wine a lot and have found some great bottles for under $20, but when I splurge the best wine I have ever had is from Drew Bledsoe. Yes, #11 Pats QB. His Doubleback Caberbnet is hands down the best red wine I have ever had.

fathersday1Baseball Cards - specifically, the 2015 Topps Archives Series. These cards include past and current stars, along with throwback designs and special autographed inserts. 

 

fathersday2 Books - sticking with my favorite sport and one of my favorite pursuits. Buy him a book.Not sure which one, Veeck as in Wreck by baseball hall of famer Bill Veeck is one of the greatest books on baseball and marketing I have ever read. I am now reading it for the fourth time.

drones

Drones - for the gadget minded, know what everyone is talking about and fly your very own drown. I am personally waiting for the Millennium Falcon version.

 

Gardening - of course, I would be remiss if I did not suggest the spectaclar hibiscus that we have at Exotic Flowers. hibiscus

Tags: Baseball, Bill Veeck, Father's Day, Steak, Wine, Baseball Hall of Fame, #EXFL

Did You Know That There Are Flower Trading Cards ?

Posted by Rick Canale on Mon, Sep 29, 2014

 ALLEN GINTER SEEDS CARD

I have been collecting baseball cards since 1979. I used to wait for fresh packs of baseball cards to arrive at the corner stores in Roslindale and Scituate. I used all of my money for packs of baseball cards. Thankfully, I rarely chewed the gum. I do miss that smell though as baseball card packs today do not come with gum. 

My card collecting days peaked in 1985. My best cards at that time included a 1976 Topps Carl Yastrzemski, a 1975 Rookie George Brett, 1980 Rookie card of Rickey Henderson and all of Carlton Fisk's cards as he was my hero at the time. 

1979 CARLTON FISK resized 600

I have all these cards today. Thankfully, my mom never threw them away. My top cards now are bit a different. I own a 1952 Topps Jackie Robinson along with 1953 Topps cards of Mickey Mantle, Satchell Paige and Willie Mays. I also collect cards of my friends Ted Lepcio, Ron Kittle and Benny Ayala. Exotic Flowers has nice collection of cards of players who have bought their flowers here; David Ortiz, Dustin Pedroia, Jonny Gomes and Tim Wakefield to name a few. 

I still buy a fresh box of baseball card packs every year to share with friends and family on Opening Day. It is a great tradition. Baseball remains my hobby. I spend most of my time at Exotic Flowers selling flowers in Boston.  Like Hall of Famer Bill Veeck, I am an avid reader, passionate marketer, lover of flora and fauna (it was Veeck's idea to plant the ivy at Wrigley Field) and huge baseball fan. Like Veeck and myself, Topps Baseball Cards also sees the connection between nature in baseball.  

 GINTER FLORA (If you are looking to acquire any type of trading card, the best site out there is comc.com)

In 2011, Topps produced an insert set in its Allen & Ginter collection. This subset, known as Flora of the World comprises five cards. The cards were inserted into 1 out of every 144 hobby packs. The coolest thing about these cards though is that they contain flower seeds embedded in the cards. You can actually plant the card itself and it will produce the flowers on the card. How cool is that ? I would love to create a business card like that. Although I do have a pretty cool busines card.

Rick Canale

Tags: Baseball, Bill Veeck, Boston Florist, Red Sox, David Ortiz, Baseball Hall of Fame

What Place Does a Boston Florist Have in The Baseball Hall of Fame

Posted by Rick Canale on Thu, Jul 10, 2014

Baseball Hall of Fame

At Exotic Flowers in Boston, we are baseball fans. We celebrate the grand old game any chance we get. On Opening Day, we have a company cookout. We have partnered with the Boston Red Sox and sponsored many little league and softball teams over the years. If you're in Roslindale and talk baseball, rest assured your florist in Boston will always 'talk shop,'. 

Baseball and flowers go hand in hand. Glenn Stout tells us, in his book Fenway 1912, that on April 20th, 1912 Fenway Park opened and pots of flowers greeted the fans. Think about it, pots brimming with flowers welcome people. Baseball people knew this 100 years ago. Baseball Hall of Famer Bill Veeck planted the ivy at Wrigley Field in Chicago in 1937 to make patrons feel more welcome. Yes. Baseball, flora and fauna go hand in hand.

cooperstown collection flowers resized 600 Flowers and baseball provide a spark of nostalgia. Whether you recall Fred Lynn crashing into the Fenway wall in 1975 or the beautiful flowers on your grandmother's dinner table, these images create a bond and experience that your cell phone cannot. The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum on Cooperstown, New York celebrates its 75th anniversary this year. At Exotic Flowers, we have partnered with the Hall of Fame to bring our clientele The Cooperstown Collection. Exotic Flowers will donate twenty percent of the purchase price of specially designed baseball themed floral arrangements and gifts to the Hall of Fame to help raise money and awareness for this valued American Institution. The world needs more museums.

Rick Canale

On another note, Exotic Flowers is proud to announce that the team we sponsor in Westwood, Massachusetts won its championship. The Westwood River Bandits had an amazing run of 12 wins, 1 loss and 1 tie as it captured the third grade championship. 

Tags: Baseball, Red Sox Florist, Bill Veeck, Fenway Park, Boston Florist, Rick Canale, Baseball Hall of Fame

Night Train Veeck: A Day-Late Flower Delivery Is Like a Day-Late Pizza Delivery

Posted by Rick Canale on Thu, Oct 03, 2013

Night Train Veeck -

 I ordered flowers yesterday for same day delivery (in the Chicago area) at just after 1 pm. Moment was lost, they didn't get there, she still hasn't received them, and I have received practically automated responses from their end haha. I'm disappointed, but still optimistic they will make it right. Anyway, this is the email I sent.chicago flowers resized 600

Enjoy!
Hello Jocelyn,
I appreciate the email -- I have been in contact on the phone and emailing with several different people now, and I still haven't gotten any sort of confirmation or status. You say it was attempted, though, the recipient was at work all day yesterday until six pm, and she mentioned she never received. Maybe it was attempted shortly after then, but wouldn't that still be late by your standards?
I had someone named April call me yesterday that left a message, and I called back only to get another person that told me to call back in the morning. I called this morning (very early, around eight, so I didn't expect the florist to be open, which I totally understand) and she mentioned she made a note to follow up ASAP when they opened. 

As of now, I haven't heard anything back from any party, and am really starting to wonder if she will ever get these flowers. I tracked on your website, and there is no confirmation. When same day, and freshness is touted as much as it is on your website, and neither quite happen, it is a little disappointing, I must admit. 
I do appreciate, though,  that you guys have been in contact with me, and I actually have one phone call that was missed from a "No ID" number. Who knows whether that was someone on your end getting in touch or another person, but there was no voice mail, so I really have no way to tell who it was. 
cold pizza 9045 resized 600
It's similar to ordering a pizza. Ordering a pizza that you don't get until the next day still will be pretty good when reheated because, hey, it's pizza! And Pizza is great. Who doesn't enjoy a good pizza? But when you ordered that pizza (with enough time and within all of the parameters!), and you get it late (a whole day!), and have to see that it is reheated, you sort of miss that pizza moment, and the enchantment is lessened, and all that wonder, beauty, excitement and happiness that you get from seeing, smelling and biting into your first bite of said delicious pizza is just not the same. 
As you can see, I really enjoy pizza, so my apologies for the lengthy email and analogy (especially if you don't eat pizza!, yikes!), but I just want to make sure that much like beautiful pizza, that this very special woman, and even though the moment is lost, gets her beautiful flowers.
Is there any chance that you can help?
Thanks again for everything, and I hope to hear from you soon.
Night Train Veeck
******
Night Train Veeck is a great guy and you can follow him on Twitter at VeeckAsInWreck. Some of you may recognize his name. Night Train is the son of Minor League Baseball legend and "Fun Is Good" author Mike Veeck. He is also the grandson of marketing genius, Baseball Hall of Famer and one of my heroes Bill Veeck. As you can see, the apple does not fall far from the tree.
veeck resized 600
At Exotic Flowers in Boston, we love pizza too and will make sure your flowers are never like a late pizza delivery.

Tags: Bill Veeck, Pizza, Flower Deliveries, Customer Service

Rockies, Cubs, Nationals, Orioles know Flowers & Plants Welcome Fans

Posted by Rick Canale on Fri, Apr 12, 2013

wrigley field ivy chicago cubs resized 600
in 1937 Baseball Hall of Famer Bill Veeck planted the ivy at Wrigley Field. The idea was to create a park in the city where people felt welcome.
I think I have been a baseball fan since I was born. The game was always on tv or the radio throughout my childhood and remains that way today. My earliest major league memory comes from the 1975 World Series when Fred Lynn crashed into the wall at Fenway Park. I was four years old. 
Having grown up in the flower business, I have always been in awe how flowers and plants make such a difference in people's lives. Whether sending orchids in Boston, receiving roses in Roxbury or planting hydrangeas in Hyde Park, it is amazing how much happier flowers make us all feel.
coors field resized 600 
The Colorado Rockies' Coors Field has one of the most majestic treescapes as its showcase in centerfield.
Recently I read an article in greenProfit magazine, John Friel provides his insight on the importance of plants and people and our quality of life.
With some quotes from Dr. Charlie Hall and co-author Madeline W. Dixon, Friel writes " Plants mean business: 'Aesthetically-pleasing landscaping welcomes customers (and) enhances their perception of the quality of products and services. Consumers... pay higher prices, travel further and shop longer in a store that they perceive to be a quality establishment,'." This theory is most evident at the ballpark. In 1937 Bill Veeck, led by Philip Wrigley planted the ivy and trees at Wrigley Field. In 1912, author Glenn Stout tells us that the Red Sox had installed planters filled with flora and fauna to welcome fans to the new ball park in Boston. Unfortunately, the Red Sox have lost their way a bit and the park often appears cold and commercial and less welcoming one hundred years later.
nationals park resized 600
in 2008, the Washington Nationals built their new ballpark and installed cherry blossom trees in and around the park.
Friel goes on to write, "Plants love tourists: 'Parks and botanical gardens (are) effective tourist attractions... food, transportation, lodging, etc. represent additional revenue for local businesses (and) a city's economy. This revenue gets filtered back into the economy and adds to financial prosperity.' "
Who would have thought that flowers actually make money? So many people look at flowers as a luxury. "Landscaping yields, on average, a 109% return on every dollar spent." It is no mystery that new style ball parks have been created to welcome fans. Places like Camden Yards in Baltimore and PNC Park in Pittsburgh have been created to welcome fans. While concrete and steel stadiums like Veterans Stadium and Riverfront Stadium have been torn down. 
flowers and fancies resized 600 photo credit Flowers and Fancies, Baltimore, MD.
The Orioles, Red Sox, Reds, Twins and Yankees have all been known to celebrate their opening days and World Series with flowers. Of course, some teams see the importance more than others. The Yankees have been know to have hundreds of floral arrangements throughout their stadium during the World Series. My pal Eddie Wingrat of Flowers & Fancies in Baltimore has been creating the opening day flowers at Camden Yards for more than twenty years. See the spectacular arrangements he created in the above photo for 2013.

Tags: Baseball, Red Sox Florist, Bill Veeck, Red Sox, Baltimore Florist

Exotic Flowers Top 5 Business Books for Summer 2011

Posted by Rick Canale on Fri, Jul 22, 2011

5. Toots ShorToots by Bob Considine

No longer in print, this book about the famous saloon keeper Toots Shor -  is a nice read for all restauranteuers and small businessmen. 'Toots' not only teaches how to build solid business relationships, but also how to make money while doing it. His concept of spending quality time with his customers is practiced every day at Exotic Flowers in Boston.

4. veeck marketing resized 600Marketing Your Dreams by Pat Williams, Michael Weinreb

Williams insists that 'Marketing Your Dreams isn't a Bill Veeck biography; instead, it's a book about success, a book about one of the most relentless and fascinating personalities in the history of organized sports. It's a book about extracting Veeck's traits and concentrating them into their purest form so that the reader can pull the same kind of inspiration from the master that Williams did.'

The reader will find many of Pat and Bill's marketing ideas implemented at Exotic Flowers in Boston. Bill Veeck has always been one of my idols.

 

3.

Exceptional Service, Exceptional Profit: The Secrets of Building a Five-Star Customer Service Organization


by Leonardo Inghilleri,Micah Solomon,Horst Schulze
 
the chapter on Building Customer Loyalty Online and the Appendixes are worth the price of the book alone.
Just wish more companies practiced these policies.
At Exotic Flowers in Boston, we are making a concerted effort to implement many of these policies.
 
2.
Marketing Lessons from the Grateful Dead: What Every Business Can Learn from the Most Iconic Band in History

by David Meerman Scott,Brian Halligan
 
This book is great for the beach or the lake. A quick read with original insight. You can finish in a day or two.
 
Halligan and Meerman Scott have offered the staff at Exotic Flowers lots of fresh ideas for social media and marketing in Boston.
1.
Veeck--As In Wreck: The Autobiography of Bill Veeck
describe the image
by Bill Veeck,Ed Linn
 
I am now reading this book for the third time. Not only inspiring, but enjoyable. This book is a must have for baseball fans, marketing fans and all small business owners. Bill inspires and teaches.
 
 
 

Tags: Bill Veeck, Marketing, Customer Service

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