Recent Posts

Follow Me

Exotic Flowers in Boston

The Society of American Florists Acknowledges Exotic Flowers

Posted by Rick Canale on Sat, Nov 16, 2013

Christmas FlowersEvery Saturday, the Society of American Florists (SAF) offers sales tips to floral industry professionals. This week, Katie Hendrick shares some holiday sales tips from Exotic Flowers in Boston.

Inexpensive Perks Keep Customers Merry

by Katie Hendrick
At Exotic Flowers in Boston, convenience and customer appreciation define the company's holiday marketing philosophy. We reached out to Rick Canale, owner of the 2008 Marketer of the Year-winning shop, for some tactics to get customers in the door and spending money, amidst all their other shopping activity.

Here are just a few of them:

  • Sell Christmas trees and wreaths to generate in-store traffic
  • Provide snacks – popcorn and candy canes – to keep tired shoppers in good spirits
  • Offer complimentary containers of hand sanitizer (to keep cold and flu germs at bay). The Exotic Flowers version has "Red Sox World Series Champions" emblazoned on it.
  • Send letters reminding customers of the previous year's holiday order with a personal letter. ("This gets great feedback," Canale said. "People appreciate reminders and they really love the personalization of the letter.")
  • Hand deliver poinsettias to top 100 clients.
  • Hand sign cards to top 200 clients.

Tags: SAF, Society of American Florists, Marketing, Christmas Wreaths, Christmas Trees, Christmas, Christmas Flowers

Things To Do with Your Christmas Tree After the Holidays

Posted by Rick Canale on Thu, Jan 10, 2013

Boston Christmas Tree Uses

My wife Suzie always take our Christmas tree down on December 26th. The fear of fire, the pile of needles and the confinements of our small house all lead to the immediate break down of Christmas at our home in Chestnut Hill. We do still enjoy our Christmas tree outside for a couple more weeks. Our tree stands in its Christmas tree stand without decorations on our stairs landing. The plethora of birds in our neighborhood frequent this new found shelter. If you like visiting birds, you can smear the smaller branches of your own reused Christmas tree with peanut butter and adhere bird seed to create a grand fir bird feeder. 

If you live in Boston, we are very fortunate. Boston trash and recycling picks up everything including the kitchen sink. You do not even to have undecorate your Christmas tree. You could take the whole tree with lights, ornaments and the Christmas tree stand to the sidewalk and the boys from Capital will dispose of it properly. If you have any shed of decency and wish to do the right thing, then strip your tree bare. Leave the tree on the sidewalk and let the Boston's magic tree elves do their business. These trees can be mulched and composted where their remains are then recycled right into the environment. Christmas trees are also used to deter beach erosion and also provide shelter for animals in the harsh winters of New England.

Recycled Christmas Tree

You could also save your Christmas tree in your backyard too. Remove the boughs and use them to shelter your more tender perennials and bulb beds.  Let the trunk dry out until next winter and cut up for fire wood. Please refrain from using the wood indoors or your outdoor  fire pit this year. The tree is still green and will smoke profusely.

After Christmas Tree

Some other great tips for reusing your Christmas tree include: 

Cut about two feet off your tree from top or bottom or both. This is a great shelter for rabbits and an even better activity area for the energetic Boston squirrel.

If you need Christmas scent year round, then fill a sachet with pine needles. Your drawers will be filled with fragrant evergreen scent year round.

 

 

 

Tags: Christmas Wreaths, Christmas Trees, Christmas, Recycling Tips

How to Show Christmas for Your Wedding or Engagement Party - by Suzie Canale

Posted by Rick Canale on Fri, Dec 02, 2011

Faith Hill Flowers resized 600The Christmas season is filled with hope and possibilities. The season of wishes and dreams forces us to extend the season as long as we can; hence the arrival of Christmas music on Boston radio on November 11. In Boston, we hang garland, bake cookies and even mount Christmas wreaths on our cars. The aroma of vanilla, pine and cinnamon brings us back to our childhood. Even Boston brides try to recreate Christmas magic for their weddings. 

wedding brides bouquet boston resized 600Christmas is all about lights. Twinkle lights, LED lights, twinkle lights, sphere lights, musical lights. You can never have enough lights for Christmas in Boston. Lights can hang from the ceiling, on archways, over mantles and on trees outdoors and indoors. Not only electrical lights, but how about candle light ? Tea lights, hurricanes, tapers, pillars or even battery operated candles will create Christmas romance for your wedding. Another favorite of mine is candle lighting your church with no electric light. Call up the fire marshall and illuminate your church with hundreds of candles along the aisle and altar.

boston christmas wedding resized 600Another essential for any Christmas wedding are evergreens; boughs, garland, wreaths, kissing balls and trees. Holiday garland beautifies chairs, banisters, mantles and can even be draped along the aisle of church pews. Christmas garland may also be accented with berries, pine cones and ornaments as well. Candle rings are also a cost effective centerpiece. A candle ring is just like a miniature Christmas wreath; add a cream pillar candle to the center and you are done. Christmas trees are also a great wedding prop. Six to ten Christmas with white twinke lights on a church altar will give you your own indoor forest. This tree scape is an ideal backdrop for timeless wedding photos. 

 

Suzie Canale

www.beantowntales.net

follow me at www.twitter.com/SuzieCanale

Tags: Suzie Hearl Canale, Wedding Flowers, Christmas Wreaths, Holiday Roping, Christmas Trees, Christmas

Celebrating Christmas with Evergreen Boughs, Garland and Wreaths

Posted by Rick Canale on Wed, Dec 08, 2010

Boston Christmas GardenFor centuries, Christmas has been celebrated with many symbols, especially the presence of evergreens. Evergreen boughs and garland were present in many cultures and celebrations. Jewish history shows the use of evergreen boughs in during their Feast of Tabernacles. While the Germans used evergreen boughs in their homes during winter to bring life indoors. The Romans celebrated their winter solstice with boughs, garlands and flowers. These celebrants were the beginnings of the floral industry. Our florist ancestors showed the importance of floral decor as a part of winter celebrations.

Christmas wreaths aand garland trace their symbolism to early Christianity. As Christians began celebrating the birth of Christ, the pagan traditions of winter were carried over and somewhat modified and new meanings were created. The boughs and garlands served as a symbol to remind Christians of the salvation and redemption of Jesus.

Christmas Wreaths in Boston

The presence of the holiday wreath resonates with religious symbol of a ring. Wreaths represent God's eternal nature; no beginning, no end. Many believe the origin of the Christmas wreath comes from Jesus' crown of thorns. The adornment and decoration of a Christmas wreath emanate from the celebration of Christ's birth as well as a crown for a King.

Wagon full of White Pine Roping

Tags: Symbols of Christmas, Christmas Wreaths, Holiday Roping

Subscribe via E-mail

Contact Us for All Your Floral Needs