Exotic Flowers in Boston

 I was born in Boston in 1970 and grew up in Roslindale. As a child, we were fortunate enough to be able to walk or ride our bikes to our friends' houses, play baseball by ourselves at Healy Field and street hockey at Fallon Field. Our bikes were like our own cars and gave us a freedom that almost no Boston child can experience today. With a pocketful of change, we could go to the local store and fill our pockets with bubble gum, baseball cards, candy cigarettes, and jaw breakers. Stores like the Town Spa, Florence Street Variety and many other corner stores kept a close eye on all of us as we gazed at all the goodies under the glass.

Imagine seeing a kid with a candy cigarette today. Not only not cool, but you would think it was a joint. Candy stores today are few and far between and the ones we find today are like Candy Kitchen in Delaware.

While the average corner store candy sale was less than a dollar, a candy store today must average twenty dollars per transaction to stay in business. As we appoach Sweetest Day on October 19th, 2013 we are reminded how candy stores have innovated and struggled to remain relevant.

Sweetest Day is celebrated on the third Saturday of October. In 1921, a group of Cleveland candy makers brought the event to the public. The idea is to celebrate someone sweet with something sweet. Sweetest Day was started to gain some commercial recognition for the confectioner's craft and flourishes in cities like Cleveland and Detroit. Although not that popular in Boston or New York, many college students will bring their traditions to the northeast to celebrate loved ones with candy, cards and even flowers. Why not start your own tradition and this Sweetest Day ?

At Exotic Flowers in Boston, we admire those trailblazing confectioners of Cleveland. As smart businessmen, they grouped together to keep their business relevant. Florists throughout the world can learn from these men. Teleflora makes an attempt with National Make Someone Smile Week and FTD tries with Good Neighbor Day. In 2013, the floral industry needs some trailblazing flower shops to adopt an idea to keep our business relevant.

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.

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. 

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.

Just in time for Halloween parties in Salem, Boston and New England, Exotic Flowers in Boston has partnered with Teleflora of Los Angeles to offer the Spooky Surprise Bouquet. 

This festive arrangement arrives in a ceramic keepsake pumpkin and serves as a great conversation piece. The fresh arrangement features miniature roses, safflower and curly willow along with a spooky ghost. Available in Boston for same day delivery, Exotic Flowers can also send this flower arrangement nationwide.

The Spooky Surprise Bouquet retails for $59.95, $74.95 (as shown) and $89.95. 

photo credits: Francis Ouimet Scholarship Fund 

On Friday, September 20th, 2013 Exotic Flowers in Boston was honored to create the floral wreath for the ceremony honoring the centennial of Francis Ouimet's upset victory at the U.S. Open for Golf in 1913. The 1913 U.S. Open was played at the Country Club in Brookline. Even President Taft was spotted in the crowd.

Today,  

"The Francis Ouimet Scholarship Fund is committed to providing need and merit-based scholarship aid to students who have demonstrated a strong work ethic by having completed at least two years of service to golf.  The Ouimet Fund rewards accomplishment through the competitive, renewable award.  The Fund is dedicated to providing the golfing community with an opportunity to “give back to golf” and society by assisting youth in furthering their education.  The Fund also seeks to preserve the history of Francis Ouimet’s contributions to American golf."

At Exotic Flowers in Boston, we are becoming known as the golfer's florist. From our run as the florist for The Deutsche Bank Championship from 2005-2013 to handling weddings at Spring Valley Country Club, Granite Links and TPC Boston to name a few. Exotic Flowers is the golfer's choice for flowers.

Hey PATRIOTS fans! The Pats are asking for donations of children's books to bring to this Sunday's game and they will personally deliver them to needy children of Massachusetts! Exotic Flowers of Boston will give a FREE Beantown Tale book to those who show their game day ticket from now until Saturday to donate to this great cause! Just show your ticket at our store at 609 American Legion Hwy in Roslindale, MA and you'll get a free copy to give:)

At Exotic Flowers in Boston, we know the value of reading to children and for kids to have their very own books. 

Florists ususally get good press. We share beauty with the world. Even internet giant GoDaddy has jumped on board with the latest commercial featuring a florist who 'gets pumped up' building her on line floral business. The  Muscles from Brussels, Jean-Claude Van Damme even flexes for the florist in her flower shop.