Exotic Flowers in Boston

We are less than 100 days away from the premiere of The Force Awakens. At Exotic Flowers, we are huge Star Wars fans. We sell Star Wars balloons, have in-store Star Wars action figures on display and we now offer the Lightspeed Bouquet.

This limited edition bouquet's colors are inspired by the sunsets of the planet Tatooine. The bouquet is only available in the Boston area and arrives with a 2015 pack of Star Wars trading cards.

At only $64.95, this arrangement is sure to sell out quickly.

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. 

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

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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.

 If you are not familiar with the term, Going Viral: becoming very popular by circulating quickly from person to person, especially through the Internet:

Last Friday at Fenway Park, Athletics 3B Brett Lawrie broke his bat. The piece flew into the stands and put fan and mother, Tonya Carpenter in the hospital with a fractured skull. More importantly than anything, Tonya is recovering and doing much better.

On Saturday, my contact at the Red Sox reached out to me on behalf of Lawrie to send her flowers and a card. At the time Carpenter was in serious condition and unable to receive flowers. By Tuesday, her condition had improved and we were able to deliver the flowers along with Lawrie's card message " Sending my thoughts and prayers, Brett Lawrie "

By Tuesday evening, Carpenter's family had sent a message of thanks to Lawrie along with pictures of flowers and the card, where we were prominently showcased on WCVB News, WBZ News and FoxNewsBoston.

This act of kindness then caught fire and was picked by the Boston Globe,  Boston Herald, CNN, ESPN, Sports Illustrated, The Sporting News, NECN, NESN, US World News, and ABC News. It was posted and liked on Facebook, Twitter and Google+ by tens of thousands which in turn created millions of consumer impressions.

By the time Wednesday morning came, our friends, clients and colleagues were all talking about it and sending us messages and mentioning in the flower market and SAF also picked up the story for their weekly newsletter.

This act of kindness is great for the entire floral industry. But most importantly she is recovering. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Tonya as well. 

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.

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. 

 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.

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

 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 - 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. 

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Rick Canale

617-247-2000

rick@exoticflowers.com

Roslindale, MA, (April, 2015) – Exotic Flowers was recently presented with the FTD Quality Star Award for its achievements in 2014. This important designation is only bestowed upon FTD Florists that consistently fulfilled and delivered high quality arrangements in a timely manner for the entire year. Recognized by FTD for quality and excellence, Exotic Flowers is dedicated to consistently providing exceptional customer service by delivering quality products for their customer’s most memorable occasions.  

Exotic Flowers is receiving the elite FTD Quality Star Award as a result of its continued commitment to quality improvement, customer service and proper care and handling of flowers.  Exotic Flowers is an example for fellow florists in the industry.

"To achieve this award once again is an awesome testament to the attention to detail that our staff provides on every transaction." - Rick Canale

Exotic Flowers remains a family owned and operated business in Boston for more than eighty years. Exotic Flowers imports flowers from around the world to offer its clients the unusual and outstanding.

Below is a copy of a letter that I sent out to baseball fans that I share cards with every year. Please let let me know if I can put you on the list.

Happy Opening Day,

If you are getting this letter, you know how much I love baseball and especially Opening Day. I did sign the petition to make it a national holiday. Alas, we celebrate things like Columbus Day instead.

My Opening Day tradition of ripping open a pack of baseball cards remains. I love sharing that tradition with you. No gum in these cards, sorry they took that out years ago. They should still infuse the cards with the scent though. That smell sparks nostalgia.

This year, our friend Kenton Jacobs opens a barbecue stand on Yawkey Way at Fenway Park. He makes the best barbecue. Make sure you tell Jake, that Rick at the flower shop told you to stop by !

See you at the ballpark !

Rick