Exotic Flowers in Boston

Sometimes we hear people's darkest secrets. Sometimes they make us laugh. A recent store visit below:

Behind the floral counter:

Customer(C): I need a plant for my boss.

ExoticFlowers(EF): we have great orchids right here.

C: are they easy to care for?

EF: yes, she'll have no problem.

C: well, I'll be caring for it. I am going to show it to her in our zoom meeting & keep it.

EF:

 

Sometimes we hear people's darkest secrets. Sometimes they make us laugh. A recent phone call below:

 

EF: Her phone #?

 

Him: She doesn't have a phone.

 

EF: She doesn't have a phone?

 

Him: We got into a fight and I disconnected everything.

 

EF(lol): Maybe you should send her a phone instead of roses.

 

When the driver got there, the recipient could be heard swearing about the sender as she brought the flowers into the house.

Sometimes we hear people's darkest secrets. Sometimes they make us laugh. A recent phone call below:

EF: 'Good morning, Exotic Flowers'

JM: 'Hi, my husband sent me flowers but you sent the wrong item.'

EF: 'Let me look it up. His name?'

JM: (name blanked to protect the innocent);

EF: 'We do not have anyone by that name in our system. What is yours?'

JM: name given

EF: 'Yes, we have your order 18 red roses.'

JM: 'My husband did not order that'

EF: 'I helped him myself. He was clear about what he wanted'

JM: 'No, we did not order that'

EF: 'He was here this morning and showed me what he wanted'

For the first time in more than forty years, Exotic Flowers in Roslindale will be closed for more than forty eight hours. I am working from home to keep you updated on our plans and any future orders we may have. We cannot offer local delivery at this time. If you have an order to any area that is still delivering flowers, we will take great care of you. Please email me at rick@exoticflowers.com with any questions.

Stay safe. Stay Home. Stay Healthy. Flatten the curve.

It’s true… I was a florist for over twenty years in the Boston Wholesale Floral Industry- a job the where the word “difficult” might be an understatement for adequately describing the profession.  Rain or shine, sleet or snow, the crew gathered together in the middle of the night to unload tractor trailer trucks packed with thirty to forty pound boxes which we would have to haul off, open and distribute before the sun actually had risen.  It was grueling exercise, the kind of workout that would leave you aching for days in your back, legs and arms with little to no rest that would allow healing.  Nevertheless, there was something inside of me driving the covers off when the 3:30 am alarm clock rang, the sound of a relentless drill sergeant commanding the start of a new day in the Boston Flower Exchange.  Looking back, I could have left and got a job in an office like most twenty something’s do but instead I made the choice to stay.  Regardless of the empty threats to leave the business in search of “easier” means of work, I continued to show up exactly on the hour required by employees (well, most of the time anyways…) and do my share of lugging, carrying and schlepping while being left with a strange sense of fulfillment at the end of the day.  There could only be one explanation for this feeling that also came along with pain, exhaustion and bruises… I really loved being a florist.

Unbeknown too many people out there, being a floristis actually one of the hardest professions to survive within, and that includes both in terms of physical and financial wellness.  There are long, grueling hours, limited opportunities for pay increases and the toll of heavy weight lifting on the body after years and years of exposure.  Truly, you have to be one tough cookie to make it in the flower biz and as you can imagine- it’s not for everyone.  

You might be wondering, “If it’s so bad, why do it then?”  It’s an honest question with an honest answer-you’re a florist because you were born to become one.  Seriously, it’s the truth.  There are several personality traits that can lead a person into this profession which will determine if it’s the right fit for you.  If you’ve always had an interest in this field, you might want to go over the top 13 traits of a true florist.  Your destiny may be calling you…

The Top 13 Traits of a True Florist

1. You’re Hardworking No Matter What
2. You LOVE Anything That Grows
3. Not Having A Garden Is Sacrilegious
4. Working Saturdays Is No Big Deal
5. You’re Inherently Creative
6. You Like To Gamble
7. Weather Conditions Don’t Affect You
8. You See Yourself As An Artist
9. Your Work Means More To You Than A Paycheck
10. You Continue to Enjoy Learning Long After You’ve Finished School
11. You Like People But You Like Time Alone, Too
12. You Prefer To Move Than To Be Sitting Down All Day
13. You Use Your Hands More Than Any Other Part Of Your Body

When we have an important event to plan or a special anniversary to prepare for, we often turn to the advice of a florist to steer us on the right path.  Whether its an order of red roses for Valentine’s Day or the organization of a bar mitzvah’s centerpieces, we know our local flower shop is always available to help make our floral dreams come true.  For those of you who are anticipating a similar occasion and aren’t quite sure how to begin to approach a conversation with a designer, you might want to do a little research beforehand in order to be prepared.  It’s always good to do a little homework as well as be equipped with some suitable questions to ask the professional so you get the full picture what they can and can’t do.  If you’re not sure where to start, let me help you with some general points it might be wise to convey to your florist before finalizing your order.

Brooke Shields in “Flower Shop Mystery: Mum’s The Word”

Valuable Questions You Should Be Keeping In Mind…

• Where does your product come from?

Most probably, you’ll get more than one destination for an answer since flower shops almost always use a wide range of suppliers from around the globe due to cost and availability of particular species.   Where the flowers come from will have a large bearing on the price and quality.

• Can I get my favorite flower year round?

Unless you’re talking roses or pom poms, the answer is usually no.  Certain flowers grow at certain times of the year, especially those found local to New England.  Is it true that it might be possible to order these from another country instead of relying on local harvesting?  Yes, but be prepared for a cost increase or a variation in quality.  Examples may be sweet peas, freesia, grape hyacinth and lily of the valley.   

3.  What exact colors do the blooms grow in shade?

This is something you should always be aware of when it comes to matching an exact tint to a fabric or other “idea” you may be relying on… you must be flexible!  It is more than likely your florist may not be able to perfectly copy a color to a swatch so please remember that tractability will save you a lot of stress, anxiety and most importantly, disappointment.  Flowers were meant to contrast and compliment décor so give the pro’s a little wiggle room to do their work.  

On Wednesday, July 12th: Arnold 'Sonny' Canale will have been the owner and operator of Lombardi Florist for 60 years. An amazing testament to talent, work ethic and care for clients. As we tell clients every day, he must be doing something right.

In 60 years - he's sold more than five million roses, one million carnations, more than one million deliveries, grown thousands of poinsettias and outdoor plants and has designed a million floral arrangements. He has operated five locations, supported dozens of charities and employed hundreds. Three Best of Boston awards, a World Series florist, a PGA Championship florist, FTD Top 1000, Top 500, Top 250, Top 100 and Top 10. Telelfora Top 50. Floral Management Marketer of the Year, RedBook Circle of Excellence. The numbers are not only staggering but humbling.

Stop by the shop on July 12 and say hi. We'll have treats and surprises.

609 American Legion Hwy, Roslindale, MA 02131

617-247-2000 

I just saw this hysterical video on line where two women put on a skit about the common misconceptions of becoming a florist.  The plot begins with a customer entering the store, presumably asking “typical” questions to the proprietor about different buying situations that are familiar to well seasoned florists.  If you work in the industry, you may have already seen the clip because the link has gone viral, particularly within the floral community.  Some of the inquiries and comments include: “This must be the most relaxing place in the world to work” (giggle, snort, sigh) and “Is this all you have to browse today?” when there are buckets of blossoms lined up in the background.   The whole thing is a farce and made to show the incredible misunderstandings that seem to be connected with the floral occupation.  So it got me thinking about a laundry list of lies that I have heard over the twenty-year stint I experienced while working in the wholesale sector.  

These are the ones I laugh at the most… Have you ever experienced any of these as well?

1. Retail florists make so much money; they can afford to take as much time off as they desire.  Although wholesalers make more, they don’t even work past 1pm in most places.  Fact: Retail florists typically work six to seven days a week, generally from seven in the morning until eight or nine o’clock at night.  Wholesalers commonly start their day anywhere from two to three o’clock in the morning to meet the shipments arriving by truck from airports.  They don’t work less; they have to punch the clock in while you’re still in bed asleep.
2. Working in a flower shop is the easiest job you can get because it requires no physical activity, the most being the task of arranging pretty blossoms together in vases.  Fact: The manual labor associated with the floral industry is congruent with the restaurant business where there is little to no “down time” during shifts.  Accurate physical responsibilities include heavy lifting, fast paced movement and constant up and down bending.
3. Becoming a florist takes no prior talent or experience and there is absolutely no education required.  Anyone can do it.  Fact:  Most florists hold college degrees in horticulture, agriculture or business where it is imperative that they know how to handle, care and operate a successful self-supporting company.  Many flower shop owners now also make it mandatory for all staff to attend conferences, design clinics and other continuing education opportunities available within the industry to keep on top of trends.
4. The majority of flower shops in Bostonstay open for at least five years with few closing before their one-year anniversary.  Fact: Opening a flower business and keeping one open are two totally different issues.  One in every three shops end up closing before twelve months in operation and only a few today have been around as long as ten or more years.  The flower industry remains one of the top most competitive markets in Boston.
5. All that’s needed to run a successful flower shop is a few nice flowers and some empty vases.  The rest will work itself out on its own.  Fact: In order to organize a well run flower business, you must have a talented staff, a well thought out business plan, a great location, access to a demographic that will spend money on flowers, a dependable wholesaler that will supply product of the appropriate grade, enough start up cash to float you during the rougher months of the year, genius merchandising and marketing strategies, top notch sales people, talent and most importantly LUCK!  

On Tuesday, July 12th: Arnold 'Sonny' Canale will have been the owner and operator of Lombardi Florist for 59 years. An amazing testament to talent, work ethic and care for clients. As we tell clients every day, he must be doing something right.

In 59 years - he's sold more than five million roses, one million carnations, more than one million deliveries, grown thousands of poinsettias and outdoor plants and has designed a million floral arrangements. He has operated five locations, supported dozens of charities and employed hundreds. Three Best of Boston awards, a World Series florist, a PGA Championship florist, FTD Top 1000, Top 500, Top 250, Top 100 and Top 10. Telelfora Top 50. Floral Management Marketer of the Year, RedBook Circle of Excellence. The numbers are not only staggering but humbling.