Contained Flowers are all the rage… Flowers under glass are magical and intriguing… and easy to do. Here’s the Truth of the matter: Flowers contained in Glass last longer and suffer Less Breakage. That means Reduced SHRINK, more Profit this Valentines Day and Happy Satisfied Customers!

It’s easy to achieve… here I used Sophie Roses from Esprit Miami and a large vase… The Roses were cut all the same length (slightly shorter than the vase) and placed “inside” the Vase rather than extending out the top) Chrysal Rose Pro Solution was used to keep the water Clean and Clear. (make sure NO Leaves or debris fall under the water level)  The Topping… a Length of coordinating Colorful Reliant Ribbon tied around the vase. (Secure the ribbon using the NEW Oasis uglu)
This awe-inspired technique is easy… and your customers won’t be able to contain themselves.

I fell in love with this rose nearly 3 years ago when I saw it for the first time in Amsterdam at Horti-fair. It’s a Special Red mutation… that has been scientifically cultivated to open in the shape of  a heart. Yes… they found this rose and genetically bred the Variety HEARTZ… when you look into the center of the rose you actually see the visual impression of a Heart!

I was so excited when I found out that the Designer Flower Experts at Esprit Miami were carrying this Amazing roses. It’s deep Red Color and plentiful bloom count make it exceptional beyond Valentine’s Day as well… Heartz is the perfect rose for romantic weddings, Special Events and Holidays too. With a Mystical Ruffled appearance and Extra Long Vase Life… Heartz is a Stellar Performer!

Heartz is the Perfect Roses for Sweetheartz the world over… If you want to make a lasting impression give her ESPRIT ’s HEARTZ this Valentine’s Day!

Helping Florist Increase their Success and Profitability on Valentine’s Day was the Mission for our 2010 V-day Boot Camps held throughout the country.  With over 30 years experience in the Retail Flower Industry (I’ve worked the Trenches coast to coast)  My goal is sharing my valuable expertise.  I’ve seen the BEST (and sometimes the worst), these experiences helped me create a PLAN for Professional Florists throughout our great Industry.
We’re so CLOSE… and so Busy,,, that many times we forget that BETTER Flower Products, Improved Flower  Process and Innovative Technology are constantly being introduced and  changing our Profession for the Better.
There are dozens of ways to increase productivity and Positively Impact our Bottom LINE during Major Flower Holidays.
By saving time,… we naturally reduce our (Expensive)  Labor costs! Providing Better Quality improves Customer Satisfaction! Spend a few pennies more (literally) and we Improve our Design Potential!  Implement (FREE) Design Technology and market our FLOWERS to an entire NEW Audience of Flower Buyers! Doing a Few Simple Things… changing JUST A Little… We Increase our PROFITS and actually Go HOME Early… (Rested, Relaxed and Rejuvinated).
Attendees of the 2010 V-day Boot Camps Agree… There minimal Investment was  money well spent, saving them Hours of Prep, Reducing Precious Labor Costs and Improved Customer Satisfaction. Watch the Highlights of my V-day Boot Camps this week on JTV … and get a few tips yourself… Why NOT Make more Money,… and Go home Early!?!

Interested in getting J to your town for his 2010  Mother’s Day Boot Camp? Email J at j@jtv4u.com or call 616-446-6086 or Ask your Wholesaler or Flower Association to Bring J to YOU!

Yep… Mom just called me a few weeks ago and to let me know… I have a NEW Baby Sister! It must have been my impending 50th Birthday that led my Mom to think that I couldn’t possibly be the BABY of the Family anymore! LOL!

So Enter Princess… YES… my Mom got a POCKET POOCH! She wanted one that was tiny (and adorable) that could fit in her pocket or purse so that Princess can go everywhere with her! She’s a cute little girl… and I’ve not got to see her in person yet… but she was kissing up on Mom and My Aunt Lorraine on Christmas Eve on our Skype Conversation… only supposed to be 2lbs or so when full grown… Mom Loves her… I’m wondering what Dad thinks? I’m sure he’s smitten too… Who Could Resist!!!

I also made note of these of Ornaments at Direct Export when I was in Dallas… Not only is there a PRINCESS replica… but there is also a PINK Ball that says "PRINCESS"… wonder if my Mom is going to deck out the whole tree for my Sweet TINY Baby "Sister" next Christmas…  Only Time will tell! 

A behavioral research study conducted by Nancy Etcoff, Ph.D., of Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School proves that Flowers have a Positive Influence in our Lives.

Scrap the Xanax… move over St. John’s Wort… Flowers are the KEY to feeling Good and increasing Productivity…

This article published on the Society of American Florists Site… www.aboutflowers.com Shares THREE Key Findings… that PROVE Flowers are a Great way to IMPROVE our Lives!

Past Studies have proven that PEOPLE feel HAPPY when they receive Flowers… and Patients in the Hospital get better FASTER when they receive flowers… (The Study Shows an EVEN Faster recovery TIME when the Flowers they receive are YELLOW!) Here’s the Three Major Findings of Dr. Etcoff’s Study!

1.  Flower Feed Compassion! People who lived with Flowers or plants for one week were more Kind and Compassion than their Flower/Free Counterparts!

2. Flowers Chase away THE BLUES, Worry and Anxiety at Home! Participants felt LESS negative with Flowers in their home and they placed the Flowers in the rooms they were in most frequently…they found that the Participants actually LOOKED forward to seeing the Flowers when they got up in the MORNING! 

3. Living with Flowers Boost Energy, Enthusiasm and Happiness at Work…  This is something we’ve known as Professional Flower Sellers for year… being around Flowers makes us FEEL GREAT! How many times have you heard your customers say…"it must be AWESOME to be around Flowers all day"… We all know it’s true… FEEL GOOD… FLOWERS are the Answer!

Read the whole article here…  http://bit.ly/6hceIu and Bookmark www.aboutflowers.com for Continuing FLOWER Information and great news About FLOWERS!

Here’s a Great Article from The KNOT about Wedding Centerpiece Trends … It’s their take… right from their Real Wedding Coordinators and Special Event Experts!

Anemones: The NEW Flowers… They are Fashionable and Colorful… but availability and shipping challenges may prevent this Flower from WINNING Best SHOW (for the Dough)… Anemones are Wonderful Spring Flowers… with HOLLOW Stems… and (most often) SHORT… and SHORTER…  They are Amazing Accent flowers… and really add a Unique Shape form and texture to any design. My Money is Still on ROSES for PUMPED up VOLUME… that’s SURE to IMPRESS!

Mokara Orchids… NOT only do I LOVE them… Amy’s Orchids grows some of the Most Amazing Mokara’s on the PLANET… (My Favorite’s Include Buffalo Orange, and Robin… along with McKenny Orange)… Keep an Eye on ONCIDIUMS as well… Since Michelle Obama announced her Love for ONCIDIUMS… they have been selling out around the Country!

Carnations… Halleluiah! This Wonderful, Fragrant, Color Conscious Flower regains it’s rightful place in Wedding work… THANKS KNOT… for Extolling the Virtues of this INCREDIBLE FLOWER!

Clear Vases, Plexiglas and SEE Through Containers… CLEAR is IN… and Great Containers from Syndicate Sales or Accent Decor… I can See CLEARLY NOW… can’t YOU?

Hot Lamps… We have a JTV webisode on HOW You Can Create a Fabulous FLOWER Filled Lamp for your Next Special Event… JTV has got your BACK!!!

Topiary Style Trees and Potted Plants Are IN… and SCHUBERT Nurseries HAS Brilliant Products with Exquisite Quality… Check out the AMAZING Quality and Wonderful Products they have to offer in my Exclusive Videos at www.schubertnurseries.com!

Flower Accessories and Accents… I’m In LOVE with the TEENY TINY Sarena Roses from Esprit… Paula Deen Loved them… Kim Carson Fawned over them… It’s Guaranteed your BRIDES will love them too! 

Check out the TOP TEN TRENDS In Wedding Centepieces… From the KNOT ! Great Article and reference for Special Events for 2010!

http://bit.ly/1LnWzF

I received a Box of Serena Roses from Esprit Miami the other day… They are Absolutely Magical. Teeny TINY Roses (actually the 2nd Smallest roses in the World)…about the size of a Penny…Two Dozen of these designed in a Vase are just the size of My Business Card… Holy Smokes!

I couldn’t wait to create some really Magical Valentine’s Arrangements with them… So many cool things came to mind! I had to get to work… because I had an upcoming segment on Take 5 & Company on WZZM the Local ABC Affiliate. The Serena Roses were a huge hit… You can see the FUN Flower Designs I created with Serena Roses in this video. ( Subscribe to my Video Channel at Youtube.com or Friend me on Facebook)

So many people have been asking about the Serenas… They are available from Esprit Miami. .. You can contact them at www.EspritMiami.com. They come 50 Bunches to a box and each bunch has 25 roses… with Babies Breath and Foliage and comes with it’s own water supply.  I’ve had so many Positive Comments about these Little Guys… I’m Sure they will be a huge hit for Valentine’s Day. (or any day for that matter!) I created another video that Shows A look inside the Serena box from Esprit Miami and how these Little Miracles are Packaged… SO Sweet!

I remember seeing Serena Roses for the First time back in the 90’s when Curtis Godwin used them for a Photo shoot  in Maria McBride Mellanger’s Book… Curtis used them to adorn a Mother of the Brides Shoes… they were so delicate and beautiful… it was LOVE at First sight!  And Now the Great Folks at Esprit are offering them… I LOVE It! Contact the Designer Flower Experts at Esprit today.. and get some for yourself… Esprit Flowers Mean Business!!

And These Miniature PINK roses are… Simply Irresistible! Ask your Favorite Flower Seller For Serena Roses (from Esprit Miami) Today!!!

Creative, Inspired, Brilliant, Genius… Just some of the words I used to describe the AMAZING Displays, Colors, Trends and Fabulous Products I found at this January Market at the Dallas Market Center. As Design Expert, Spokesperson and TOUR GUIDE for the Dallas Market… we spend FOUR Fun Filled Days… Touring the Dallas Market FINDING the Best of the BEST for 2010! 

With Tours Leaving Daily from the J Lounge… I led my Fellow Adventurers throughout the Dallas Market in Search of the BEST in Christmas Trees, Christmas Finds, Dynamic Displays and The Latest in Colors and Trends… (MY Feet were Worn Out every night…) The AMAZING Part was the Creativity and Inspired Products of Sheer Genius that we found throughout the Market. 

You can catch my FAVORITE FINDS this week on JTV … BRILLIANT Products, Glorious Displays, Terrific Trends… and if you want MORE… (and WHO doesn’t WANT MORE???) check out my Facebook Videos (www.facebook.com/jschwanke ) or my YouTube Channel (www.youtube.com/jmhschwanke ) to watch excerpt from the ACTUAL Tours… You can catch the highlights of My Christmas Tree Tour, Christmas Finds Tour, Display and Merchandising Tour, and Color and Trend Tour from the January 2010 Market!

While you’re there… FRIEND me on Facbook… or Subscribe to My Channel on Youtube… (don’t forget you can follow me on TWITTER Too… so you don’t miss ANYTHING!!! (www.twitter.com/jschwanke )

And Plan Ahead for JUNE to attend the Dallas Market… and JOIN us … for J’s Discovery Tours (http://bit.ly/nJAVJ)… It’s a Great way to SEE the BEST of the BEST in Dallas!

It’s True… Society of American Florist Consumer Surveys tell us the MOST WOMEN Prefer PEACH (and ORANGE or PINK ) rather than RED for Valentine’s Day! Plus it’s a GREAT Opportunity to get Roses of another COLOR!

Every RED Rose on the Planet will be cut for Valentines Day… because of the Demand! BUT Colored Roses (other than RED) will actually be BETTER QUALITY and may even carry a more affordable Price! PLUS the Results will be BETTER! Even though MEN Prefer RED Roses to other colors… the MEN are buying the Roses for Girlfriends, Wives, and other FEMALE Recipients. If you want to make BIG POINTS… check out the entire selection and ask your PROFESSIONAL Florist or FLOWER SELLER for Advice.

AS a Professional… Your Flower Seller can guide to the LONGEST Lasting Roses… or ones that HAVE the BEST Fragrance (another HUGELY Popular Trait for WOMEN!) They will also help you make the MOST of your Flower Purchase… Including Flower Nutrients… that make the Roses Last Longer. .. and Helping you Determine when YOU should have your Valentine RECEIVE her Flowers… (Weekday Delivery to the OFFICE will get HER More attention and that means BIG Results for YOU!!! hehehe!) With Valentine’s Day falling on a Sunday… be sure to ORDER EARLY so your Florist can have your Flowers reserved, ready and Available in the COLOR YOUR LADY will Like BEST!

Here’s a Short Video with J From Take 5 & Company on WZZM (ABC Affiliate in Grand Rapids)  featuring some of the Amazing COLORED Roses and some Creative Ideas to Get you NOTICED and APPRECIATED this Valentines Day!