Flower Shop Secrets, a Lovingly Podcast with Joe Vega

While owning a small business usually (always) comes with some unpredictability as a general rule, the pandemic definitely turned just about everything upside down. In this episode of Flower Shop Secrets, Joe talks with Mike Black, President of Jet Fresh Flower Distributors, a wholesale florist in Miami, Florida. Mike offers his best insights and advice on how businesses can stay calm and move forward during times of uncertainty.

Disclaimer: This interview was recorded on May 14, 2021.

Education and proper leadership matter when increasing the value and productivity of your business. In this episode, learn how Lovingly Momentmaker, Laurie Lemek of Floral Balance, honors these principles to run her own mentorship program and company.

In this first episode of Season 2, Josh Fredo of Bayberry Flowers talks about the importance of grit, mindset, and getting creative when things get tough. Fredo and his team are ever-changing with the climate of sales and growing online need, especially in the wake of COVID-19.

This episode of the Summer Survival Guide is all about foraging. What is it, how does it work, and how can you safely and sustainably make it work for you? Find out from our Lovingly Momentmakers!

Marketing is a crucial part of your business’ success. In this episode of Summer Survival Guide, we’ll hear from local florists about the innovative ways they handle marketing in their shops.

Florists are artists, and working in the floral industry means you get to regularly flex your creativity. Yet, your skillset isn't limited to the flowers alone. In this episode of our Summer Survival Guide, Lovingly florists and industry experts share the creative ways they handle business in their shops. Watch now for some general business tips and guidance from our partners.

Our floral partners can take advantage of their downtime this summer by exploring the exclusive features in their Lovingly accounts. In this episode of Summer Survival Guide, our team reviews these various features that provide potential ways florists can increase their order volume. Find out how you can form new habits this summer to take your business to the next level.

At Lovingly, we like to stress the importance of partnering for success—because we’re all in this together. On this episode of our Summer Survival Guide, our Lovingly Momentmakers share their experiences of what it’s been like to work in this crazy, rewarding world of art, expression, and giving.

On this first episode of Flower Shop Secrets: Summer Survival, Joe is joined by a special guest from the Lovingly home team. He and the Vice President of Partner Success sit down to discuss how you can evaluate and take control of your business’s reputation over these next few months and beyond.

Even after a fire devastated their flower shop, Nicholas Flouskakos and his brother of Country Arts in Flowers never stopped working to meet their customer’s needs.   In this episode, Nick tells us all about how and why they work tirelessly to exceed their customer’s expectations, adding personal touches to the floral experience. Check it out!

For a second time, Stephanie Romanowicz from Foraged Floral of Cape Cod joins us in this special episode of Flower Shop Secrets. We talk about how to plan for Mother’s Day, how to work with wholesalers, and how to forage and shop from local farms. Let’s go!

In this episode of Flower Shop Secrets, AIFD and PFCI accredited florist and educator, Ruben Consa, shares his knowledge and over 40 years of experience in the industry. He offers advice for providing exceptional customer service and staying up to date with technology as a means to elevate your floral business.

In this episode of Flower Shop Secrets, Jai Crouch of Splash Floral & Event Design gets personal by sharing his story. He gives us insight into his background and how he's grown, not only in the industry but in life to where he is today and his plans to take off from here.

Cameron Peters of Cameron Peters Floral Design has worked in the floral industry for 27 years. Today, she enjoys creating custom arrangements that express true sentiment at her shop in Phoenixville, PA. To attract and nurture her local customers, Cameron shares the importance of engaging with your community. Check out her tips and tricks on this episode of Flower Shop Secrets.

Neville MacKay from “My Mother’s Bloomers” in Halifax, Nova Scotia knows a thing or two about the power of flowers. He shares his knowledge in captivating stories on stage, television, and right here on this episode of Flower Shop Secrets. Tune in to discover how you can experience love, beauty, and celebration in the floral industry.

Mike Hollenbeck met Joe Vega at an AIFD symposium nearly four years ago. Today, they sit together on this episode of Flower Shop Secrets to continue to discuss the importance of education for florists in the industry, finding and keeping good employees, and how local florists need to stick together to beat the real competition.

Angela Proffitt, Productivity Consultant and CEO of "GSD Creative" shares how she connects with her clients by offering her expertise and resources so that every small business owner has the opportunity to transform and achieve freedom. How can you answer the call to "Get Stuff Done?" Let's find out.

Corrine Heck, CEO and Founder of Details Flowers, gives us hope for the future of weddings and events in a post-COVID world. Tune in to this episode of Flower Shop Secrets to learn more about the software Corrine’s developed to help florists stay creative and earn more.

In this special episode, Angela Proffitt, podcast host of "Business Unveiled," interviews the founders of Lovingly. Joe Vega and Ken Garland talk about the evolution of their business, including the challenges, strengths, risks and rewards discovered along the way.

Lisa Elfante from Central Florist in Valley Stream, New York knows a thing or two about running a floral shop with authenticity. How can you can use this to build your brand during COVID? Find out on this next episode of Flower Shop Secrets.

Steph Romanowicz from Foraged Floral of Cape Cod knows all about being a successful, sustainable florist. In this episode, we talk about the world of foraging and how everyday nature that surrounds us can be used to create unique arrangements.

Rona Hullen runs her one-woman floral business, R Flowers and Baskets in Discovery Bay, California without the need for floral wire service companies. Finding joy and honor in creating arrangements for the people in her community during emotional moments in life. We're both inspired AND impressed. Check out our conversation.

Zsuzsana Hutchinson is the owner of a tiny flower shop in Portland, Oregon. In this episode, Zsuzsana shares her advice for dealing with emotions in the floral industry, including how she navigates COVID challenges and dives into her hobbies to disconnect from the stress of the everyday.

In this episode, Daniela and I dive into The Gifter's Journey, an experience that allows florists like you to attract, guide and nurture your customers - both sender and recipient.

At Lovingly, we want to help local florists come together in order to beat order gatherers at their own games. Find out just how we plan to do that in this next episode of Flower Shop Secrets.

How can connecting with customers and surrounding yourself with positive people enhance your business? Oriana of Osborne Florist in Manitoba, Canada reminds us of the impact flowers can have on people.

Through conversations with local florists across North America, you'll discover tips and tricks to operating a successful small business and staying creative and motivated in stressful times. Episodes are now streaming on Anchor, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more. Subscribe to my YouTube channel for new episodes, coming soon! 

How are commitment and consistency key to operating your business successfully? Selena of Wishing Well Flowers and Gift in West Linn, Oregon talks to us about how her passion fuels her growth.

What’s the importance of sharing your knowledge and giving attention throughout every step of the floral delivery process? Our in-depth conversation with Poppy Parsons, owner of Smart Flowers in Swift Current, Saskatchewan, addresses just that and more- including what it’s like to work with her mentor, Hitomi Gilliam.

How do you turn passive shoppers into loyal customers? Successful florists understand that a successful floral gifting experience is about more than just the flowers. Jeanne Walters of Stargazer Premier Florist in Corvallis, Oregon gives us a refreshing take on what it means to be a cornerstone in her community, from continuing the legacy of her mentor to guiding and building relationships with her clientele.

Out-of-the-box thinking and adapting quickly in stressful situations can help your creativity blossom. Sarah and Jordan, two high-spirited wedding florists from Intrigue Designs in Maryland, talk to me about their most recent experience creating and competing with their unique, whimsical and massive floral installations on Netflix's “The Big Flower Fight.”