ocTober 2014

FTD mercury minute ©2014, FTD | october 2014
mercuryminute
multi-generational shop celebrates 95 years
of hard work and family values
Peter Flynn, owner of Flynn’s Flowers
& Fruit Gift Baskets in Edison, NJ, is
celebrating the 95th anniversary of
his flower shop founded by his
grandfather in 1919. The shop has also
been an FTD Member Florist for
68 years. FTD spoke to Peter about
the shop’s special anniversary
FTD: To what do you attribute your shop’s success?
PF: Hard work and, then some more hard work. I am very proud that family is
another reason for our success. Everyone has been involved. My grandfather
had five children and 15 grandchildren, and my aunts, uncles and cousins have
worked here. Each one of them could tell you a story about their contribution
to the business.
FTD:Your grandfather established the business in 1919.
How has the shop evolved?
PF:As a gardener and grower in Ireland, my grandfather grew most of the flowers
that he sold. He had greenhouses where he grew orchids and carnations.
During the Depression, he also grew vegetables. Most recently, the biggest
evolution is communication. The Internet and our FTD Mercury system have
made it possible to do business around the world!
FTD: How have you kept your marketing fresh over the years?
PF: I always employ young, intelligent people that know the latest trends. More
importantly, it’s important to keep it close to home – know your community
and be involved with everything local.
Founder Thomas P. Flynn, above
(Peter’s grandfather)
Peter Flynn Sr. (Peter’s Father), 1920,
Flynn’s Flowers & Gift Baskets
continues today with three
generations of FTD florists.
Flynn’s Flowers & Gift Baskets Edison, NJ.
Original building with main shop and
five greenhouses.
FTD:How has partnering with FTD for
68 years benefitted your business?
PF:
FTD is the ultimate brand name.
I proudly display my FTD Master
Florist sign in my window and people
immediately know they are walking into an
establishment of recognized quality. FTD
has also kept us up to date with all the
latest products, designs and technology.
We couldn’t do it without FTD.
“I proudly display my
FTD Master Florist
sign in my window and
people know…an
establishment of
recognized quality.”
- Peter Flynn
Flynn’s Flowers & Gift Baskets
FTD:What advice would you give to fellow florists about withstanding
the test of time?
PF:Be flexible and light on your feet. Use the technology available but remain
solid in your core values. Produce a quality product. Service, service, service.
People can get flowers almost anywhere now, so you need to stand out with
great designs, communication with your customers and involvement in your
community. And, love what you do.
FTD: What plans do you have to celebrate this exciting milestone?
PF:Marketing for sure. Mostly, I just want to recognize Thomas Patrick Flynn,
my grandfather, my father Peter and Uncle Jack Flynn who partnered for
40 years; and my own 35 years doing what I love. I am blessed to carry forth
this incredible family business. Thanks to all my family: Pat, Kit, Eileen, Jack,
Jim, Chuck, Mike, Rich, Tim. Bill, Paul, Kathy, Ann Therese, Tom, Uncle Pat and
too many others to mention. I especially want to thank my wife Ana and sons,
Peter and Jack.
Visit FTDi.com today.
Celebrate
celebraTing FTD® FlorisTs
The team from Seasons Design Studio in Houston, TX,
celebrates their Top 100 Partner plaque from FTD.
The team at Creative
Floral Design in Sandy
Springs, MD; (Chris
Crump, second from left,
Devin Anderson, Suzanne
Anderson and Robert
Crump) is presented with
FTD Top 100 Partner
and FTD Top 100 Sender
plaques by Regional Vice
President Jim Weedon
(far left).
Located in Glens
Falls, NY, Binley
Florist proudly
accepts their 50th
Anniversary plaque
from FTD.
FTD Regional Vice President Jim Weedon
(right) presents Skip Paal of Rutland Beard
Floral Group based in Baltimore, MD, with an
FTD Top 100 Partner plaque. Congratulations!
Michele (second from the left) and
Dennis Feld (far right) of Evans Flowers
and Greenhouses in Peabody, MA, are
presented with their FTD Top 100
Sender plaque by National Accounts
Vice President Ed Cronin (far left) and
Regional Vice President Jim Weedon
(second from right).
Oliver Flower Shop, established
in Pittsburgh, PA, celebrates their
75th anniversary as an
FTD Member Florist.
Thanks for being FTD!
Cheryl Kolbe (left), owner of
Kolbe Flower Shop located in
Seguin, TX, accepts her FTD
50th Anniversary plaque from
FTD Field Business Consultant
Joe Arbona (right).
Ken Young (left), owner of
Phoenix Flower Shops located
in Phoenix, AZ, receives an FTD
50th Anniversary plaque from
FTD Field Business Consultant
John Castro (right).
Before
!
ER
N
IN
W
Congratulations
★
★
Veldkamp’s Flowers and Gifts
CONGRATULATIONS TO
Veldkamp’s Flowers and Gifts,
based in Lakewood, CO, for winning
the FTD® Send Some Love Sweepstakes
second place prize. During the
Valentine’s Day promotion, Veldkamp’s
won the FTD merchandising consult
led by FTD Education Consultant
J. Keith White AIFD valued at $5,000.
“Your visit was very helpful,
productive and fun. We are
thankful to FTD for coming
out here and spending time to
make us look and
feel better.”
- martha Veldkamp
After
Area featuring a wide
variety of products
Area re-merchandised to focus
on gourmet and kitchen
items for an easier customer
shopping experience.
White puts the
finishing touches on a
newly-merchandised
area featuring only
candles and room
diffusers to enhance
the shopping experience
for customers.
Members of the veldkamp’s Flowers team including Martha Veldkamp
(second from left) and John Verldkamp (back center) with FTD
Education Consultant J. Keith White AIFD (far right).
The FTD Webinar Series is a collection of Free
educational presentations available online
to help you increase your sales and profits,
while reducing your costs.
U
D
FTD® webinar series
FT
Fr
ee
eDucaTion & evenTs calenDar
NI
VER ITY
S
register today at
FTDi.com/FTDuniversity.
FIVE KEYS TO FAMILY
BUSINESS SUCCESS
Presented by Mike Fassler of
The Family Business Consulting Group
Tuesday, october 14, 2014
5 pm eT/2 pm pT
THE LIFE OF THE PARTY:
CREATING PROFITABLE EVENTS
Presented by FTD Education Consultant
Kristine Kratt AIFD
Tuesday, December 2, 2014
5 pm eT/2 pm pT
Working with your family in business can
be both rewarding and challenging. In this
webinar, noted family business consultant
mike Fassler will share a high-level view of
the unique challenges and opportunities
that come with a family business.
Lucrative events rely on artistry,
organization and stellar service. In this
webinar, Kristine shares upcoming event
trends for 2015 and how to tailor them
for your local customers. Learn key ways
to create profitable events through modern
sales terminology, trend awareness,
social media marketing and
proper pricing methods.
mike Fassler
Kristine Kratt AIFD
The live webinars are also recorded.
Visit FTDuniversity.com to view them at your convenience.
eDucaTion & evenTs calenDar
FTD® is proud to support nearly 50 industry shows each year,
strengthening our commitment to our florists.
OCTOBER 4-6, 2014
NATIONAL ALLIANCE OF FLORAL ASSOCIATIONS CONFERENCE
Mackinac Island, MI
National Alliance of Floral Associations
WWW.ABOUTNAFA.ORG
OCTOBER 10-12, 2014
MONTANA FLORISTS ASSOCIATION CONVENTION
Billings, MT
Montana Florists Association
WWW.MTFLORISTASSC.COM
OCTOBER 11-12, 2014
CALIF FLORA 2014
Riverside, CA
California State Floral Association
WWW.CALSTATEFLORAL.COM
OCTOBER 11-12, 2014
HEARTLAND CONVENTION
Omaha, NE
Nebraska Florists Society
WWW.MYNFS.ORG
“like” The FTD FlorisT Facebook page
get the latest FTD news, events, education and
exclusive Facebook promotions when you “like” us
at facebook.com/mercurynetwork.
FTD Employee is Awarded
“Place in the Sun” Hall of Fame Award
The Florida State Florists’ Association
recognized FTD Assistant Events Manager
Janet Justus as the national recipient of
the association’s prestigious award for
outstanding service to the floral industry.
Janet was nominated because of her
many years of dedicated service to all
state associations and her diligence in
making education for florists accessible
through FTD. As an FTD employee for
18 years, Janet is not necessarily known or seen by the vast
majority of florists that benefit from
her knowledge, expertise and unending
“We could not
service to provide floral education.
think of a more
“We could not think of a more deserving
deserving person
person for this award. Janet has always
been there to offer FSFA support when for this award.”
it comes to planning our educational
events. She greets our requests with an upbeat response
and assists, not only our association, but our entire industry.”
declared Florida State Florists’ Association President Darenda
Darnell Garbarz, AAF, FSMD.
register
today at FTDi.com/FTDuniversity.
check out the entire 2014 education calendar
at FTDi.com/FTDuniversity.