Tampa Florist and Unusual Flowers Tampa

Here at Apple Blossoms Floral Designs we take great price in carrying some of natures most unusual flowers. From the Pin Cushion Protea native to South Africa and grown in California on some of the most spectacular mountain sides. To some of my favorites the Vanda Orchid grown especially for us just outside of the Tampa City Limits. I enjoy buying as much produce locally as I can to maintain quality and freshness.




































Sunflowers are even fun without the petals. Gives great texture to an arrangement.











Here are some of the splendors. Nigella Pods (Love in the Mist), Kangaroo Paw, Leucadendron, and Hanging Amaranthus.


Visit us http://www.appleblossomstampa.com for our specials.

How to order Flowers anywhere and Get what you Want

Today more and more people are using the internet to order their flowers. There is a right and wrong way. First of all the wrong way is simple. Don't pick and click. You never know if you are at an actual florists website. This is what happens. First the florist you thought you were contacting is actually something called an Order Gatherer, OG for short. The OG collects orders and sends them to a local florist. They don't really care what florist it might be nor the quality of florist it might be. The OG first of all takes a percentage of your order right off the bat. Now they are giving the receiving florist less money to fill the order. At the receiving florist they are going to take the deliver charge out of the money they were given by the OG. Now you may have spent $60.00 on the flowers you ordered, but now you are down to less than $40.00 for the receiving florist to create that $60.00 arrangement you thought you ordered. If the OG does this all day and takes 500 orders they made close to $6000.00 just for taking the orders and doing nothing but forwarding them to a receiving florist. OG go and buy domain names and phone numbers all over the country. We florist have been fighting these guys for years. They even take adds out in the Yellow Pages making it look as though they are a local florist you are calling. You may be calling a phone bank in any state or any country for that matter. We florists end up doing all the work and making less of a profit and working harder just to make ends meet. In all this is putting many flower shops out of business.

We florists have done away with our floral wire flower sending services because it is better for us to help our customers to get what they want from a local reputable florist. Many florist just call a florist of our choice and order direct from a local florist where we give them a credit card so they get 100% of the order and you get 100% of the value. Many florist may charge a nominal fee of $2.00 to $5.00 to handle this service for you. I know for me it may take several calls to local florists until I find exactly what my customer is looking for.

To make things even easier I suggest that the customer Google's florist with the zip code (Example: Florist 33609) to find a local florist and call directly and see what they have to offer. Many times you will find that they may have a special that day. Maybe something you might not of thought of sending, but being on special you get a better value. If there is something in particular you are looking for such as an orchid plant and the florist you are calling may not carry orchid plants. Ask them if they know of or would recommend another florist in the town that might specialize in orchids. You'll be surprised when they take the time to help you out. We get calls for certain items which we don't carry, but we know of other businesses in the area that carry these items. I'm never afraid to direct a customer to another florist or business if I can't help them. Statistics show that the customer you helped will nine chances out of ten call you first when they are in need of flowers in my town the next time.

Another thing to do when ordering is to make some suggestions of flowers you would like, but allow them to create something called a designers choice arrangement. You will be quite surprised at what your friend or loved one will get. Designers are just that. They are professionals trained in the floral field and if you allow them to use their creativity you will be overwhelmed by getting something unique. You may want to specify you want a vase or possibly a decorative container, or even tell them to put the money into the flowers and not the container.

Long story short. PICK UP THE PHONE!!!!! Today we rely way to much on the pick and click websites. Just because you picked a particular arrangement it's not always what you get. Look at the fine print that says "Substitutions may be made depending on flower availability." Call the florist and get more, along with a personal touch.

Tampa Florist Breaks the Barriers

As a Tampa Florist we refuse to conform to the pick and click florist market. This has proved to be a dynamic adventure for us as a Local Tampa Florist. I decided to not conform to the public and the internet, but become a true Tampa Florist. Anyone can paint by number, but we don't. Stepping outside the box is what has made our mark. No matter where you look on the internet for florists you will find the basic website. Our website is something more. We never create the same design twice. Our customers and clients have connected with us and found something more. We do our best to provide just that. Our Tampa Florist brings you creative side and something more than just your average flowers. Growing a business such as this was a decision we made from the time the doors opened in April of 2008. We could have provided clients and customers with the same ole flowers they can get from any Tampa Flower Shop, but we saw a future in being a Unique Tampa Flower Shop. We look forward to a growing trend of Flower Shops and being your Favorite Local Tampa Flower Shop.

Tampa Mothers Day Flowers

Mothers Day 2010 is upon us and you want to send your Mom Flowers. Today we are bombarded by commercials from FTD, Teleflora, 1-800 Flowers, FiftyFlowers.com, and more. Yes, it's convenient to just click a button and order from the web. Here are a couple of questions you might ask yourself. The first question I ask is "Am I going to actually get what you see?" Probably not. "Am I going to get 100% value?" There again Probably not.

This is what happens when you place your order with one of these large corporate flower services. First take a percentage just for accepting the order and processing it. Then the order is forwarded to a florist that accepts orders from the service. (Who knows who the florist is or the quality of flowers they carry.) The florist then takes money for delivery out of the the order first. Now what is left is what you are going to get.

Take for instance you spend $50.00. First the wire service is going to take $5.00 or more just for handling the order for you. Now you have a $45.00 order going to a florist. First the florist is going to take a delivery charge out of the amount they have accepted. This could be as high as $15.00. Now they have a $30.00 arrangement to work with. Out of this $30.00 the florist has to figure in labor to make the arrangement. This could be as much as $6.00 on this order. Now you are looking at $24.00 to fill the order which includes a vase, flowers, greenery, and any accessories the arrangement comes with such as ribbon. Now was the $50.00 arrangement you ordered anything like the picture you saw on the internet? Most likely not.

I'm not trying to knock the Big Wire Services which have been around for many years and are entitled to making money as well, but what I am trying to say is if you Google a local florist with zip code of where you want to send your flowers you are going to save money and get more for your dollar (example Google search: florist 33609). Here's the catch. Due to deceptive practices of what we in the industry call Order Gathers you may not be sending flowers to your local florist by just going to their website and ordering over the internet. Even by calling them you may not be getting an actual local florist, but getting a call center in New Jersey when you wanted a Tampa Florist. As a Tampa Florist myself even when I'm personally sending flowers I search for a florist in the area I want to send flowers and believe it or not I pick up the phone and call them directly. I want to speak to a human that can tell me what they have to offer for my specific floral needs. Second I want to know I'm getting what I am paying for and get what I want. Depending on where you are sending flowers the prices can range greatly. For instance ordering Mothers Day Flowers from a Tampa Florist pricing structures are different than a New York City Florist. You will most likely have to spend more money when ordering in a major city than from a Tampa Florist.

Now that you have found a florist call them directly. Ask them if they are running any in house specials. You may be surprised what you will get for $50.00 when you call directly. For instance. We buy from local growers and suppliers in our area when we can and when flowers are in season in our area. Take Cymbidium Orchid stems that can cost as high as as $80.00 per stem. We offer for anywhere from $10.00 - 30.00 per stem, but only during the season and colors are limited to what is supplied by our local grower and not all colors are available. On the other hand we get some great unusual colors and varieties no one else has. What a savings and what a surprise to the person receiving the flowers. Depending on region prices are going to vary greatly.

I guess what I am saying is "Easy isn't always better." Take the time to pick up the phone and call your Local Florist for your Mothers Day Flowers and you will be quite surprised in what you will find. When Sending Flowers in Tampa contact us at http://www.appleblossomstampa.com. Buy Flowers Local!

Tampa's Premier Bridal Showcase hosted by The Straz Center for the Performing Arts

Free Admission
Come and enjoy the day with some of Tampa's best in the Wedding World.
March 21, 2010
Doors open at 12 Noon.

uBloom Tampa Wedding Florist in the Spotlight

uBloom


I'm honored to have asked to be a featured uBloomer.

Visit us at http://www.AppleBlossomsTampa.com

Voted Best Florist Tampa

We are very honored to announce that we were just given the word today that we were voted Best Florist 2009 South/Central Tampa. I want to say I am very flattered and honored to have been voted Best Florist this year. It's been quite a year and a half since we opened our store at 3627 W. Kennedy Blvd. I just want to thank everyone who voted for us. It's quite an honor and I look forward to continuing to be your favorite florist in Tampa.

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!!!!

Scott Darhower

www.appleblossomstampa.com
Apple Blossoms Floral Designs & Gifts
3627 W. Kennedy Blvd.
Tampa, FL 33609
813-985-6409

Tampa Florist, Beach Wedding and a Wedding at the Sandpearl, Clearwater

April & Nathan, Davis Island Garden Club, Tampa, FL

Creating a Flowers Shop

After Wedding Reception this Past Weekend 9/6/2008

Dining Room Centerpieces

Cocktail Table Centerpieces

Entry Arrangement

Table on Lani.

White Bromeliads.

Cocktail Table Arrangement again.