Thursday, February 16, 2012

the return of free flower friday...



Because we can, and because something very lovely happened on Tuesday that made me remember why we make flowers in the first place. Not sure how long we'll be able to keep it up once wedding season starts, but a little free flower here, a little free flower there can't hurt.

(Comment before 9am Friday to win flowers delivered to YOU in Manhattan or Brooklyn tomorrow around 2pm. Remember to include your email address so we can reach you.)

I'm excited about this!!
__
And for the florists, a valentines day wrap-up:

The Mott Street project successfully concluded, we loaded out everything yesterday. Unscathed for the most part. What a lot of hauling this job includes. Sometimes I think I should be a professional mover. Would probably be more lucrative.

I think we made a lot of people happy with flowers this week. We sold almost every last stem which is nice. Only one man was cranky; upon seeing his bouquet for pickup, he said "Wow, I thought for $50 it would be bigger." [That's what she said?] Several of our deliveries got lost on a truck with a driver who stopped answering the phone around 3pm. At 5:30 the phone started ring ringing with sweet guys just wondering "Where their girlfriends flowers were..." About two hours later we had remade 5 deliveries and sent them in a car service with Liza our devoted helper. The delivery guy never called back until the next morning - he had "lost his phone." I'm assuming the other 18 made it to where they were supposed to go. I'm afraid our delivery man doubled up his truck with another florists overflow orders. What a shit show of a day for delivering stuff in Manhattan...

LESSONS FOR NEXT YEAR:

NO DELIVERIES; We sort of learned this last year but failed to remember that once the arrangement leaves the studio you have no control over what happens to it - and we are responsible for it arriving on time with care. Impossible with our fragile compositions...

ONLY ONE WAY TO ORDER; Over the phone. We got confused a bit between call-in orders, emailed orders, bigcartel orders...streamlining a process like this is so necessary.

NO TULIPS; I love them, but folks still think they are pedestrian. We always seems to have tulips left over.

SMARTER TIMING; We ended up throwing out around 150 stems of anemones because they progressed too quickly - anemones should have come in on Monday for use on Tuesday, especially in a space without a cooler to keep them tight. I won't sell an anemone that is dusting black.

KNOW WHEN TO CALL IT; at the end of Tuesday we knew we were really out of flowers, down to the dregs, but guys kept coming in begging us to make something. We cranked out a few less than perfect arrangements to make them happy. Next year we'll call it off earlier because it makes me sad to think that someone might have received an arrangement that wasn't photo-shoot quality.

I think that's it. Did I get flowers? No. I did get a real nice dinner made for me without lifting a finger, a martini and a chance to sleep till 7:30 Wednesday. Drinking coffee in my chair by the window, walking the dogs like a normal brooklyn thirty-something. Manhattan looming rather epically across the river.

56 comments:

liz said...

I would have killed to have been in Manhattan this year to come and drop by. Sounds like a smashing success! (And why not change the scenery / location from BK to Manhattan?)

Unknown said...

What? You don't deliver free flowers to SC? Damn. I'm moving to Manhattan just so I can win your flowers...hope hubby and kids won't mind.

Congrats on making a lot of people very happy on Valentine's Day.

Adelaide said...

The Manhattan loom has such a varying aspect, depending on the day. I'm really glad Wednesday it was one of approaching success for you.

My boyfriend got me some deli tulips for the day that shall not be named and, as sweet as they are, my heart sank a bit--I've been salivating over your blog too often. So, a Saipua bouquet would lighten this long week about 5,000x. adelaidewainwright@gmail.com

emmeline said...

flowers for my friend's last day on the job tomorrow, please!

charlotte au chocolat said...

Oooh! How I would love to have a bouquet of yours in my home! So happy the pop-up shop went well overall. The list of things you would do differently next time reminded me of the gourmet gift basket company I used to own, and which would peak during the holidays, creating similar difficult situations.
charlotteauchocolat1@gmail.com

j said...

I would love to receive flowers from you guys but if not, I might just have to stop by this weekend :)

jcantagallo@gmail.com

SW said...

Would love to have your lovely flowers in my home! sowoon at gmail.com

Amanda (Dear Frances) said...

fabulous. I am in Buffalo, but if chosen could I have them delivered to a friend in Brooklyn? It would be the sweetest housewarming surprise for the fixer upper apartment she recently bought. thank you for the opportunity!!

danielle said...

congratulations! just think of all the valentines that received their flowers and had a smile from ear-to-ear, that's so great!

Emily said...

I WANT FLOWERS. They can all be tulips if you like, ALL OF THEM.

Please.

Congratulations on a successful V-Day shop and your own V-Day that includes liquor, as all good holidays should.

emily.clary@gmail.com

sara said...

love your flowers, gorgeous, they would make my weekend

sara said...

sara.liberman@verizon.net

jaclyn said...

Im not even in the tri-state area, just wanted to let you know your arrangements are so inspiring and uplifting to me.

But 150 anemones in the can makes me so sad!

ValHalla said...

Pedestrian? People think tulips are pedestrian? The flower that inspired a mania? I just don't get it. But, it is great to hear about small-business florists being successful with works of art instead of cheap red roses, which I think are rather pedestrian.

Le said...

I have never won but it makes my day to know that someone is receiving lovely flowers.

Cindy said...

we bought our generously-sized $50 bouquet full of fancy flowers on saturday and it still looks lovely. unless it was just us, we would ask you to have some shopping bags available for folks to take their bouquets home. we got our hands on one and the arrangement arrived safe & sound without someone trying to snatch it away from us.

i love tulips, but they keep growing and mess up the structure of the arrangement.

Miriam said...

I don't live in Manhattan, but my boyfriend's brother does, and he could definitely use some free flowers.

My boyfriend's instructions to our local florist for Valentine's Day were "no red roses and no lilies." I got a pretty crazy arrangement of blue hydrangeas, orange roses, something hot pink, and red hypericum berries. We could use your floral talents here in DC...

stephervescent said...

oh yes please!!

Amy said...

You made me very happy with my little 5 stem bouquet I selected on Saturday and I would love love love to get some more on Friday! Thank you for sharing your talents!

ameliascheim@gmail.com

Caroline C said...

I wish I were able to stop by for the valentines day shop. But I'm back in town now! And since I celebrated the holiday on my own, a belated bouquet would be lovely! Glad you're bringing back FFF for the time being. It's exciting to imagine getting one of Saipua's arrangements.

Caroline@sundayevening.net

margaret said...

how I would love to be graced by the presence of saipua flowers at work tomorrow! such beauty.

margaret@paperfinger.com

sandra said...

I am in the hood so you won't even need to deliver them as I can pick them up. Like that I could also get to see the lovely Nea for a cheeky little cuddle.

info@collectingcolour.com

Sarah said...

Oh yay - I missed free flower Friday! I know that my husband could really use some cheering up right now, and I think that this would be the perfect way to do it. sarah{dot}blumberg{at} gmail{dot}com

rebecca s. said...

i never wish i was on the east coast until i look at your beautiful blog.

if i win, i have a few lucky friends to choose from in brooklyn that would be the true winners.

candor said...

I just so appreciate you and this blog. I read it before anything else in the morning. the reality and humor and rawness is so so dear to me. I dream of the day of visiting your studio in Brooklyn. I'll probably weep and then will be embarrassed, but its a dream, nonetheless.

elizabeyta said...

I am not in Manhattan so do not put me in the Free Flower Friday.

But I am now _very_ curious. What lovely thing happened on Tuesday? :)

samantha Stainburn said...

No flowers crossed the threshold of this apartment on valentine's day -- boyfriend working, me at class -- so it would be great to win free flowers simply because it's Friday. sstainburn [at] nyc.rr.com

Rebecca said...

would love to get some flowers!

nellie said...

I would love flowers on Friday! I always pick up a bodega arrangement for the weekend, but I'd much prefer (and appreciate) a Saipua original!

email: wu.nellie at gmail

The Field of Gold said...

Darn. You don't deliver to South Island New Zealand ! Oh well. I will just have to keep checking in on your wonderous blog photos.
My beautiful wife loves to look too. And just discovered the 'little flower shop' courses. She has since been looking at airfares.

El said...

I love how committed you are to having the most beautiful flowers. I'd love to have some of them too!

Sowmya said...

Your flower arrangements are the best! Would love to have them in my home.

sgcinco@gmail.com

Lisa said...

"That's what she said?" Haha

Congrats on the pop up!
lisacericolaATgmail.com

katie said...

even though i already have a saipua arrangement on my table...i want!! hope you are recovering from the week!

Meg said...

Tulips, pedestrian? Bah. You could turn carnations into art.

(webebrave@gmail.com)

Bow Street Flowers said...

did you mean "dogs"? like more than Nea?

Flo~ said...

Didn't make it to the pop-up and I am SAD. Next year I need to make more specific hints to the husband....
florakATgmailDOTcom

Ching said...

I've been reading your blog from CA for 3 years and entered some FFFs last year on behalf of NYC-based friends, but this year I've moved here, so I'm going to be selfish and enter for myself! Keep up the gorgeous work and I hope to make it down to the store sometime to at least buy some soap!
yiching.ong@gmail

Sarah Ryhanen said...

bow street; i wondered if someone would catch that - we're watching a friends dog; otis this week. he's ridiculous, will post photos soon, though he's graced the pages of this blog before.

and who asked about the event that changed our mind about FFF - it was a girl who came to the shop with the gift of gin for us in the heat of the valentines rush who said the flowers she got last year via FFF really helped her through a tough spot. (emoticon)

wait - can I win the flowers? I'm commenting!

fleur_delicious said...

entering for my brother, who is in Nolita - that's alright, yes? =) He's such a sweet guy, and I only just learned that someone in the US postal service ripped open his christmas package during its trip across the country and stole some of the stuff out of it (I'm pretty pissed about that).

fleurdelisarah [at] hotmail [dot] com

Lesterhead said...

Oh, me please!

If I had Words... said...

Your flowers just thrill me, and you take such lovely subtle pictures of them too.
I don't live in Manhattan/Brooklyn, but can I submit on behalf of a dear, dear friend who is a Brooklyn Resident?

mahsa said...

Love the background story ... can"t wait to meet you for the wedding symposium.
Meanwhile if I win a free bouquet, it be lovely to send to those sweet friends that shall be hosting me over the week in NY, they live in Brooklyn so delivery should not be a mess.

Elke said...

A friend from Amsterdam discovered your shop and site while staying in my apartment during my absence...he just sent your blog to enjoy.

I can't wait to get rid of this extended pneumonia and hike over to you. In the mean time I will enjoy you on the internet and,,,,,HOPE TO BE CHOSEN TO RECEIVE YOUR FLOWERS ON FRIDAY....CERTAINLY WILL LIFT THE EXPECTED GRAY DAY!
ELKE

Elke said...

This is Elke....forgot to leave my email.

elkedial@gmail.com

Thanks

Sarah said...

Oh, what beautiful flowers! I'm entering for my sister who works in NY; she introduced me to your lovely site and I can't stop drooling over the flowers. If she gets them, I can't wait to see the pictures! I'd be jealous of her but I know that she would be endlessly appreciative. Happy (almost) Friday!

scregan2@optonline.net

Georgette said...

"Thats what she said?" Haha!

Sarah, from your spirited writing, to your breathtaking flowers, you are a true composer of beauty. I am probably not the only one to say that your flowers often find themselves in my dreams.

My Valentines plan was to stop by on Tuesday to say hello and buy myself my very own bouquet, but I got the flu! (little did I know how brutal this thing really is) on Monday, and I've been confined to my bed ever since. Tomorrow will be my first day back at work ... just the thought of receiving Saipua flowers, even if all tulips, would be magic!

Thank you for brining back the chance of FFF!!!

Georgette

georgette.maniatis@gmail.com

Margaret said...

Just looking at pictures of the Saipua arrangements brings a lot of beauty into my life. (Thank you Interwebs.) but sure I'd love a real live arrangment, especially since I'm home sick with the flu, strep throat and a cold. Yes all three at once.

Caroline said...

I bet each and every one of those valentine's day bouquets were perfect. We tend to be our own worst critics and I know all of your work is photo ready. I'd love to have a small arrangement delivered tomorrow! That would be a great start to my break (I've got a week off coming up!!)
Thanks.

Christina said...

I love tulips. Fools! I love to read about you loving what you do.

Volare said...

I got my very first Saipua arrangement this weekend and spent hours photographing it. No exaggeration. It provided me with endless JOY! Thank you SO much for loving flowers like you do :)

P.S. I wouldn't be too bummed if I won a Free Flowers Friday!

Celina said...

i would love some saipua flowers! i've been an admirer for several years.

marie said...

can we enter to have them sent to special someones in the manhattan area? if so, mariewafia (at) gmail dot com.

Liz said...

a post valentine's day posy would be lovely.

alilchurch said...

Perfect for a dreary day. Yay.

Léah said...

i really appreciated reading the lessons you learned and that you had a nice normal morning... from busy me, i am quite jealous!