Summer 2005 Design Session: Florist 9-1-1
July 13th & 27th, August 10th, 2005
Summer Session 2005
Florist 911
Part III
August 10, 2005
The Dillon University Summer 2005 Session concluded with the third of three Florist 9-1-1 events. The day included business seminars, design demonstration and hands on design exercises for more than twenty participants.
Morning Medicine:
Dorothy Lane and Thomas Healy of the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Wilkes University began the morning by presenting a valuable discussion on customer service. Beyond the important reminder that a Customer is not an interruption, but rather the only reason we can be in business, Ruth helped identify the elements of a customer's experience that should be attended to. They included the customer's sensory experience in the flower shop, their interaction with staff and the quality of the product and service rendered.
The second business session covered the nuts and bolts of Human Resources. From hiring to firing and all the important steps in-between, Dorothy taught students the importance of ongoing training for team members and documentation of HR issues as they arise.
The SBDC offers a highly qualified, professional consulting team ready to meet our business needs. For more information or for a referral to business coaches in your area, contact them at http://sbdc.wilkes.edu.
Flower Therapy:
Michael O'Neill AIFD AAF PFCI took over for the afternoon of Flower Therapy. Drawing on his 33 years of successful flower shop operation, he shared good useful information on the business of funeral work and presented a demonstration of several funeral designs, including a hinge
piece, traditional and updated standing sprays and a circle of garden flowers to embrace the cremation urn.
Students spent the majority of the afternoon trying out the grouping and materials techniques demonstrated earlier. Michael spent time individually with each participant, coaching them to make the best use of each blossom and piece of foliage. The standing sprays created were top-notch and the it was clear that students were inspired to absorb Michael's valuable design lessons. The afternoon concluded with the presentation of certificates to all students and special Dillon University Sweatshirts for those students who attended all three sessions of the Dillon University 2005 Summer Session, Florist 9-1-1.
Summer Session 2005:
Florist 911
Part II
July 27, 2005
The Dillon University Summer 2005 Session continued with the second of three Florist 9-1-1 events. Thirty-plus florists attended this full day of learning and inspiration.
Morning Medicine:
The morning began with a set of business seminars presented by Thomas Healy and Ruth Hughes of the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Wilkes University. The morning was packed full of important business fundamentals for marketing, advertising, buying and merchandising. Students participated by sharing their own experiences and ideas with the class. The combination of the SBDC business theory with Dillon University student's practical experience created a superb learning environment.
The SBDC offers a highly qualified, professional consulting team ready to meet our business needs. For more information or for a referral to business coaches in your area, contact them at http://sbdc.wilkes.edu
Flower Therapy:
Vince Butera, owner and operator of Butera the Florist in York, PA took over for the afternoon, presenting a design demonstration and hands on workshop centered on wedding work.
Vince combined his special brand of common sense design techniques with real pearls of wisdom on finding inspiration for design style. He spoke of improvisation and innovation and reminded students to find ways to set themselves apart in the market.
Students spent much of the afternoon practicing bouquet design skills, creating cascade bridal bouquets and using new gluing techniques. Many students used the opportunity to practice the waterfall bouquet while others experimented with color, texture and movement. Students also took advantage of the opportunity to talk with each other and share tips and tricks for design problems they have encountered at their own shops.
Summer Session 2005:
Florist 911
Part I
July 13, 2005
The Dillon University Summer 2005 Session kicked off with the first of three Florist 9-1-1 events. This intensive day's education was aimed at providing solid preventative care and business first aid skills for floral professionals.
Morning Medicine:
A morning packed with good business fundamentals was the day's prescription. Three seminars that were rich with solid business tips and input from the class members were a great way to get going.
1. Ruth Hughes of the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Wilkes University presented an inspiring case for business and strategic planning. She illustrated the importance of analyzing your industry, market, competition and product as you set goals for your business. Her talk inspired many florists to address their own business plans for future success.
2. Ben Kaminski, also of the SBDC presented a program that highlighted accounting systems and record keeping for florists to manage accounts payable and accounts receivable. His program and the interactive group discussion provided valuable tools and guidelines for florists to use as they measure the results of their business.
3. Rob Dillon lead a discussion regarding payables and receivables. He highlighted the lower cost of financing debt with a traditional lending institution vs. the higher cost of financing with a credit card or vendor financing.
The SBDC offers a highly qualified, professional consulting team ready to meet our business needs. For more information or for a referral to business coaches in your area, contact them at http://sbdc.wilkes.edu
Flower Therapy:
For the afternoon, our floral instructor was Michael O'Neill AIFD AAF PFCI. Michael lent his 33 years of retail flower shop operation and vast experience in the floral industry as he directed a hands-on floral design workshop. His focus was to help florists find new solutions for every day design problems. He presented this with a strong emphasis on the elements and principles of design as well as understanding the impact of Cost of Goods Sold.
With demonstrations and exercises that pushed participants to try new techniques and styles, Michael helped florists find their own way down the path of new ideas. Florists bravely tried new styles and discussed their results with the rest of the group. Tremendous energy was generated by the full house of inspired designers working side by side as they tested out the ideas and techniques.
