It's good to be considered a "favorite" anything, but to be labeled "favorite florist" and talked about in a major Metropolitan newspaper, well, that's another story. That's the case for five florists named the "FiveFaves: Places to Get Flowers" by The Seattle Times.

Three of the five Washington florists are SAF members: The Box Social Florist in Kent, Wash.; Bee's Florist & Décor in Covington; and Cugini Florists and Fine Gifts in Renton.

Since the article was published, Anita Russell, owner of The Box Social Florist, says that she's noticed an up tick in new and regular customers at her "off the beaten track" location. She says new customers are saying things like, "I've driven by and saw your sign, and never stopped in, but now after the article I had to."

Getting covered by The Seattle Times isn't new for Amy Ganter, owner of Bee's Florist & Décor, whose Times debut was in an article tied-in to the release of DreamWorks' Bee Movie in November 2007. The buzz was about the similarity between the "Bee" names, the movie's premise about a florist, and it was also set to coincide with the new ownership of the flower shop. Ganter says if the impact of this latest coverage is anything like the previous, in about a week she'll see some new customers trickle in.

Store regulars also buzzed about the newspaper coverage to William Gaw, owner of Cugini Florist and Fine Gifts. He says the customers brought the newspaper clippings into the shop to show him the write-up on his store. Word-of-mouth is everything, Gaw says about the publicity, and getting a mention in The Times is "great."

According to the favorite florists, other florists nominated each shop for the write-up.

To read more about other winning florists who've been voted "best of" in their cities, and how they did it, look to the October 2006 issue of Floral Management magazine.

--Cassandra P. Foster
cfoster@safnow.org

 

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