I know… it still seems a long way away, right? And there is so much on the list to organize! All the more reason to book your Florist now. Yes, now.

I have seen it so many times before. No matter how unique your wedding will turn out to be on the day the actual planning an organization always follows a similar pattern. If you don’t want to go grey before your time or give yourself and others unnecessary heart palpitations you need to book/ lock-in as many services as you can: that’s hair, make-up, hires, cars, photography, cake, church, reception venue, honeymoon accommodation, food, drink, and… flowers.

Like many other florists, my wedding bookings for 2011 are filling up fast. Many dates are extremely popular and those dates are going to be all taken if you don’t lock something in soon. That is not just for us here at Allure Florist...

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As the above title for this week’s Blog suggests: there’s a lovely new ‘Grab a Bunch’ Tulip Special this week and… there’s another round of School Balls kicking off out there. ( Isn’t that how you read it? ) If you don’t already know about my ‘Grab a Bunch’ flower specials you must be knew to my Blog or my Facebook page. ‘Grab a Bunch’ is a way of brightening someone you love’s Winter by way of an really affordable special price on a gorgeous fresh bunch of flowers.

This week ‘Grab a Bunch’ is a bunch of colourful Tulips ( see pic at left ) wrapped in chiffon and presented in a posy bag: all in water. ‘Grab a Bunch’ PRICE: Only $25.00 ( not including delivery )

At that price why not give a loved one – who might be cooped up trying to ward off the Winter trials – a really pleasant surprise when they might not be expecting it. As Clint...

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This week I have been reflecting on how wonderful my customers are. Apart from the very odd exception I am blessed out of my socks with lovely clients who seem to really appreciate our hard work we do here at Allure Florist.

The thing I like best about blogging is that I can talk directly to you, my loyal flower-buying customers: without whom I would have no career, no shop, no business and no chance to work in the medium I love… designing high quality floral arrangements to - hopefully - stun and bring pleasure to the world.

So, thank you, thank you for your business and support. I really appreciate it.

Thank you too, for all of the kind feedback by phone, letters and email. We get quite a range of styles: from conservative – even formal – letters of thanks to absolute gushing raves. It really makes my day. Thank you again.

Here is an example of the typical kind of feedback we get: its from a nice lady who ordered from the UK:

“Good morning I wanted to thank you for your excellent...

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Becoming part of the Interflora network of flower sellers is not easy. They have high standards. Not only is my work tested against Interflora quality standards but so is my shop and my business systems.

They want to work with the best because they are trusted. Internationally people recognize the Interflora brand and trust that an Interflora member will provide quality flowers, quality designs, quality service and that their flowers will arrive on time. Interflora’s business is built on that trust – gained by over 80 years of hard work and dedication - and they have no intention of surrendering that reputation lightly.

That’s why I nearly did a back-flip when I got the good news that we had been approved and accepted as a member of the Interflora international network of florists. It is like a huge stamp of approval by the ‘superstar’ of the industry for Allure Florist.

Since the day I knew I was destined for a career in flowers and floral design I dreamed of owning my own successful business....

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 My “Grab a Bunch” flowers specials are now a reality - up on the website – and in the Allure Florist shop here in Alicetown, Lower Hutt in Wellington.

And they’re already saving people money and brightening their lives with a splash of Spring in the middle of Winter. They are “one-off” limited-time-only flower specials at a greatly reduced price to encourage the cocooning and huddling masses out there to at least slide over to the phone or the computer and send someone they love a sensational floral treat.

Often people do not expect to receive flowers at this time of year so their surprise and delight is all the greater when they DO receive a gorgeous bunch.

This week’s “Grab a Bunch” Special is beautiful Spring Bunches of Tulips, Daffodils, Roses and Irises. They are very up-lifting at this time of year.

 The ad 'blurb'...

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Is it Global Warming? Or is just that the pace of modern life has finally driven flowers as crazy as the rest of us? Whatever the explanation – the fact is – we have beautiful bunches of fresh ‘Spring’ flowers in-store at Allure Florist right now.

If you want to brighten up someone’s winter or just hurry up that feeling of ‘Spring is coming’ you can order some gorgeous Spring flowers while they last. Will they be around in actual Spring? Who knows? Things are definitely changing.

Please hurry to book your 2011 Wedding Flowers as my bookings are filling up fast!

It’s amazing. I am looking at my Wedding bookings for 2011 and I see that February is almost full up already. That is pretty cool and really flattering, from my point of view, because means that my Wedding Floral designs are gaining in popularity and my reputation is increasing by word-of-mouth.

That’s great, of course, but I don’t want to disappoint any of my customers and I love doing Weddings. It is wonderful to have the chance...

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A lovely time of year is upon us – a chance for a night of glamour and romance – for our excellent High School students to ‘put their hair up’ and gave fun! Yes, it is High School Ball Season.

A lot of you will be planning your outfits already. The suit hire shops will be busy – as will dress shops – and I’m sure a few enterprising Mum’s and daughters will be hard at work on the sewing machine too.

A lot of the High School Balls in New Zealand are all getting quite close now guys and gals. My Mum, Pat, did a quick ring around just to check on some of the dates locally and here is the result:

• Hutt Valley High School Lower Hutt 20 August 210• St Orans College Lower Hutt 24 July • Sacred Heart College Lower Hutt 7 August • St Bernards College Lower Hutt No date available yet• St Patricks College Upper Hutt 3 July• Upper Hutt College Upper Hutt in August• Heretaunga College Upper Hutt No decision made• Nae Nae College Lower...

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“What?”, I hear you say. Well I have been racking my brains to think of something exciting to liven up the Winter season and draw attention to the fact that flowers are still freely available through the dark days of Winter. I wanted to create some special offer that would encourage people to jump onto the web or pick up the phone and send some life and colour into the bleak Winter day of someone they love… and then it hit me…

We’ve all heard of the cheap “Grab-a- Seat” specials from Air New Zealand, Pacific Blue & Jetstar. What about a weekly “Grab-a-bunch” low, low flower special? Something so good you couldn’t help leaping into action?

“Great idea, Sally” – I said to myself. ( Or maybe it was Mum standing behind me. ) But, now comes the hard bit: how about the nitty gritty?

That is what I am still working on as I write ( type? ) this but here are some possibilities so far:

1/ the best weekly special deal I can pounce on at the early morning flower market

2/ how about the “multiple...

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We are heading into the High School “Ball” season for New Zealand schools. Thanks to fun American movies like ‘High School Musical’ we seem to be adopting some American traditions like getting really dressed up and going to the Ball. I can’t think of anything more fun for young men and women to have a reason to wear amazing clothes and enjoy being sophisticated and romantic.

’Last week I promised you a ‘Special’ just for School Ball Season so here is what I came up with: when you order your corsage or wristlet I’ll give you a FREE buttonhole as my gift to you.

I got my Mum, Pat, who works with me here at Allure Florist to ring around the local High Schools and see when most of the Balls are happening – just to make sure I have my timing right. It turns out that most of the Balls around Wellington seem to be occurring on or around June 19th, 2010.

Although that is still over 3 weeks away, as I write this blog, it is not too early to be thinking about ordering your flowers. If you need help or advice...

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School Balls are all the rage at the moment along with tertiary graduation ceremonies and celebrations. “Tis the season to make your date feel extra special with a bunch of gorgeous flowers.

Come on guys ( and gals ) it’s time to up the stakes and make an impression that will put your rivals in the shade: say it with flowers. You have gone to all the trouble of the tuxedo or suit – the fabulous dress, hair, shoes and make up – some of you will even hire a limousine to pick ride to ball in style… so where’s the coup de gras? The devastatingly amazing bunch of flowers.

If you are hoping for romance – or at least impress the socks off someone – flower power is the way to go. The smile will be ear-to-ear – guaranteed.

In fact, now I am talking about it, I think I’ll come up with a ‘Ball Season Special’ that I will put up on the website and Facebook very soon – just for you guys. That’s a great idea… I’m off to work on it now. I’ll let you know as soon as I can come up with something really fabulous...

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