Oak Hill Florist

Dunegrass Bridal Show

2008-04-23T19:57:00.004-04:00

Just a quick reminder for all brides...
Dunegrass is holding their 4th annual bridal show this Saturday, April 26th from 11-3. We will be exhibiting at the show along with many other bridal vendors. Admission is free.
Finalize your wedding decisions now, we're already booking into 2009. See you there!!

Color Trends - 2008-2009

2008-03-23T19:37:00.005-04:00

The California Cut Flower Commission publishes a biennial brochure on Floral Trends. According to their guide, "Floral styles are intimately connected with our broader lifestyle, taking their cues from world culture, music, media, fashion and home decor."
When taking a Wedding Certification class through MSF&GA last summer, we worked in depth with the 2006-2007 color trends. Trends like, Black and White Infusion - Black, White and subtle tones of brown, Hydroponic - Various colors of green, with pale touches of blue, for a spa-like feeling, "simple, clean designs."

This years trends take us to Habitat, Nocturne, Whisper, Nomad and my favorite -Chinoiserie.
Chinoiserie is "a French term describing European interpretations of Chinese style from the 17th and 18th century." This color palette encompasses pink-toned reds, with lighter purples and greens as complements. "Expressive, singular blooms are standouts, and materials are arranged with an Asian sensibility, a respect for line over mass."

When planning your next floral event, come see us at Oak Hill Florist, we're up with the latest trends and can't help you

Wedding Show at Dunegrass Golf Course

2008-03-23T19:24:00.004-04:00

Brides and Grooms still planning your 2008 wedding? Getting ideas for 2009? Come see us on April 26th from 11-3 at the Dunegrass wedding show. We'll be showing the industries latest color trends, various bouquets styles for you to select from, and showcasing some of the finest flowers available only through Oak Hill Florist. Easy to see many vendors in one location. Wherever you are in the planning stage for your wedding, be sure to stop by and say 'Hello'.

Northest Floral Trade Show

2008-03-03T21:31:00.003-05:00

Owning a small business doesn't always allow you the time away you'd like. You need to pick and choose the events you attend. This past weekend was the Northeast Floral Expo held at Hartford Convention Center, what a great show it was!!

Sponsored by the Connecticut Florist Association this show had a bit of everything. Design shows, business seminars, vendors galore and a great banquet. I was finally able to meet a few of the vendors I speak with on a regular basis - it's always nice to be able to put a face to a name. Our website is hosted by Flowershopnetwork out of Arkansas. My sales rep - Joe and I have spoken dozens of times over the years, this past weekend was the first time we've met. What a treat!

Many florists today think they can survive on design alone. That's just not the case. You need the proper computer technology in your shop so you can communicate effectively with customers. You need to be 'up' on trends on the internet - like social networks and blogging. You need to know how to promote yourself and your business. These are all topics that were covered in the business sessions.

My friend Ann Jordan, mmfd, AAF, AIFD - and a fellow Mainer, was one of the featured designers for the show on Sunday. She's got such a spark about her when presenting. You know this woman loves the industry and has a wonderful, warm presentation style. She showed us designs representing some of the latest color trends developed by the California Cut Flower Commission. Trends like Infusion, blacks, browns and whites and Habitat a trend I particularly love. The colors are more yellowed greens, with touches of blue and focuses on found objects of nature. Birds are key in this color trend. Our business is all about color, it's wonderful having the opportunity to learn from such a talented designer as Ann.

We need to make time to attend these shows as often as possible, to be able to bring new ideas back for our customers. This little weekend away was the perfect shot-in-the-arm needed.

More coming on color trends...

Tell them you couldn't wait...

2008-02-10T18:15:00.006-05:00

No need to wait until February 14th to show your love. Send flowers today. Tell your loved one that they are so special you couldn't wait for Valentine's day to express your sentiments!! Let them be the first in their office to receive flowers this week.
Boy, wouldn't that score you points at home!!
Our shop is brimming with the freshest selection of beautiful flowers. We have lilies, tulips, hyacinths, iris and roses to name just a few. We have a wonderful selection of flowering plants, gardenias, phaleonopsis orchids in many colors, azaleas, and a new orchid variety we've never seen bloom - a Nun's orchid.
Check out our web site at oakhillflorist.com and choose from one of our many specials to send.
Stop by today, give us a call, or send us an e-mail at oakhillflorist@hotmail. Just do something!
We're in the business of spreading the love, let us help you send your love this year.

The Wedding March

2008-01-20T14:20:00.000-05:00

Wow, we are only a few weeks into the year and the wedding march has already begun. Christmas is traditionally a time when many couples become engaged, the next most romantic time is Valentine's day, right around the corner in your florists mind. We've already booked several weddings for '08, the popular month so far seems to be October. The summer heat has faded by then and Maine foliage is usually at its peak.
If you're recently engaged, or become the recipient of a sparkling new ring on Valentine's day, please give us a call. We're here to help you create the wedding of your dreams.

Valentine's LOVE

2008-01-18T22:04:00.000-05:00

Today was a great day of LOVE all the way around. We were putting our finishing touches on our Valentine's displays and I was fortunate to have the help of my 84 year old Dad. My parents recently moved to Maine, to 'retire'. Mom was busy with new friends, so I suggested that Dad come down and spend some time with us at the shop. It's so nice to spend quiet one-on-one time with a parent, something I don't often have. Dad and I drove around to do several deliveries before heading back to the shop. I figured he'd head right home, he really doesn't like to be away from my Mom for too long. He didn't know that we had a project planned though. We had finished our LOVE window display, but still needed some additional hearts cut out of plywood. Got them all traced out and I started to cut with the jigsaw. No sooner had I finished the first heart and Dad ever so gently removed the saw from my hand. He proceeded to finish cutting the final 19 hearts, with only a little help from me. When he was almost done he looked at me and said "Oh, did you want to cut some more?" "No Dad, that's O.K., it's just nice having you here."
Before the first customer ever steps foot into the shop on Valentine's day, we'll already be brimming with LOVE. We look forward to sharing some with you.
When driving through Scarborough after dark this week, make sure you look for our sign in Oak Hill Plaza. Whatever your mood, the LOVE will surely hit you!!

Thoughts of Valentine's Day

2007-12-31T12:58:00.000-05:00

The new year is just hours away, Christmas displays are carefully being packed away, and your neighborhood florist is already up their ears in Valentine's day. Some of us have already placed our rose orders with growers or wholesalers. Lists of stock flowers needed are being fine tuned prior to ordering, most of us have our Valentine specials designed in our heads, containers, wrap and gift items are ready. And we're all scrambling to find that extra holiday help.

For the consumer, Valentine's day isn't even on their radar yet. That's O.K., it gives us a little more time to get ready.

Preparing for my 18th Valentine's day as a shop owner, I'd like to share a few thoughts.

1. To the men - you don't have to buy roses for Valentine's day!! So often throughout the year women will say to us "I wish my husband/boyfriend/partner would buy me something other than roses for Valentine's day" It's true, I don't lie. The secret to making Valentine's day special is finding out what flowers she likes and sending her those. Lillies, Gerbera Daisies, Iris, Alstromeria, Hydrangea - any of these are beautiful flowers in and of themselves. Try something different this year, you may be surprised by the reaction.

2. To the men - if you feel you have to buy flowers, don't. We stand at the counter all day long on Valentine's day and here things like "If I don't bring flowers home, I'm dead", "She'll never speak to me again if I forget Valentine's day." Wow, where's the love in that?? We want to be the florist for people that want to give flowers, not those that have to.

3. To the women - who ever said that Valentine's day is all about us? Again, when waiting on male customers we often ask them, "So what do you think your wife/girlfriend/partner is going to do for you today?" Most often they reply "Nothing, she never does anything". Ladies we need to share the love here! Why not surprise your man this year with a beautiful bouquet of fresh flowers? Think he'll be embarrassed? Sure! Think the guys will make fun of him? Maybe, but they'll also be jealous that they didn't get some as well. Afraid to take such a drastic step with a big bouquet?, start out small. Let us wrap one or two stems of something special for you man, then let us know how he reacts. I know if he's one of our regular customers, he'll be thrilled!!

Free Shipping (or not) in the Floral Industry

2007-11-24T19:33:00.000-05:00

With the holidays rapidly barreling down on us, retailers everywhere are enticing customers in many ways to buy from them. 'Buy one, get one half price', 'Buy now, no payment until May', '50% off' or 'Free Shipping' are just a few that I've seen this week. Most of these are pretty straightforward. In the floral industry 'Free Shipping' is not free! 1-800-flowers is one of the companies I know of that offers 'free shipping'. Simply put, they can't promise this because 1-800 flowers doesn't deliver flowers! Florists do!! Let me explain a typical 1-800 scenario.

Let's say I was a consumer and wanted to send flowers to my sister in Boulder. I call 1-800 and give them the information. I tell them I want to spend $75 for a beautiful holiday centerpiece. $75 is a respectable amount of money, so I figure I'm going to get something decent for that. This is how it would break down however. Right off the top 1-800 is going to take $12.99 off for a 'service charge'. This is the amount of money they feel our short phone conversation is worth. From here, 1-800 will send my flower order to a real flower shop.

What the typical consumer does not realize is 1-800 is what we in the industry call an 'order gatherer'. They have hundreds of employees that sit in cubicles all day long taking phone calls. They don't work with flowers daily, and they don't know a stem of freesia from a gerbera daisy. They answer phones and take orders.

Back to the flower shop, by now all they have is $62.01 of my money to spend. They give the florist $62.01 for a beautiful holiday centerpiece. From here, the florist will now take their required delivery fee out, anywhere from $5.99 - $12.99 in some parts of the U.S. So let's take an average, $9.99 off. Now the florist has $52.02 to make my beautiful arrangement with. The florist is perfectly within their rights to take this fee off. It costs money for vehicles, insurance, payroll and gas to name of few expenses. The florist isn't the one offering the free delivery, 1-800 is. But since 1-800 doesn't deliver flowers - they can't make this promise!!

We won't fill orders any more for 1-800 flowers. In all my years of operation, the few years that I did fill for them were the years I received the most complaints on flowers we delivered. Customers just don't understand why when they give a company a specific amount of money for an order, the order isn't filled with all that money.

My best advice this holiday. Call your local florist - keep your money in the community you live in. Let Oak Hill Florist find you a reputable flower shop to fill your holiday orders across the country. We will tell you what your arrangement is going to cost, and charge you the appropriate fee for delivery.

As the saying goes 'there's no such thing as a free lunch' - or Free delivery.

Tribute for a Friend

2007-11-10T18:20:00.000-05:00

One of the many things that I love about owning my own business is the variety each day brings. A few weeks ago Joe came into the shop looking for our help. His hunting buddy's father had recently passed away and he wanted us to make a permanent tribute to give to his friend. What would one hunter give to another? Something they shot of course! Joe brought in a pheasant that he had and asked us to make something appropriate for home display. We used some lichens and reeds that are native to Maine, then added some permanent botanicals that we felt best showed off the bird. He was so touched by what we created, took a picture of it with his camera phone and has been showing it off around town since.

Earth Friendly Holiday Decor

2007-11-09T13:22:00.000-05:00

When considering your holiday decorations this year, why not go with the real thing? Fresh balsam, pine, fir and holly are all readily available greens to use here in Maine. A balsam wreath on the door is always a welcome site during the holiday season, we've always considered this one of our specialties at Oak Hill Florist. Instead of a traditional red velvet bow, why not dress it up this year with red winter berries, rose hips, small pieces of driftwood or even some fresh apples. Your wreath can be a reflection of who you are - set you apart from the rest of your neighbors.

You don't have to worry about your holiday decorations filling up a land fill, your product is bio-degradable and recyclable. The needles from a balsam wreath can be left to dry and made into a lovely balsam bag. What a wonderful reminder of this beautiful state we live in. Do your small part to recycle after the holiday, cut the greens off the metal ring your wreath has been made on, save it until next year to make your own, or simply return it to your favorite florist or garden center to use again.

Welcome To The Oak Hill Florist Blog

2007-10-25T17:27:00.000-04:00

Welcome to the Oak Hill Florist blog. This is our first post, but you can look forward to much more communication from us on our new blog. The idea is to increase communication via online media such as this.

Just to start out, I'd like to remind you that we are located right in the heart of Scarborough at:

Oak Hill Florist
Oak Hill Plaza
27 Gorham Rd.
Scarborough, Maine 04074

Please take the time to view our floral selections online, and if you are in the Scarborough area, don't hesitate to stop in and see us. We look forward to serving you for all of your floral needs.