Flowers Are The Superman Of The Gift-Giving World

Copyright © 2006-2008 Wesley Berry, AAF

Able to create smiles on the faces of those in need, leaps from shore to shore in a single bound...it's a bird, it's a plane, it's Superman? No! It's flowers!

Flowers are an extremely versatile gift with a universal appeal. Both men and women, old and young, appreciate a bright, beautiful, fresh gift of flowers no matter what the occasion. When other gifts have been forgotten, people remember the flowers they've received and whom they were from. In fact, flowers are among the most favored gifts that people receive. In a recent survey, flowers consistently ranked at the top of the list. The survey showed the following results:

• Best "I love you" gift: 37% flowers/houseplants, 34% jewelry, 5% perfume or cologne.
  


• Gift most likely to make you smile: 26% jewelry, 23% flowers/houseplants, 12% event tickets.
  


• Gift most often given to apologize: 49% flowers/houseplants, 10% jewelry, 8% event tickets.
  


• Gift that makes you feel most special: 33% jewelry, 24% flowers/houseplants, 10% clothing.
  


• Gift most often given: 38% clothing (also the most frequently returned gift at 65%), 12% flowers/houseplants, 10% food.
  


• Favorite occasion to receive flowers: 30% no special occasion, 20% Valentine's Day, 14% Anniversary, 12% Mothers' Day, 10% Birthday.
  
  


• Percentage of people who gave flowers in the last year: 58% (35% of women surveyed gave flowers to men last year).
  
  


• Who gives the best gifts: 56% significant other, 11% mother
  
  


• Best gift to get from a business associate: 34% tickets, 16% flowers/houseplants, 10% food.
  
  Perhaps one of the reasons we enjoy giving and receiving flowers is that they are so easy to fit to anyone's personality. The gifts we remember most are those that were uniquely personal to us, and flowers can very easily be made personal. Your florist can help you pick the perfect arrangement based on the personality, likes, and dislikes of the recipient. Then, he or she can even help you build in the person's favorite hobby. For example, if the gift is for a man who loves fishing, your florist can add fishing lures to the arrangement to make it an angler's dream.
  
  Superman may be able to accomplish a lot of things, but it's probably easier to get flowers to make a house call. Just pick up your phone, stop in at the local flower shop, or log on to the Internet to order some flowers today.
  
  About The Author:

Wesley Berry is member of the American Academy of Floriculture (AAF) and President of Wesley Berry Flowers, a successful multi-million dollar floral business that was established in 1946. He is also the developer of LocalNewsDelivery.com a website that delivers local news to over 40,000 communities across the country. Recently he also launched a website providing information about various places of worship throughout the United States. Visit Wesley Berry Flowers on the web at www.800wesleys.com.

Article Source: thePhantomWriters Article Submission Service

Tags: flower, flowers, versatile gifts, gift, men, women, young, old, lovers, friends, fresh, occasion, favored

Flowers Are The Perfect Gift For Father's Day

Copyright © 2006-2008 Wesley Berry, AAF

Dads everywhere have Sonora Smart Dodd to thank for getting Father's Day started. In 1909, Sonora sat in a church in Spokane, Washington listening to a sermon expounding on the virtues of motherhood. But, as she sat there, she thought about how special her own father was since it was he who raised her after the death of her mother. She saw him as a loving, kind, self-sacrificing, and amazing man and knew that there were many fabulous fathers just like him who deserved their own day to be celebrated. To that end, she suggested a specific day in their honor and chose June 19, the birth date of her own father, in the year of 1910 as the perfect day for the very first Father's Day celebration.

Since then, dads have been receiving gifts of ties, cologne, and golf balls from well-meaning children every year. While dads appreciate any gift given in love, there's an easier way to show your dad you love him than by racking your brain for the perfect gift-send him flowers.

Now, you might be thinking that flowers are a bit feminine to be sending to your dad, but the truth is that in surveys conducted by the Society of American Florists, 60 percent of men responded that they do enjoy receiving flowers. If you're not sure flowers are right for your dad, talk to your local florist and ask for a masculine spin on the design. Your florist can design a gift of flowers that's sure to make any dad smile.

Men are typically visually stimulated and appreciate floral gifts using bold colors (red, yellow, orange, purple, etc.) and masculine elements, such as twigs and natural grasses and leaves. They also prefer designs with more of a linear feel than those perceived as soft and fluffy.

For an added personal and masculine touch, let your florist know if your dad has a favorite flower or a hobby that could be incorporated into the gift. For example, if your dad likes woodworking or fixing things around the house, bring in a small hand tool for your florist to add to the design. If he loves tennis, include a container of balls. If he's the family grill-master, tuck in a basting brush, spatula, or other grilling accessories.

If you're still not sure flowers are the right gift for your dad, you could send a green or flowering plant instead. Many men enjoy the natural beauty a plant adds to a home. There are many varieties that are easy to care for and your florist can include a plant care card with the gift.

So, this year, spend less time worrying about what gift to give your dad and more time celebrating all the wonderful things he's done for you. Spend just a few moments talking to your florist and order a beautiful floral design or plant that will be sure to please.

About The Author:

Wesley Berry is the President of Wesley Berry Flowers, a successful multi-million dollar business that was established in 1946. He is also the Headmaster of the Professional Florists' Institute, a floral design school located in Michigan. Visit Wesley Berry Flowers on the web at http://www.wesleyberryflowers.com.

Article Source: thePhantomWriters Article Submission Service

Tags: sonora, fathers day, father, mother, parents, gift, gifts, holiday, love, children, flowers, flower bouquet, florist, perfect

Flowers Are A Popular Gift For Christmas

Copyright © 2006-2008 Wesley Berry, AAF

Let's face it, for many people Christmas shopping is a stressful event. It can be really difficult to find just the right gift for your Great Aunt Millie who doesn't really need anything. And, just what do you give your boss's wife when you're invited to their home for a Christmas celebration? This year, you could finish your Christmas shopping in just one stop...or without even leaving your home. Just contact your local florist, either in person or via telephone and order flowers for all the people on your list.

Christmas is one of the busiest times of the year for florists all over the country. That's because the American public understands just how much their loved ones enjoy receiving flowers. In fact, in a study by the Society of American Florists (SAF) and The Michael Cohen Group, 92 percent of women remember the last time they got a gift of flowers.

Rebecca Cole, host of the Discover Channel's show Surprise by Design, has teamed up with SAF to provide tips on how flowers can make our holidays even brighter. She says, "Sending flowers for the holidays is the gift of emotion. The season has a way of conjuring up feelings of nostalgia. We think about grandma's house, the cozy fireplace, the great feast, and good times with family and friends. Flowers and plants are the finishing touch that make the holidays complete."

For great Christmas gifts, Cole shares these ideas:

• Give bulb plants like Amaryllis and Paper White Narcissus that will flower just around Christmas. You may wish to give these flowers early so that the recipient can enjoy the blooms as they appear and reach their peak.


• Cyclamen, kalanchoe, and Christmas cactus make great flowering plant gifts.


• Have your florist create a design with a winter harvest feeling that includes fruits and vegetables.


• Ask for a design that incorporates shiny tree ornaments or candles for a beautiful centerpiece.
  
  If you're looking for gifts to give in the office or to clients, Cole suggests:
  
  


• Send a beautiful, showy wreath, floral arrangement, or poinsettia to your most important clients.


• Provide your florist with a mug or other container displaying your company's logo and ask him or her to fill it with flowers.


• Order door swags made of fresh greens for office doors.


• Have a large basket of fruit and flowers delivered to the office for everyone to enjoy.
  
  Christmas is most certainly a time for giving and flowers are definitely the right gift to give. For more great gift ideas, visit or call your florist.
  
  About The Author:

Wesley Berry is member of the American Academy of Floriculture (AAF) and President of Wesley Berry Flowers, a successful multi-million dollar floral business that was established in 1946. As a member of the Henry Ford Hospital Community Relation Board he has contributed to the community at large. He owns both a brick and mortar and an internet flower delivery business. Visit Wesley Berry Flowerson the web at www.800wesleys.com.

Article Source: thePhantomWriters Article Submission Service

Tags: gift

Hey Single Women: Valentine’s Day Is About Love Not Lovers

By Dr. Karen Gail Lewis

When you think about Valentine’s Day, do you feel pleasure? Grief? Anger? If you are single, Valentine’s Day, along with New Years, are the two most hated holidays. Too many singles say they “hide out” on February 14.

Valentine’s Day, though, is not about lovers; it’s about love. It has become commercialized for lovers, but it’s really a time to connect with people you care about. In the midst of the hearts and flowers that have become associated with this day, the origin of the holiday is lost.

In fact, there is no agreed upon origin. There are numerous stories about the man Valentine and the holiday of love. They range from Roman days to honor the god Lupercus, to Emperor Claudius forbidding marriage, to Pope Gelasium turning a pagan game of romance into a game about saints.

You can choose which version of the origin of the holiday you prefer, in the same way you can choose how to relate to Valentine’s Day. It can be a day of shame because you do not love and are not loved by a special person, or you can honor this day by acknowledging those people who make your life better. Valentine’s Day is not about lovers, it’s about love.

Here are some tips for how to make this a special day.

1. Send cards to everyone you love, male and female, young and old. Not only will the recipients feel cherished, you will be reminded how blessed you are to have so many special people in your life. For a fun flashback to your school days, buy a pack of the colorful cards you used to pass out to classmates, or make them yourself.

2. Honor the service people who make your life better. Give cards to people in your everyday life, showing how much you appreciate them. It might be the person who cuts your hair or cleans your home. It might be the bank teller who helps when your checkbook gets out of balance. You don’t have to wait for Christmas to let your mailperson know you appreciate the effort made to bring you 30 mail order catalogues a day. Think about the people who make your life easier; this is the day to remind yourself (and them) that you don’t take them for granted.

3. Spend it with friends. Specifically choose February 14 to spend with people you appreciate but don’t tell often enough. Take a favorite co-worker or office assistant to lunch. Or have a Valentine’s dinner party for good friends.

4. Send flowers to yourself. Rather than mope or feel sorry for yourself that there is no man in your life to send you flowers, send them to yourself. Flowers are the love letters from Mother Nature.

5. Monitor your music. If you are likely to have a hard time on February 14, make sure for the few days leading up to the 14th you aren’t listening to love songs or songs about longing for love or about brokenhearted love.

6. Don’t hide. Don’t pretend it isn’t Valentine’s Day. Say Happy Valentine’s Day to everyone you see. Wear a pin with hearts or at least wear red and white.

7. If you are blue, don’t fight it. Give yourself permission to be sad there isn’t a loving man in your life. Give yourself an hour, even two, for your “Pity Party.” Then stop. Move on. Be careful you don’t drown your unhappiness in excessive alcohol, drugs, or food. There is no reason to be self-abusive just because you are alone and sad.

About the Author: Dr. Karen Gail Lewis is founder of Unique Retreats for Single Women. She’s a marriage/family therapist and author of several books about single and married women. Join her for a FREE teleseminar on Unspoken Truths About Being Single in a Married World. Register at http://www.DrKarenGailLewis.com


Source: www.isnare.com

Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=218745&ca=Relationships