The Flower Blog

That’s What You Get When You Drop Ship.

Posted by Fri, Jul 29, 2011 @ 12:18 PM

Patrick Gillespie

  “Well, that’s what you get….”

That was the response given by the package delivery person to the patient at St. Francis Hospital in Beech Grove, Indiana when he observed the broken pottery pictured here.

Drop Ship Planter

Upon receipt of their package, the patient insisted the parcel carrier make a notation of the broken container.  However, the patient must have felt unsure of the outcome of his complaint because I received a call from him claiming that the dish garden (planter) he received from Gillespie Florists was broken.

While on the phone with the patient, I put in and order for a replacement of this planter; not knowing at the time it was not our product. I noticed during the call that indeed an order was placed by one of our corporate clients.   When our driver arrived there to replace it, I received another phone call from my driver.   Although our dish garden was in the room, with the yellow daisies and ribbon in a wicker basket as described by a member of our design staff on the order, the patient insisted that the planter in a broken ceramic container wrapped tightly in saran wrap complete with a black and gold card was ours! Because an order had been placed by our client and I had already committed to the replacement of the product (even though it wasn’t our product), I instructed my delivery person to leave the replacement planter and return to the store with the damaged product from the drop ship florist.

Whether you are a florist doing business with a “drop ship” program as this was, or a consumer looking for convenience, value, savings, or responding to incessant pop-ups or radio ads instead of using a traditional florist, you will most likely experience a feeling of:

“Well, that’s what you get…”

If you want to send something special to a loved one, be sure to call your local florist. Your local florist will work hard to earn your confidence and will add the personal touch no drop shipped product ever could.

Gillespie Florists always adds a personal touch to each design. Click below to see our custom products!

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Topics: informational

Get 20% Off When You Vote!

Posted by Tue, Jul 26, 2011 @ 01:56 PM

Della Gillespie Mendenhall Baroque Garden in Indianapolis IN, Gillespie Florists

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vote for Us!

The A-List Competition is on! Help us get voted THE BEST FLORIST IN THE INDIANAPOLIS AREA! As an added bonus, if you vote for us and bring in proof of the vote you can save 20% off your next $10.00 (or greater) IN-STORE purchase.

Here is How:

Go to:

http://wrtv.cityvoter.com/gillespie-florists/biz/93649

Click on [Vote for Us]

Complete the short registration form.

If you are a new account on the A-List you will have to go to your e-mail and confirm that it is you on the Indy Channel A-List e-mail in your inbox.

If you have an A-List account, log in and vote for us!

Once your confirmation page pops up and says you voted, print that page and bring it in to us for your discount!

Contest Ends: Aug. 19th

 

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Topics: Sales, informational

Indiana Grown Flowers

Posted by Fri, Jul 22, 2011 @ 12:00 PM

Della Gillespie Mendenhall
We proudly tell customers daily that we get flowers from all around the world.  That doesn’t mean we don’t get flowers from right here in Indiana! In the spring we get tulips and daffodils. During the summer we get a large assortment of flowers from local growers! The great thing is, not only are we able to get flowers that we can also get in winter months out of state but we can also get flowers native to Indiana only and would not be able to get them at any other time of year!
 

I made a short video for you to show you what we got from one of our local growers this week. But every week they have different things available so don’t think that’s all we’ve got! You’ll just stop in the store every week to see what’s new! Of course we are also carrying our regular stock of fresh flowers so there is always tons of variety!  You'll also notice a picture of my English Bulldog named Pearl! She comes to work with me on most Saturdays and Loves kids!


We also buy many of our plants locally.  Such as green houseplants and blooming plants. Like poinsettias at Christmas, Mums in the fall and hanging baskets in the spring! 


We use some of our local flowers in many of the Summer Bouquets! Check them out now!
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Topics: Seasonal, informational

The Dog Days of Summer!

Posted by Tue, Jul 19, 2011 @ 06:28 PM

Susan Gillespie
What do dogs have to do with the days of summer????

The dog days of summer refer to the time of year that the days are long and unbearably hot.  They respond by lying around all day panting and waiting for the heat and haze of the day to fade into evening cool.  
 
 
PearlDogDays.jpg

Unlike dogs, we cannot afford this behavior.  Don't just lie down and take it!  Try a refreshing and exhilarating walk through our 500 square foot cooler at Gillespie Florist's.  Not only will your temperature be dropped but you will also be surrounded by incredible beauty and the mixed natural scents of several varieties of flowers.  This temperature is maintained at a perfect 36 degrees to keep all the flowers from around the world at their peak of freshness.  
500sqftcooler_gillespieFlorists.png
While you take this leisurely stroll you may wish to pick a few to take home to your kitchen table.  A cool reminder that even though it may be hot and dismal outside; bright colors and sweet fragrance of fresh flowers will always brighten your day. Drop by our store today for a visit and leave the laying around to the dogs!

Don't have time to stop by? Check out our great summer bouquets on our website!

Summer Bouquets 

Topics: Seasonal, informational

Purple & Lavender Weddings

Posted by Fri, Jul 15, 2011 @ 01:53 PM

Sarah Gillespie Should I use Purple or Lavender? 

Considering lavender or purple as the primary or accent color for your wedding?  This video shows many creative ways to incorporate these colors into flowers for your special day. 

Challenges

One challenge with shades of lavender/purple flowers is that nature doesn't provide us with the variety of choices as other colors.  Another challenge, particularly with lavender, is that there are different shades of lavenders.  A bluish shade of lavender will clash with a pinkish shade, so it is important to stay within the same color family when selecting the flower varieties for your wedding.  It is important to define the shade(s) of purple you are using throughout the wedding for the same reason.  Plum, Eggplant, Royal Purple, even fuschia are in the purple spectrum but could clash if care isn't taken to keep the color families separated. 

Lavenders & Purples are Beautiful

Often, lavender and purple shades are used together as the primary and accent color for weddings.  This creates a beautiful contrast throughout the wedding in the floral arrangements and other decor as well!

Let us be a part of your special day! Schedule an appointment to see our Wedding Specialist! Click Below!
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Topics: weddings, Videos

For the Love of Gerbera Daisies!

Posted by Sat, Jul 09, 2011 @ 03:40 PM

Della Gillespie-Mendenhall Here at Gillespie Florists we LOVE Gerbera Daisies! They are so versatile, come in tons of colors and just make you want to smile! Customers love them too! Every week, we sell hundreds of them!gerbera daisies indianapolis

We offer two different sizes in Gerbera Daisies: Mini Gerberas and Regular Gerberas. For short we call the Gerbs!
Customers love to come into our 500 square foot walk in cooler and hand pick their Gerbs. Sometimes they will mix the Gerbs with other flowers or just get all Gerbs. My favorite combination is mixing Gerbera daisies with regular daisies. Regular daisies are much smaller than a Gerb and are less expensive. So, That is a great way to get a big colorful bouquet without breaking the bank!
Pink & White Gerbera Daisy Avon, IN  Because Gerbs come in an infinite number of colors, if you are looking for a specific one, you may want to give us a call and see if we have them in stock or if we can order them in for you.

The Gerbera Daisy is the type of flower to lift your mood! Which is probably why people like them so much! We use them in weddings all the time! Then it makes an easy choice for husbands if they want to get a small pick me up for their wife in years to come because I think there will always be Gerbera Daisies!

Check out this great video I took yesterday of all the colors of Gerbera Daisies we had in stock! It's hard to believe there is so much variety on any given day but here at Gillespie Florists, There Is!

Click below to check out bouquets with Gerbera Daisies!

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Topics: Videos, informational

Beauty in Nature with Outdoor Weddings

Posted by Wed, Jul 06, 2011 @ 04:47 PM

Sarah Gillespie Summer weddings often take place in non-traditional venues such as parks, patios, gardens, lakes or even a backyard! With the popularity of outdoor venues on the rise, in the floral industry we are seeing a trend towards more natural décor for these outdoor weddings.blue wedding arch

Many couples choose to say their vows under an arbor or arch, which can be decorated with flowers, greenery, ribbons and more.

Brides are carrying more casual and non-traditional bouquets to fit with the outdoor theme of their wedding.
blue & white bridal flowersThe use of Erygium (blue thistle), kale, hypericum berries and queen anne’s lace is more widely accepted than ever before. The addition of feathers,wheat, cattails and leaves into arrangements connects nature and texture throughout the
wedding décor.


Let’s not forget the groom- this blue & white wedding boutsummer, he’s wearing a blend of the bride’s bouquet on his lapel. The natural trim gives a sense of masculinity to the boutonniere that appeals to many of our grooms.



wedding reception tent outside flowersWhat about the reception? Is it possible to carry the casual yet elegant theme through the entire event?

Absolutely! This stunning set-up in a large tent carried the floral theme
from the ceremony to the reception seamlessly.

head table decoration outdoor wedding
Even the head table was garnished end to end with garland and flowers!

Contact our Wedding Specialist for a Consultation or for more information!

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Topics: weddings

Celebrate July 4th with Flowers!

Posted by Fri, Jul 01, 2011 @ 10:26 AM

Della Gillespie Mendenhall  Celebrating the 4th this weekend? Whether you are hosting your own party or going to one, flowers are a Celebration of Independencemust! Celebrate Independence Day with floral fireworks! Create your own fireworks display with sparkling bouquet from Gillespie Florists. You can even celebrate the Fourth of July with red roses or plants. However you decide to celebrate, Gillespie Florists can send your bouquet nationwide or locally here in Indianapolis.
 You don't have to spend a lot to add flowers to your party! Celebration of Independence is a vase filled with delphinium, daisies, carnations and an American Flag!
 Product Code: GF40
 Price: $29.95
1948 Ford Pickup Truck  Want something a little different? Check out this 1948 Ford truck container filled with red carnations, daisies and red, white & blue ribbon! The truck makes a great keepsake item!

Product Code: 08F15

Price: $48.95

Check out all of our July 4th specials! There are not just flowers but plants too! Also check out the rest of our website for gift baskets, garden stones and figurines!

 

Click Below to Shop July 4th Flowers!

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Watch our July 4th video!

Topics: Holidays, Videos

To Toss or not to Toss?

Posted by Fri, Jun 24, 2011 @ 02:03 PM

Sarah Gillespie Give it a Toss!

During my tenure at Gillespie Florists, I have worked with wedding themes that are
trendy or traditional, simple or grandeur, classic or unique. One topic of discussion during the planning stages of all the weddings that I am involved in is “Are you going to have a bouquet toss (ceremony)?”
toss bouquet rust and brown
Traditionally, the bride will “toss” her bouquet during the reception toward bridesmaids and other unmarried ladies. The person that catches the bouquet will customarily be the next to marry.

The brides of today are split on this tradition; some have opted for more contemporary versions of this idea, still others hold fast to the traditions set forth by their mothers and grandmothers.

For me, it’s a simple decision. A lovely bouquet of fragrant flowers with long, streaming ribbons, floating through the air above the joyous faces smiling below, is an image that will be treasured forever. 

Click below to ask our bridal consultant a question or schedule an appointment!

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Topics: weddings

Even Zombies Like Flowers

Posted by Tue, Jun 21, 2011 @ 03:42 PM

Della gillespie mendenhall  What is it about Zombies that appeals to us? Zombies have been notably popular since the late 19th century and these days are exceedingly popular in these United States! 
Zombies like flowers    by DragoonfliyZombies are known for their eating habits- eating human flesh and brains, causing a breakdown of civilization- a Zombie Apocalypse, and looking grotesque with torn clothes, bugs crawling on them and extremities falling off. 
Actually, it's no wonder Zombies like flowers! They need something good in their undead lives, right? This picture to the right is showing an ugly but sad looking Zombie trying to smell a flower, even though he has no nose. Looking at this, You actually feel sorry for this flesh eating creature. Click on the Zombie to see the full image and see the artist's notes on it. 

wreched hand flowers  This bouquet was a Halloween Special, this is a great depiction of beauty complementing the grotesque. 

I Googled " Zombies like flowers" and came up with tons of content on this. I think people want to see the sensitive side of the Zombie. I think they want to see a being that is remorseful for eating peoples brains. It is a sad and lonely life for the Zombie, they probably ate everyone they know and really I don't see other Zombies being great listeners. 

So, the next time you see a Zombie, don't try to sever his head. Instead, think about how he might have feelings too. Hand him a bouquet of flowers, then while he is enjoying the flowers and smelling them, get a chainsaw and hack off his head. Because though he may have feelings, he won't be able to change his nature and he will still eat your brains!

Need a Zombie distraction? Buy some flowers!

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Check out this video: Plants vs Zombies Music Video
Can Zombies be ugly and cute at the same time?


Topics: Videos, trends