How We Bloom

Send us Fan Mail Create cleaner, lighter, and more efficient floral designs using the right adhesive products and techniques. Sharon McGukin offers tips for using OASIS Floral Adhesive, UGLU, and Floralock products to speed production, reduce bulky wiring, build secure professional designs and on-trend wearable florals. From glue application tips to bouquet-locking techniques, discover practical,...

Send us Fan Mail Looking for Mother’s Day tips for florists ? Discover how to prepare your flower shop for one of the busiest holidays of the year. From inventory planning to production strategies, fourth-generation florist Ralph Giordano AIFD shares proven methods to reduce stress, streamline operations, and increase holiday profits. How we Bloom podcast is an oasis of flower ideas. Host Sharon M...

Send us Fan Mail Learn 10 Creative Ways to Use Design Master Paint with pro-level floral spray techniques offered by Gretchen Sell of Design Master. Discover how to conceal blemishes, customize colors, up-cycle old products, and create show-stopping designs. You can transform ordinary flowers into extraordinary art with these creative color spray tips. 👉 Listen now on the How We Bloom podcast or...

Send us Fan Mail Flowers can do more than decorate a room. They comfort families, honor memories, and can sustain a business. For Jeanna Furst AIFD, growing the sympathy side of her family’s 120-year-old floral business introduced a thriving revenue stream, now representing nearly 27% of sales. In this episode, she shares the strategies, tools, and team practices that helped her turn compassion in...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of How We Bloom podcast and Floral Hub blog, we explore the art and architecture of floral design by expanding your toolkit of floral design techniques. Design is the “wow” that stirs emotion - technique is the “how” that gives it form. Discover how to use floral mechanics to shape your signature style. Whether you're designing a delicate wedding bouquet or a...

Send us Fan Mail Join floral expert Sharon McGukin and flower friends who share memories of a breathtaking tulip tour through The Netherlands. From vibrant flower fields to historic flower auctions, wooden shoes, cheese-making, and world-class gardens like the iconic Keukenhof. This podcast shares a rich blend of Dutch culture, floral history, and personal behind-the-scenes moments from a petal-fi...

Send us Fan Mail Every florist knows the struggle, designing the perfect arrangement, then stressing over how it’s delivered. Frustrated by last-minute disasters that can turn a beautiful creation into a logistical nightmare. Say goodbye to delivery stress! Christine Foley, of Caddy Up Solutions, designed The Flower Caddy to transport floral arrangements safely, efficiently, and stress-free . Lear...

Send us Fan Mail Vincent van Gogh once said, “A floral designer is a master of transformation, turning humble flowers into extraordinary works of art.” Join us for this podcast episode, as we explore Floral Design Techniques - the art of creatively organizing floral material placements to transform simple arrangements into stunning masterpieces." How we Bloom podcast is an oasis of flower ide...

Send us Fan Mail Australian floral designer Julia Rose had a bold dream—to showcase her outrageous creativity with live botanicals on the New York Fashion Week runway. That dream became reality. Draping stunning models in breathtaking couture crafted from fresh flowers, Julia brought her vision to life. As her floral masterpieces graced Runway 7 and lit up Times Square, the audience responded with...

Send us Fan Mail Discover the rewarding career paths in floriculture available to FFA members! From floral design and horticulture to event planning and marketing, the floral industry offers diverse opportunities to FFA members. This blog shares insights from Randy Wooten and Sharon McGukin about mentoring FFA students, building essential life skills, and participating in the many programs like th...

Send us Fan Mail Revolutionize Your Floral Business with AI & ChatGPT! You don’t have to be tech-savvy to explore AI solutions for your floral business. Join Sharon McGukin and Brandy Ferrer as they discuss the transformative impact of artificial intelligence on the floral industry.  Discover how AI tools, like ChatGPT, can empower florists by streamlining tasks, tracking trends, enhancing mar...

Send us Fan Mail Learn the Principles & Elements of Design  with Sharon McGukin AIFD, AAF, PFCI Pablo Picasso said it best, “Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist.”  While it may seem simple enough to drop flowers in a vase and call it an arrangement, even more pleasure can be derived once you’ve learned the  fundamentals of design.  These guidelines, the  Principles...

Send us Fan Mail "Solve problems to create new business," suggests Lenny Walker, VP of sales and operations at Kennicott Brothers Company. Like many business models, the floral industry is changing. Sharon McGukin and Lenny discuss viable ways to enhance your floral business by “Partnering with your Wholesaler.” Consider their suggestions for communicating with one another, focusing on g...

Send us Fan Mail A Texas Cowboy in Philly? You couldn’t miss this Oasis Ambassador. On the last day of the 2024 Philadelphia Flower Show, a Texas Cowboy wandered along the flower-fragrant aisles without his horse. Dressed in his Texas cowboy hat, boots, and shirt - with a Texas flag and lone star on it, stood Abel Gonzalez Mencio, AIFD, PFCI, TMF of Casa Granada Floral in La Feria, Texas. He wore...

Send us Fan Mail “Your foundation is the most critical part of anything you build,” says Canadian florist, Lea Romanowski CAFA, AIFD, CAFD. “If your foundation isn't good, if it isn't strong and true, it will affect the entire outcome of the design.” Lea has learned, through the years, the importance of excellent floral mechanics.     Lea - owner of Designing on the Edge, has made an art...

Send us Fan Mail Need a floral education program where creativity meets business? Consider EMC- European Master Certification, a floral program developed to nurture the creative and business growth of designers worldwide. Design visionary Tomas De Bruyne of Belgium, and business strategist Christi Lopez of Virginia, discuss with Sharon McGukin  upcoming EMC trend-setting opportunities. This blende...

Send us Fan Mail "Don't be afraid to step out and educate yourself," says Michael Smith AIFD, AAF, PFCI, FDI, FSMD." Education is the key to success."  Michael  is a retail florist  in Mariana, Florida and winner of the 54th annual Sylvia Cup design competition. He offers sage  advice  to people who would like to have the opportunity  to win a Sylvia Cup or other floral co...

Send us Fan Mail Jenny Thomason, AIFD, AAF, PFCI, EMC of Dallas, Texas represented USA in the 2023 Interflora World Cup in Manchester, England where she placed in the Top 10.   How did she accomplish this feat? “Your first step is to do something every single day." says Jenny. "Study with designers,  take workshops, go to symposium, go to conferences, buy books, subscribe to internationa...

Send us Fan Mail “There's nothing that changes the energy of a room, like a bouquet of flowers,” says floral professional Jodi Duncan AIFD. In this flower chat with host, Sharon McGukin AIFD, AAF, PFCI, Jodi offers tips for making fresh flowers a part of your healthy, elevated lifestyle. Jodi also introduces us to her new healthy-focused site the Hungry Florist. Check out this new online gath...

Send us Fan Mail Every wedding designer has experienced ‘that wedding.’ The one where perfect plans suddenly met with unexpected chaos. Sometimes Mother Nature throws us a few challenges, even for those who are at the top of their game. Regaining control requires focus, finesse, and flexibility.  Ian Prosser AIFD, AAF, PFCI reminds us to stop, realize there is a solution, and move forward to find...

Send us Fan Mail "Trends are a fun way to tell a new story" says renowned floral trend forecaster, Talmage McLaurin AIFD. "Trends are not revolutionary, they're evolutionary." Tiny shifts. A movement forward, rather than a disruption. Eye-catching trends capture consumer interest and drive impulse sales. Listen as Talmage shares six floral trends that will inspire us in 20...

Send us Fan Mail How do flower blooms - fresh from the fields in South America, become the beautiful bouquets we enjoy in North America each day? Paul Miller AIFD, PFCI of Sunshine Bouquet shares the story. Offering insight into the farm … people … and process of growing and importing approximately 1.5 billion flower stems annually. Paul explains how field cut blooms move daily from one continent...

Send us Fan Mail How can florists turn chaos into cash this Valentine's Day? Chris Norwood AIFD, PFCI, AAF of Tipton & Hurst in Little Rock, Arkansas offers valuable time and money-saving tips for successful procurement, prep, design and delivery of Valentine flowers. As a bonus, Chris shares his story of making  online followers "Happy!" How we Bloom podcast is an oasis of flow...

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Jim DelPrince loves people and petals. This Mississippi State University floral professor taught students for 23 years. As a Mississippi Extension Service Specialist, he now teaches floral design to consumers. This hybrid online/onsite Master Floral Designer course draws attendees from multiple states. From small children to senior citizens, eager participants learn to create...

Send us Fan Mail For your business to thrive “You’ve got to be found,” says Renato Sogueco, Vice-President of Digital Strategy and Education at BloomNet. Renato shares with us practical tips for a holistic approach to “Marketing in a Digital Age.”  “This requires your business execute a well-planned digital strategy,” Renato explains. Constant change and development in the digital space may make y...