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Episode 356:  What do Kelly Clarkson, a $15,000 mechanical bird, and a small Brooklyn business have to do with retail florists? More than you might think! This week, Lori and Ellie dive into the controversy between Kelly Clarkson and a Brooklyn boutique over a $15,000 mechanical bird. What started as an uncomfortable shopping experience quickly turned into a public relations disaster, raising some big questions about customer service, first impressions, and how business owners respond when things go wrong. From judging customers by their appearance to doubling down on a bad experience, Lori and Ellie break down what went wrong and, more importantly, what florists can learn from it. They also discuss another shocking small-business controversy involving a wedding venue, a grieving bride, and a $16,000 deposit. Through it all, one powerful reminder stands out: The customer isn’t always right, but their experience is always real. Whether you’re selling a $75 bouquet or a $500 arrangement, the way you make customers feel can determine whether they come back - or tell the world why they won’t. Plus, before getting down to business, Lori and Ellie share their latest adventures involving an all-you-can-eat ice cream museum, college football, and some unforgettable people-watching. Tune in for plenty of laughs, strong opinions, and a few customer service lessons that could save your flower shop from becoming the next viral cautionary tale. Sponsored by: Flower Clique Flower Clique Prep School Real Life Retail Florist

Episode 355: When you hear the word sustainability, do you immediately think of composting, eliminating floral foam, or making expensive changes to your flower shop? What if you’re already doing more than you realize? In this episode Vonda and Lori welcome Amanda Solliday, Senior Manager of Sustainabloom, an initiative of the American Floral Endowment, for a refreshing conversation about what sustainability really means for the floral industry. Spoiler alert: It’s about a whole lot more than being environmentally friendly! Amanda breaks down the three pillars of sustainability—environmental, social, and economic—and explains why taking care of your employees, reducing waste, and building a profitable business are all part of the bigger picture. Together, they explore: Why sustainability is a mindset, not just a checklist.Simple things your flower shop may already be doing that count as sustainable practices.How sustainability and profitability can work together.Why composting isn’t necessarily the best place to start.How Sustainabloom’s FREE FLOWS planning framework can help you identify opportunities without feeling overwhelmed.The importance of starting small, celebrating wins, and choosing changes that make sense for YOUR business.Plus, you’ll hear a few laughs about skincare serums, recycled Nespresso pods, and Lori’s latest fascination with the Biltmore Estate! The biggest takeaway? You don’t have to do everything to make a difference. Start with one thing, make it work, and build from there. Whether you’re just beginning to think about sustainability or looking for ways to do more, this episode will leave you with practical ideas and a fresh perspective on creating a floral business that’s good for your people, your community, and your bottom line.  Learn more about Sustainabloom and explore their free sustainability resources: www.sustainabloom.org Sponsored by: Flower Clique Flower Clique Prep School Real Life Retail Florist

Episode 354: What happens when your daughter becomes your business partner and the person challenging you to see things differently? With Lori out this week, Vonda and EllieJo sit down for a candid conversation about what it’s really like to build Flower Clique together as mother and daughter. They look back at their earliest days working side by side in the flower shop, the shift from parent-and-child to true business partners, and the moments when learning to trust each other’s strengths changed the way they worked together. From generational differences and giving up control to technology, relationships, boundaries, and the occasional Saturday Slack message, they share the challenges, risks, and unexpected rewards of working with family. They also explore one of the things that makes their partnership work so well: they don’t always see the business through the same lens. Vonda brings decades of floral industry experience, practicality, and an instinct for what will actually work in a flower shop. Ellie Jo brings a consumer perspective, branding, technology, and a constant eye toward what’s next. Somewhere in the middle, the best ideas tend to emerge. It’s a conversation about family, entrepreneurship, trust, and the value of surrounding yourself with people who see your business differently than you do. Because sometimes growth doesn’t come from agreeing—it comes from being willing to listen. Sponsored by: Flower Clique Flower Clique Prep School Real Life Retail Florist

Episode 353: What if the thing holding your flower shop back isn’t the economy, your customers, or your competition—but fear? In this episode, Vonda and Lori get real about fear: from childhood worries about quicksand and stuffed animals coming to life (thanks, Scooby-Doo) to the very real fears that show up when you own a business. What if I raise my prices and customers stop buying? Can I really afford to hire someone? What if I show up on social media and people judge me? What if I make the wrong decision? But there’s another question we don’t ask nearly enough: What happens if I don’t do it? Vonda and Lori share some of the business decisions that scared them most, why fear can sometimes disguise itself as “being responsible,” and how shifting fear into excitement can help you move forward. They also talk about using your numbers, your support system, and even AI to separate actual facts from the scary stories running through your head. Because courage doesn’t mean you aren’t afraid. Sometimes it simply means deciding that what’s on the other side of the fear matters more. So here’s the question for every flower shop owner: What decision are you avoiding because you’re calculating the risk of doing it - but not the risk of doing nothing? Do it anyway. Even if your voice shakes. Sponsored by: Flower Clique Flower Clique Prep School Real Life Retail Florist

Episode 352: What does it actually look like to think like a leader—even when you’re not the boss? In this episode, Vonda and Lori unpack the idea of “thinking one level above your current role” and what that looks like in the real world of flower shops and the floral industry. It’s not necessarily about getting a new title or climbing a corporate ladder. Sometimes, moving up means becoming the person your team can count on—the one who spots a problem before it becomes a crisis, brings a possible solution instead of just pointing out what’s wrong, and understands how their role affects the entire business. Vonda and Lori talk through practical ways to develop that mindset, including making decisions without escalating every little thing, knowing when to ask permission and when to take initiative, seeking out opportunities instead of waiting for them, and learning to see the bigger picture beyond your own job description. They also tackle the other side of the equation: owners and managers have to create enough trust and freedom for employees to actually step up. Whether you’re an owner, manager, designer, salesperson, or aspiring leader, this conversation will challenge you to look beyond the tasks in front of you and ask: Am I simply doing my job—or am I already thinking at the next level? Sponsored by: Flower Clique Flower Clique Prep School Real Life Retail Florist

Episode 351:   What do flight delays, a rainy team retreat, flower shop ownership, and a ship taking on water have in common? More than you might think. In this episode, Vonda and Lori are fresh off the Flower Clique team retreat and reflecting on what happens when you step away from the day-to-day, spend real time with your team, and create space for honest conversations. From one-on-ones that helped team members feel seen and heard to the reminder that everyone has their own little quirks, the retreat reinforced just how important connection is to building a strong team. Then the conversation turns to mindset and one powerful idea: all the water in the world can’t sink a ship unless it gets inside. As business owners, there will always be things we can’t control: tariffs, rising costs, employee dynamics, difficult customers, travel delays, the news, and plenty of opinions about what we should or shouldn’t be doing. We need to be aware of what’s happening, but we don’t have to give every outside influence permission to take up space in our minds. Vonda and Lori talk about learning to separate thoughts from facts, focusing on what you can control, and recognizing when it’s time to simply put a thought “on the train” and let it keep moving. Because protecting your mindset doesn’t mean ignoring reality. It means refusing to let the things you can’t control become the anchor that keeps you and your business from moving forward. Guard your mind. Protect your focus. And keep the water out. Sponsored by: Flower Clique Flower Clique Prep School Real Life Retail Florist

Episode 350: What does it really take to run a profitable flower shop? In this episode, Vonda and Lori sit down with floral industry CPA Derrick Myers of Crockett Myers to talk about the numbers that can make, or break, a flower shop. After more than 40 years working with florists, Derrick has seen firsthand where shops are losing money, where opportunities are being missed, and what the most profitable owners do differently. Derrick shares the unlikely story of how he went from studying chemistry to becoming one of the floral industry’s best-known accounting experts, including the legendary tiki hut that helped him build his business one florist (and frozen margarita) at a time. Then, the conversation gets down to business. They dig into the three areas every florist should be watching closely: cost of goods, labor, and delivery. Derrick explains why rising flower costs can’t simply be absorbed, why your landed cost matters, how often you should be evaluating pricing, and why worrying about what the flower shop down the street charges could be costing you money. They also talk delivery fees, labor percentages, website delivery matrices, wire services, and the financial benchmarks Derrick uses with more than 160 flower shops across the country. But his biggest piece of advice has nothing to do with a spreadsheet: profitable owners learn to work ON their business instead of spending every day buried IN it. If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re charging enough, spending too much, or truly making money on every order, this episode will give you a whole new way to look at your flower shop. Sponsored by: Flower Clique Flower Clique Prep School Real Life Retail Florist

Episode 349: What would happen if you actually left your flower shop and took the vacation? In this episode, Vonda and Lori sit down with floral industry power couple Jenny and Charles Ingrum (Jenny Ingrum AIFD • PFCI • EMC • AAF • CEJ and Charles Ingrum owner of Dr. Delphinium Dallas, TX) for a conversation about creativity, business, leadership, and building a life beyond the shop. Charles shares how he went from software and numbers to purchasing Dr. Delphinium—and how learning to work on the business instead of in it helped him build a team that doesn’t need him to make every decision. From intentional delegation and clear roles to empowering employees to take care of customers without asking permission, he explains what it really takes to create a business that can thrive when the owner isn’t in the building. Jenny brings the creative side of the equation, sharing how her career as a floral designer, educator, competitor, and former shop owner has evolved—and how she and Charles have influenced each other’s perspectives on both business and design. They also talk about the importance of staying curious, recognizing potential in young designers, stepping back up to the design bench when the team needs you, and why floral professionals can benefit from experiencing both the creative world of AIFD and the business education and community of SAF. And, of course, there’s the question every overworked flower shop owner needs to hear: Can you really take the vacation without everything falling apart? Charles and Jenny say yes. Start small. Empower your people. Look at your numbers. Find the slow week. And then? Book the ticket. Because sometimes the best thing you can do for your business—and yourself—is give your team the opportunity to figure it out without you. Sponsored by: Flower Clique Flower Clique Prep School Real Life Retail Florist

Episode 348:  We’re back from SAF Convention and maybe still recovering a little. In this episode, Lori and Vonda are joined by Ellie LaFever as we all share our roses, our thorns, and the moments that made this year’s convention one to remember. From an emotional awards banquet and inspiring education sessions to hands-on floral design, Flower Clique meetups, Next Gen connections, and even a late-night pizza party on the beach, there was a lot to take in. But one theme kept coming up: connection. We talk about why face-to-face time with industry friends and Flower Clique members is worth the energy it takes to get there, how Next Gen is creating a stronger sense of community for the future of floristry, and why the value of an industry conference goes far beyond what you learn in a classroom. We also share a few favorite sessions, what made this year’s convention feel different, and why sometimes the conversations between sessions are every bit as valuable as the sessions themselves. It’s a little tired, a little sentimental, and a whole lot of appreciation for the people who make this industry what it is. Plus, we’re already looking ahead to the holidays with our upcoming Holiday Countdown: From Concept to Cooler workshop with FlowerBuddy. Register here: The Holiday Countdown: From Concept to Cooler Sponsored by: Flower Clique Flower Clique Prep School Real Life Retail Florist

Episode 347:  Passwords, verification codes, fingerprints, Face ID… why does simply logging into your own accounts have to be so complicated? In this episode, Vonda and Lori tackle the love-hate relationship we all have with multi-factor authentication (MFA)—and why those extra 20 seconds of frustration could save your flower shop from a much bigger headache. They talk about the places floral business owners may be most vulnerable, including email, banking, point-of-sale systems, websites, social media, payroll, vendor accounts, and shared employee logins. Plus, they explore how AI is making cybersecurity even more important as scams and phishing attempts become harder to recognize. You’ll walk away with practical steps you can take today to better protect your business, your customers, and your team—without needing to become a cybersecurity expert. Because MFA may be annoying…but getting hacked is a whole lot worse. Sponsored by: Flower Clique Flower Clique Prep School Real Life Retail Florist

Episode 346:  What makes a great leader? It turns out, it’s probably not having all the answers. In this episode, Vonda and Lori unpack a list of management lessons that still ring true after 20 years of leadership—and talk about what they look like in the real world of small business and flower shops. They dig into why great leaders have to repeat themselves (more than they think they should), how a lack of clarity can look like a performance problem, and why motivating your team may be less important than removing the friction that’s getting in their way. They also tackle one of the biggest challenges for flower shop owners: letting go. How do you build systems, delegate responsibility, and create a team that can keep the “flywheel” spinning without being dependent on you for every decision? And then there’s the leadership lesson that might sting a little: your team copies what you tolerate, not what you say. From difficult employees and avoided conversations to trust, consistency, curiosity, ego, and emotional regulation, Vonda and Lori share what they’ve learned from leading the Flower Clique team—and from years of conversations with flower shop owners. The biggest takeaway? The longer you lead, the more you realize leadership isn’t about certainty. It’s about staying curious, keeping an open mind, and being willing to ask, Could there be a better way? Sponsored by: Flower Clique Flower Clique Prep School Real Life Retail Florist

Episode 345:  Social media doesn’t have to feel like another full-time job.In this episode, Lori and Audrey sit down with Sarah LoBue AIFD of Main Street Florist to talk about how flower shops can create a social media presence that feels authentic, connects with local customers, and keeps their business top of mind—without spending hours trying to create the perfect post. Sarah shares practical takeaways from her “Elevate Your Social Media Brand” workshop at AIFD Symposium, including why your online presence should feel like a window into your flower shop rather than a billboard. It’s not just about beautiful flowers. It’s about showing your people, your personality, the behind-the-scenes moments, and the things that make your shop feel like your shop. They talk about getting comfortable in front of the camera, using Stories as an easy place to start, jumping on trends without losing your brand voice, and finding the right mix of educational, entertaining, and sales-focused content. Plus, Sarah shares why consistency beats creativity, how she gets her team involved in creating content, what she’s learned about Facebook vs. Instagram, and why some of the simplest posts can get the biggest response. If social media has been sitting at the bottom of your to-do list because you don’t have enough time, content, or confidence, this conversation is your reminder: you don’t have to be perfect—you just have to start. Sarah’s three tips for florists ready to lean into social media? Be consistent. Show a face. Stop trying to be perfect. Hit post. Your customers want to see the real people—and the real flower shop—behind the flowers. Sponsored by: Flower Clique Flower Clique Prep School Real Life Retail Florist

Episode 344: Empathy is not something you either have or you don’t - it is a skill you can practice, strengthen, and sometimes struggle to access. In this episode, Vonda and Lori continue their conversation about empathy in leadership by exploring the framework from Empathy Is Not a Weakness by Lauren Sanders. They break down the word EMPATHY into practical behaviors leaders can use to create stronger teams, healthier communication, and more psychological safety in the workplace. From examining personal blind spots and managing mindfulness to practicing perspective, communicating tactfully, and replacing “no way” with “tell me more,” this honest and humorous conversation challenges leaders to look closely at how their words, reactions, and facial expressions affect the people around them. You’ll also hear real-life stories about difficult conversations, leadership mistakes, design instructors who build confidence - or tear it down - and why listening for understanding can be more powerful than immediately offering advice. Empathetic leadership does not mean lowering expectations. It means learning how to lead people with clarity, dignity, self-awareness, and care. Sponsored by: Flower Clique Flower Clique Prep School Real Life Retail Florist

Episode 343: Empathy is not just about feeling someone else’s emotions—it can shape how we communicate, lead our teams, serve customers, and respond when someone needs help. In the second of this series, Lori and Vonda explore the three types of empathy: cognitive, somatic, and compassionate. They break down how each one appears in everyday flower shop situations, from helping an overwhelmed customer and responding to a delivery complaint to supporting a grieving family or stepping in when an employee is falling behind. They also discuss the risks that come with each type of empathy, including manipulation, emotional exhaustion, burnout, and creating dependency instead of growth. Through personal stories, flower shop examples, and plenty of honest conversation, Lori and Vonda explain how empathy works through the head, the heart, and the hands—and why healthy boundaries matter. This episode will help you recognize the empathy you already use, understand your natural tendencies, and become more intentional about how you connect with your customers, employees, and community. Sponsored by: Flower Clique Flower Clique Prep School Real Life Retail Florist

Episode 342: Can empathy really make your flower shop more profitable? In this episode, Lori shares the key lessons from her leadership presentation at AIFD Symposium and explains why empathy isn’t just a personality trait, it’s a skill that can be learned and strengthened. Lori and Vonda unpack the biggest misconceptions about empathy, including why understanding someone’s perspective doesn’t mean you have to agree with them. They explore the difference between sympathy and empathy, how empathy builds stronger teams, and why business owners need healthy boundaries alongside genuine care. The conversation also dives into practical, real-world situations every flower shop owner faces: supporting employees through difficult seasons, handling challenging customer interactions, creating loyalty through authentic leadership, and avoiding burnout by practicing what Lori calls “professional empathy.” Along the way, Lori shares a deeply personal story about losing her brother and the friend who showed her what true empathy looks like, not by fixing the pain, but simply by being there. You’ll also hear: Why empathy is a learnable leadership skillThe difference between sympathy and empathyHow empathy improves employee engagement, creativity, and retentionA simple 10-minute leadership technique for difficult employee conversationsWhy boundaries are essential for empathetic leadersA preview of the three types of empathy: cognitive, compassionate, and somaticAnd before the leadership lessons begin, Lori shares an exciting personal milestone: after talking about it for two years, she’s finally taking her very first pickleball lesson, a small but meaningful step toward practicing the work-life balance she encourages others to pursue. Whether you lead a flower shop, manage a team, or simply want to become a better leader, this episode offers practical insights that will help you build stronger relationships and a healthier workplace. Sponsored by: Flower Clique Flower Clique Prep School Real Life Retail Florist