From the Ground Up Floral Podcast

**Title: Reflections on the 2025 AIFD Symposium: A Fusion of Floral Artistry and Inspiration** **Introduction** The 2025 AIFD Symposium, held in the sizzling backdrop of Palm Springs, California, was an extraordinary assembly of floral professionals, enthusiasts, and aficionados from across the globe. The symposium was a culmination of creativity, energy, and the exploration of floral artistry at its finest. Join us as we delve into the highlights, personal experiences, and awe-inspiring moments from this magnificent event. **A Warm Welcome and Kindred Spirits** Our week commenced with gathering alongside kindred spirits. Gina Thresher and Anahit, our passionate hosts, greeted the audience alongside Princess Poppy, a charming fixture of the introductory banter. They shared anecdotes of their experiences as floral design evaluators and discussed the intricacies of the Professional Floral Design Evaluation (PFDE). **A Journey into the Artistry** The symposium provided a plethora of opportunities for learning and collaboration. Gina shared her insights on becoming a Certified Evaluator Judge with the American Institute of Floral Design (AIFD), offering guidance to those aspiring to achieve similar accolades. Anahit and Gina candidly discussed the nuances of testing, evaluating, and the shared passion for growth in the floral industry. **Behind the Scenes: Setting the Stage for Excellence** One of the symposium's bustling areas was the flower room, where Gina’s task was to prepare for the industry showcase with Alexander Farms. Despite the challenges presented by dry-packed flowers and the intense Palm Springs heat, the resilience and quality of Alexander Farms’ blooms shone through. Their roses and other floral varieties, though mistreated by the conditions, performed beautifully on stage. **Workshops and Presentations: A Fusion of Knowledge and Creativity** Maxim Pair’s workshop offered insights into floral wire mechanics, surprising many with its simplicity yet depth. This educational journey extended into a captivating presentation on sustainability, inspiring attendees to consider eco-friendly practices in floral design. It was a reminder of the past techniques long forgotten but worth reintroducing. **Bart Hassam: The Epitome of Elegance and Ego-Free Environment** Renowned World Cup winner Bart Hassam was a notable presence. His relaxed demeanor under pressure was commendable, providing a serene working environment even amidst symposium stress. An amusing mispronunciation of his name added humor to the event, affectionately coining "Bart Handsome" as a nickname. **Tropical Inspirations and Emotional Connections** Presentations from Brenna, Sue, and the Pacific Northwest girls brought a refreshing take on incorporating tropical elements in floral design. Their session emphasized embracing local aesthetics, urging a shift away from predictable floral choices. Personal stories and emotional elements behind the designs stirred feelings among attendees, marking these as unforgettable experiences. **A Call to Embrace Floral Symposiums** Our hosts closed the symposium with a call to action for those intrigued by floral design to attend future gatherings. Be it Orlando in 2026 or St. Louis in 2027, these symposiums are invaluable in rejuvenating creativity and establishing connections within the community. **Conclusion** The 2025 AIFD Symposium was more than just an exhibition of floral artistry – it served as a beacon of inspiration, a hub for learning, and a celebration of the shared fervor for beautiful, sustainable floral design. As we look forward to future symposiums, we cherish the unforgettable experiences and new knowledge we carry from Palm Springs. Stay tuned for more exciting floral adventures and stories yet to unfold.

Two Floral Friends Embark on a Journey: A Dual Podcast Recap and Exciting Future Plans Introduction Hello, flower enthusiasts and podcast lovers! Today, we're diving deep into a truly exciting collaboration between two floral industry insiders, Anahit and Gina, as they reflect upon their experiences, challenges, and excitement for the future in their latest dual podcast episode. Whether you're a florist, a creative professional, or someone just curious about the vibrant world of floristry, this episode is for you! Meet Your Hosts Our floral friends, Gina Thresher and Anahit from Viva La Flora Live, are back together, bringing you a blend of humor, nostalgia, and insight. Currently, both hosts are key players in the floristry world—Gina with her expansive reach at From the Ground Up Floral and Anahit through her program, Viva La Flora Life. A Journey of Friendship and Floristry This episode whisks us through memories and insights, starting with introductions and moving swiftly into a recap of where both hosts have been in their floristry journeys. Their camaraderie shines as they recount various escapades, from travel stories to the power of continued education in their industry. The theme of perpetual learning resonates as Anahit and Gina emphasize how programs like EMC (European Master Certification) and others have enriched not only their skills but also their confidence. The Value of Continued Education Diving into the importance of continued education, both hosts echo sentiments of growth and opportunity through learning. Gina shares how her confidence has soared thanks to the lessons from EMC, stressing how it allows for creative interpretation and problem-solving, especially when sourcing florals. Anahit's take? Education not only enhances skillsets but also expands the circumference of one's knowledge, constantly exposing the learner to new 'unknowns.' It's about pushing boundaries, embracing challenges, and most importantly, offering better services and creations to clients. Upcoming Exciting Adventures As the podcast unfolds, the duo announces an exciting calendar of events and educational opportunities for 2025. Among these is a not-to-be-missed content retreat in January, designed to aid florists in planning marketing strategies for the quarter ahead. Planned by Gina, it promises actionable insights into building robust content calendars, helping florists tackle time constraints in the competitive floral industry. But that’s not where the excitement ends. Anahit is thrilled to host Tom DeHower in her studio this November. This event will focus on a condensed version of his renowned six-day masterclass, tailor-made to fit into a three-day intensive workshop. Local and Accessible Learning Opportunities For florists keen on expanding their knowledge but worried about costs, Anahit highlights affordable learning avenues, like the Independent Floral Designers Association (IFDA). With its enriching monthly presentations and design challenges, IFDA provides a platform for florists of all levels to network and learn without a hefty price tag. Looking Ahead Gina and Anahit wrap up by assuring listeners that their joint podcast meetings will be a regular monthly feature, sharing even more insights, stories, and practical advice. They tease future episodes filled with valuable content, including tips and tricks that integrate both audio and video components for a richer learning experience. Conclusion If this deep dive into the floral world has sparked interest or motivation, then don't miss out on tuning in to the upcoming episodes. Trust us; there’s a lot more to come that will keep you inspired and informed! Whether it's expanding your floristry knowledge or just wanting to hear about creative adventures, Gina and Anahit have got you covered. Happy listening and learning! Let's embrace the beauty and creativity of floristry together. Stay Tuned for More! Join us next time for another episode that promises to enrich and entertain. Catch you then, floral friends!

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Ace Berry AIFD Chat with Ace Berry AIFD Gina Thresher Download Hi Ya'll!!! Like my big Texan greeting? This week on the podcast I would like to share an amazing lil chat I got to have with Ace Berry AIFD. We talk shop, making brides cry and personal struggles within ourselves. I actually have a second part to this, since we like to chat LOL. My first encounter with Ace was at AIFD symposium in Chicago. I was a first-time attendee and PFDE candidate (professional floral design evaluation). We definately need people like Ace in this industry. The sheer amount of love he has for his "job" (I put that in quotes because of that saying...Love what you do and never work a day in your life!) is amazing. He's a pretty cool guy, be sure to follow him and check out his Instagram and facebook. www.instagram.com/aceberryaifd http://fulshearfloraldesign.com http://www.facebook.com/floragasem https://www.facebook.com/Fulshear-Floral-Design-and-Decor-590129467822351/ Ace, his amazing floral beard and Stacey Carlton AIFD EMC Gus is the cutest doodle and his logo. Hope you enjoyed this chat! There will be a part 2, where he goes into details about how he secures his corporate accounts and shop life.

Numbers, numbers, math, numbers... Did I totally freak you out? Don't run away. Pretty please!!! I promise you'll like this week's episode. I get to chat with THE Alison Ellis. The flower math gal. She loves her some flower number crunching. The Amazing Alison Ellis of Floral Artistry and Real Flower Business Floral Math with Alison Ellis Gina Thresher Download We got to chat about being a florist with integrity and getting to know what it entails to be a florist that offers more than middle of the road service. I really think this is a good episode, for sure if you're maybe newer to the floral industry. There is standard pricing and no, it's not a myth or just order whatever...it's part of running a business and keeping in business. We may not have the glam life, but we have something special, and we work damn hard for it. I throughly enjoyed this chat with Alison. I hope you will too. Alison has numerous ways to help you out: Email templates, workflows, proposal writing, pricing, contract help, A full flower math course and a business course called The Art of Good Business!!! and she has free content you can try on for size too: Try A Free Course: Flower Boss. A Free Training To Move Your Business Forward. Free! In this free course florists get insights into how I set a minimum on weddings, how to book more weddings more quickly, how to get paid, how to handle customer complaints, how to answer the question “Are these flowers expensive?”, the importance of valuing your work as well as the worst business advice I ever took! Get it here. Pricing Mistakes Florists Make. A 4-Part Series. Free! My free 4-part series provides strategies to help florists nip these 4 major pricing mistakes in the bud. (Even experienced designers make mistakes from time to time, however, a few bad habits can mean big trouble for your bottom line.) Get it now. Flower Boss 2. On Markups and Pricing. Free! Understanding your pricing is the single most important thing you can do for your business. In this FREE course you’ll find 2 recordings from my Markups Mondays Live series. 68% of florists I surveyed said they are “moderately confident” in their pricing. If you ever ask yourself, “Does this look like a $75 arrangement?”, then this free course is for you ! Floral Crown Tutorial. Free! This FREE video tutorial is a quick pro tip on how to make a floral crown and package it for delivery! In less than 6 minutes you’ll see how I make and package a headwreath for delivery. I hope you’ll take a few minutes to watch and I hope you’ll enjoy it. Here's the link to the video I mentioned about adding in that one little rose extra...and how much it hurts your bottom line. Check it out on youtube . Andrea Grist, Courtney Kroymann, Gina Thresher, Alison Ellis- Chapel Designers NYC 2016 Photo: Amanda Domouchelle Thank you for listening! Have a flower filled weekend! Be sure to sign up for the podletter if you haven't already. Getting the word out to other creatives and florists is so helpful, be sure to fill in a friend, I would be so grateful!

Do you ever feel like you’re a fraud? -that nagging feeling that you’re not good enough, not creative enough, lack what others have, and are afraid that you’ll be “called out by customers or peers,” This excerpt out of Hitomi and Kathy Whalen’s book Designing For Competition opened my eyes. I was struggling with my PFDE (professional floral design evaluation) practicing and feeling pretty down. I read this and knew I was where I was supposed to be. “AM I A PROFESSIONAL FLORAL DESIGNER A professional floral designer is a person who has chosen to earn a living creating floral designs in one of many ways, perhaps as a flower shop owner, a designer, a head designer, a freelancer, or a floral event designer. Ideally, the floral designer continues to be a perennial student improving breadth and depth of his skills in order to be on the cutting edge, both creatively and business wise. Acquiring floral design certifications or engaging in continuing education demonstrates professionalism.” This blew my mind. I finally got it. I’m not a psychologist, but I have a few ways in which I have learned to help myself through these feelings. One - Stop it. Make yourself aware of what you’re feeling. If you feel that certain way when you look at social media. It is so easy to watch what other people are doing and feel inadequate. Everything's so instant and shareable now. Just Stop. Give yourself a mental break from social. Uninstall the app. That works really well for me. Unfollow people that make you feel icky and jealous. Or challenge yourself to # 1.5 BONUS for #1 : Dive even deeper, say something nice. Get in there and give a nice comment. You may be surprised at how genuine you can be. Keep in mind how good it feels when you have that thing you post that you’re super proud of. One and a half - Keep your eyes on your arrangement. Quit looking at everyone else's’ shit and thinking it’s better than yours. Keep an open mind and critique other’s work with the aspiration to improve. For example: DON’T say “wow that design is so beautiful, my color schemes will never look that way. As my track coach in high school used to say “stinkin thinkin”. If you can change your mindset to a positive one it will work wonders. DO : Wow that design really has a great color palette. I bet if I studied my color wheel a little when I have a minute I could do something amazing like that. It’s all in your mind set right? Two - Self-love and confidence. Remember what your talents are. Play to your strengths and weaknesses. If you have a hard time seeing those, ask a friend, co worker, or a family member five things that you’re good at. Write them down. Refer to them later. Make yourself a praise pin board. Make a file on your computer of all the good things anyone has ever sent you in a thank you card and keep it in a file to check on when you’re having a troubled day. Even just one bride’s thank you because you made her day special is a little gold star. Three - Get over yourself. It may seem like the whole world is going to see you screw up but they don’t really care. I struggled with this so hard when I started this podcast. I was fine about hearing myself speak (because in all honesty, I talk to myself ALLLLL the time). The part I had the hardest time with was...what will they all think of me, who is going to hear this and think OMG she’s the worst, how annoying. I am pretty sure (hoping that) those people will not leave rude comments and just shut this off. LOL. But really, the sun will still shine, people will still commute to work, and go about life as they know it. You’re not the be all end all of their universe. Four - Get accountable. Find a friend to bounce ideas off of. Or someone you can just say out loud to “hey, I feel like a fraud”. Admission is tough, but sometimes it just helps to get it off your chest. Accountability groups work wonders. Whether it's a group of like minded industry people or business acquaintances that can give valuable advice or feedback can be very beneficial! If you have the funds, a business coach can really encourage you to hurdle over these feelings and stay on track. Five - Do good. Volunteer. Or just listen to a vent from a friend. Make someone else’s day better. As florists and creatives, we tend to be in our heads like most of our waking hours. Take the time to help or listen and you’ll get out of your head and open up your viewpoint a little more. Six - Share what you’ve got...You are doing people a disservice by not sharing your knowledge. Sure, you’re not the center of their universe, but you’re you. You may be doing the exact thing as someone else out there. Do it your way. There are people out there will relate to you better, resonate with your personality more than that other person. Seven - Don’t bullshit. WHAT? You don’t have the answer to everything?!? Point them in the right direction. That’s a proven way to get yourself bitten in the ass. You’ll be called out eventually and it will wreck your self-esteem and credibility. You may be seen in your field as an “expert” but if you don’t know an answer it is best to just be honest and say, “Hey, that’s a really good question maybe I could check it out...Or look to so and so for that sort of question.” Nobody is going to hate you for saying you don’t know. They will love you though for helping point them in the right direction with their question. Eight - Reevaluate failures. You didn’t get the job...Maybe they weren’t the right client. Of course, that’s not always the case, but attracting people who are excited to work with you is very important. Take the failure as a way to improve. To see what you could’ve done better. You can’t please everyone and you can’t be everything to everybody. Nine - Make tiny goals, checking them off will help you feel better. Get in the habit of working on one or two little things that will add towards a big goal. Practice that technique that will give you a next level advantage. Ten - Keep on trucking. Like back on tip #1.5 Keep your eyes on your own arrangement or business or project or paper. Conquer that goal. Keep on track and when you reach the finish take the time to give yourself a high five, pat on the back and a big 'ol glass of celebration to toast. via GIPHY Thank you for listening! Have a flower filled weekend! Be sure to sign up for the podletter if you haven't already. Getting the word out to other creatives and florists is so helpful, be sure to fill in a friend, I would be so grateful!

Happy Flowering Gina Thresher Download So today, I get the pleasure of sharing an interview I did with Sharrai Morgan AIFD, CFD. She was recently president of AIFD NW chapter. She did an amazing job with the year spent with the chapter. She was an integral part in hosting the AIFD Symposium X. Chatting with her on education, creativity and how she got her start. If you ever ever need a flower sister to share a moment or give a hug to she's for sure your gal. I could talk with her till the wee hours of the morning...which I have done. Sleep is for the weak. Sharrai is the owner of the cutest shop in Port Townsend, Wa. Holly's fine flowers. She does amazing destination weddings for the couples that flock to the seaside area. She is also a master of doing amazing things with greenery and foliage. Her designs are inspiring, artistic, and just a tad whimsical. Check out her shop and her instagram: @sharrai and @hollysfineflowers I am a little sad I didn't get this out before symposium, but nonetheless, AIFD symposium is such a fun experience. If you're in a creative rut check out a design show if you can, go out into the woods, get inspired from the feelings and things around you, or call/text/instastalk a fellow florist. Hope this helps with wedding season flying by, and the holidays creeping in. It can be a time to just feel blah. I have a few links below for ya. Have a great Friday! Oh and Happy Labor day! OOOH AND P.S. We're now on allllll the podcasty places! iTunes, Google Play Music , and Pocketcaster AIFD Pinterest Erik Witcraft AIFD, CFD Northwest Regional Chapter President 2017-2018's message Best floral blogs

Introductions can be awkward. But, hi! I’m so glad to virtually meet you! Say hello anytime at gina@fromthegroundupfloral.media