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Extra Features and Video Online FloristsReview.com R E A D O N L I N E 43 Extra Features and Video Online FloristsReview.com R E A D O N L I N E 43 also maintain the convenience of using their trusted wholesaler(s). 3 FOR TRAVELING FLORISTS Sourcing quality local flowers as a destination-wedding florist can be extremely stressful, but it also ranks high on the list of priorities for many clients. Sourcing locally for these types of jobs can lead to a fish-out-of-water experience, but it's well worth the reward. In addition to the fresh botanicals you will be shipping in, consider reaching out to the "market master" at a farmers market in or near the destination-wedding locale. A market master functions as the person in charge for a farmers market, and he or she will easily be able to let you know where to source local flowers. Another tip we love utilizing when traveling for work is to run a quick search on social media using hashtags. As an example, let's say you have been hired to design the floral décor a large party on Vancouver Island. To learn what local flower buying options are available there, simply search: #vancouverislandflowerfarm or #vancouverislandfarm. In scanning through the posts under one or both of these hashtags, you will quickly be able to see if enhancing your work with local blooms is possible. A bonus is that you could potentially save a great deal of money because buying direct from a local farmer is almost always more cost effective than sourcing from wholesalers and shipping in flowers. Beyond delivering customers the aesthetic choices their hearts are set on, sourcing local flowers also comes along with some serious benefits from a business standpoint. For example, at the time of writing this article in mid- November, the current going price for a Dahlia from online wholesalers was as high as $3.50 a stem (plus shipping)— and bring with it an expected vase life of three to five days. Comparatively, Dahlia sourced locally from a small grower while in season will go for $1 to $2 per stem, in bulk, and they last closer to week. By skipping the supply-chain intermediaries, you can expect these flowers to last longer, leaving customers feeling a greater value from a raw material that will likely cost you less. Adding a local touch to your inventory might just be the smart business choice you and your customers alike been searching for. When choosing the right flower farmer , it is best to work with someone with whom you are already at least somewhat familiar

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