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18 Feature February | 2023 FLOWER AND ASSEMBLY TIPS Another key to a successful prom season is using only fl owers that are intriguing yet lightweight and that will hold up well out of water. Some popular options include miniature Phalaenopsis and Cymbidium orchids, Ranunculus, Delphinium fl orets, spray mums, Hypericum berries and succulents. Roses and spray roses are still the most popular choices, and when properly conditioned, will also will hold up well. Remember that off ering too many fl ower options can overwhelm customers and slow decision-making and ordering processes. It can also necessitate buying a larger inventory of fl owers. Even with a limited but enticing selection of fl owers, you can still create artistic and exciting prom designs, with beautiful color palettes and interesting textural combinations. Gluing fl owers, foliages and accessories into prom designs with liquid fl oral adhesive, instead of wiring and taping individual botanicals, will dramatically speed the design process, thereby reducing labor costs. If a basic form is made in advance, it only takes a couple of minutes to glue the fresh botanicals in place. For maximum effi ciency, assemble several corsages at a time. Slide several bracelets/wristlets onto a length of PVC pipe, and glue the fresh botanicals into the ready-made bases in a production-line manner. Consider grouping orders that require fl owers of the same types and colors. Also, make sure that the liquid adhesive is completely dry before packaging the designs and placing them into a fl oral cooler. Organize orders in the cooler alphabetically, by order number or by assigned pickup times. THE PROM KING Daniel Fisher, owner of Fitz Design in Port Charlotte, Fla., a leading supplier in the prom accessories industry, thinks 2023 will be a big year for proms, and he expressed the importance of being familiar with the latest prom dress trends. "It is extremely important for fl orists to know what dress styles and colors are trending so that they can have the appropriate accessories to create coordinating designs," he says. Fisher shares that the best-selling Fitz Design corsage bracelets are the "Avery" and "Classic" in the beaded bracelet category, the "Riley" and "Mayleigh" in the cuff category, and "Sophisticated Lady" and "Rock Candy" in 2023 PROM TRENDS e Pantone Color Institute selected " Viva Magenta" as its "2023 Color of the Year." A red with subtle notes of purple, Viva Magenta fl awlessly complements a variety of color palettes, so show your customers that you are on top of the latest trends by off ering fl owers, ribbons, bracelets and other accessories in this hot hue—or that pair beautifully with it. As Daniel Fisher suggests, looking at the latest prom dress trends can tell you a lot about what your customers will be wearing. Study the hottest looks, and create prom fl ower design styles in colors and with accessories that will coordinate with and complement the latest trends. According to Amarra, a fashion design house that specializes in formal evening wear specifi cally for proms, homecomings and graduations, among the top trending dress styles and accessories are boho-chic, corsets, feathers and sequins. With this in mind, stock some feather accents and plenty of bling this prom season. Amarra further reports that colors for 2023 prom dresses will be bright and bold—neon pink, yellow, orange, fuchsia and lime will be everywhere. Other popular brights are Barbie pink and peacock (a vivid teal), and trending pastels include light blue, periwinkle and lilac. ere's also a growing interest in newer colors such as wine, slate blue and gold, Amarra notes. Patti Fowler, AIFD, CFD, PFCI Flowerama Pittsburgh

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