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46 February | 2023 Business INVEST IN CARTS AND SHELVES Carts are a fl orists' "best friend." "As early as you can, get yourself rolling carts and rolling shelves," Weisberg advises. " ey will triple how much you can get into a vehicle and half the amount of time that it takes to load into and out of a venue." After all, time is money ; therefore, invest in diff erent sizes of carts and rolling shelves—commercial grade, preferably. And what should you consider when buying a cart? First is size. Measure the interior of your vehicles and the storage space in your work areas. Also purchase some larger carts that, for example, will fi t into freight elevators at various event venues. Durability is also a concern, so consider purchasing commercial grade carts and shelves. Finally, make sure the carts will roll easily through diff erent outdoor terrains such as fi elds, golf courses, beaches, and gravel driveways and parking lots. "For our weddings, we transport in everything from a cargo van to a 36-foot refrigerated truck," says Weisberg. "I have at least seven diff erent and distinct types of rolling carts, each serving a diff erent function. You can get them from many diff erent sources, including WebstaurantStore, Uline, e Home Depot and Amazon." Weisberg once also used shower curtain tension rods to transport baby's-breath "clouds" for a large installation. " e clouds were made on chicken-wire bases, so they were lightweight and easy to move from the studio to the ceremony to the reception," she recalls. "We had to make only minor fi xes and adjustments on site." As with anything, be resourceful, and you'll sleep easier knowing you have the right equipment ready to roll. ALWAYS CHECK THE TEMPERATURE OF YOUR TRUCKS OR PLANES At Schaff er Designs in Philadelphia, Pa., Bill Schaffer, AIFD, CFD, AAF, PFCI, has catastrophe insurance because, for example, fl owers can experience temperature problems during shipping that will render them unusable. Because Schaff er and his wife, Kristine Kratt, AIFD, CFD, PFCI, often do major weddings and events around the globe, anticipating transportation problems is a priority for them. " You have to always prepare for the worst," he says. e insurance means that Schaff er and Kratt can pay for quick shipping of replacement fl owers, if needed. Andrew Thomas, owner of Andrew omas Design in Cleveland, Ohio area—and a protégé of Lewis Miller, has worked both in Washington, D.C., and Ohio. He recommends trucks with trusty temperature controls. He advises making that a focus, even if it's pricier. "Reefer trucks should always be a preferred option because no matter what, you can have temperature control," he says. "Just don't forget to keep an eye on the temperature in case the unit freezes. Yes, that has happened to us!"

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