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30 Feature March | 2023 Debbie's Bloomers is El Paso, Texas' one-stop-shop for beautiful flowers, gifts and home décor. Since 1985, its mission has been to provide friendly and knowledgeable customer service in a relaxing shopping environment. "We have the most beautiful flowers the world has to offer, arrangements designed by an incredible team of talented florists, unique gifts for all the special people in one's life, and décor accents that are perfect for any home," boasts Marisa Guerrero, AIFD, CFD, vice president of the family-owned retail and event florist business. "With numerous 'Best of El Paso' awards, we dare to delight!" Because Guerrero is the daughter of a florist, becoming one herself was in the stars. A talented floral designer and educator known for her enthusiasm and involvement in the floral industry, she has relished her lifetime of living in and learning about the flower industry. Guerrero has served on the boards and committees of numerous industry organizations including the Texas State Florists' Association, the WesTexas New Mexico Florist Association, and the American Institute of Floral Designers South Central Chapter and the AIFD Foundation. Years of building friendships and attending classes and events with some of the top designers in floristry have fostered her great respect and admiration for floral design education. For five years, Guerrero taught classes on the business of floral design at El Paso Community College, she has presented education programs for florists across the Southwest, and she looks forward to many more opportunities to strengthen the foundation of the floral industry while gaining friends along the way. A DAY IN THE LIFE of aRetail Florist By Nita Robertson, AIFD, CFD Marisa Guerrero, AIFD, CFD Debbie's Bloomers El Paso, Texas 5:30 a.m. Rise and shine. Her two sons have to be at school at 7:30, so getting up early allows Guerrero a few minutes of quiet time before her workday starts. 7:45 a.m. Once the kids are at school and Guerrero has arrived at the shop, she spends the first few minutes checking email, including a ton of emails from growers with their fresh flower availability. "is is a great opportunity for me to pick up any A Typical Workday for Guerrero last-minute deals from the growers we work with through our buying group, FloraLink," she says. "en, it's time to process any orders that have come in overnight so they are ready when the designers arrive." 8:30 a.m. Time to unlock the doors and start answering phones. Guerrero then routes the deliveries because the delivery drivers arrive soon after. "While I take care of that, our design- room manager double-checks each order to ensure that it is designed beautifully and includes any add- ons," she shares. 10 a.m. At least once a week, usually on Mondays, Guerrero spends an hour or so working to procure all of the necessary flowers for upcoming events. "It's important that we work closely with our growers to make sure that the pricing, quantities and varieties of flowers are all just right for each event," she explains. "Usually,

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