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Extra Features and Video Online FloristsReview.com R E A D O N L I N E 57 As with any holiday, it is important to prepare for the most efficient and profitable outcome. In preparation, find out the graduation dates for all public and private schools, technical and vocational schools, and colleges and universities in your service area. It is also important to know the school colors and mascots of all such schools in your area so that you can stock an abundance of flowers, ribbons, tissue paper and gifts geared to each learning institution. Additionally, many schools need large podium and stage designs and other floral décor for their commencement ceremonies and receptions, so be sure to contact all of them now to learn of their needs and to offer your services. With the proper marketing, graduation days can garner many walk-in customers to your shop. Plan ahead for that, and make sure you'll be adequately staffed and well stocked with ready-to-go items—in a range of price points. Also, don't forget to promote gifts for teachers during graduation season; plants and flowers make great teacher gifts. Post about graduation flowers on social media well in advance, to create interest and let customers know about all of the many exciting items you have to offer. Feature these products on your website, in a designated graduation section, to make it easy for customers to find. As the dates get closer, send marketing emails relating to graduations (refer to our article, "Email Marketing," in the February 2023 issue, for great tips). Specifically target consumers who have graduates in their lives, which will likely require doing a little homework on your part (how appropriate!). Fresh Flower Leis On the islands of Hawaii, giving leis at graduations is a long-standing tradition. is lovely custom has now spread beyond the islands and into many other parts of the world. Fresh flower leis are perfect gifts that are easy to wear and make graduates feel special. You can create your own leis or buy ready-made leis, depending on your time, abilities and staffing. For example, United Wholesale Flowers in San Jose, Calif., carries not only a large selection of ready-made fresh orchid leis during graduation season but also individual orchid blooms, in six colors, from which you can create your own leis (unitedwholesaleflowers. com/graduation). In California, the graduation-lei tradition is wildly popular, and it's spreading across the country. Popular Floral Graduation Gi s United Wholesale Flowers San Jose, Calif. Graduation Cap Flowers Flower crowns for graduation caps (a.k.a. mortarboards) are a fun way for graduates to make their caps stand out in the crowd. ese versatile designs are created to be attached under the flat square part of a graduation cap, but they can also be worn by a graduate, as flower crowns, following the commencement ceremony. Choose any long-lasting small-to-medium-size blooms and accessory items—logically, in school colors. Flowers for graduation caps will offer customers who are shopping for graduates something different this year— and they will showcase your degrees in creativity and revenue enhancement.

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