Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 Archives

SPOTLIGHT

How Do You Spend Your Summer?

On my first night in Sanremo this past April my friend Gabriella Lanterno met me for a short walk half way from my hotel to her little flower shop downtown. When we arrived at the shop I wasn't surprised to see that it was just as cute as I remember — but more "Springy" than the last time I was there (it was filled with gorgeous Christmas décor then).

And of course this time Gabriella's new book "Floating Flowers" was the focal point of the seating area. As I looked through the pages that describe her love for the flowers and the people she works with, her accomplishments, her relationships, and how she came to design the flowers for some of the most prestigious yacht owners from all over the world, a call came in from one of her clients and we were off to meet them for drinks a few blocks away.

As it turned out I was lucky to catch an evening with her because, as she explained to me while we waited for her clients, this was the week her ships come in. No, literally — this was the week the yachts come in to be prepared for their summer season on the Mediterranean. And Gabby (pictured center with two of the stewardesses from one of her favorite yachts) would be meeting with all of her clients to talk about the dinners, parties, events, and gatherings that were scheduled so far onboard the various ships.

Summer is Gabby's busy season. From May to September she lives for the water - picking up flowers (sometimes several times a day), styling them in her shop or onboard ship (sometimes throughout the night), and placing them around and about the living and entertaining areas of these magnificent vessels.

Everyone in town has adjusted to her storefront not being available to them while she is focused on her ships. Land locked customers, clients, friends, and family leave messages for her and patiently wait till she can respond.

Gabby's business makes her happy. She flourishes because she took the time to think about what she really wanted from her work. Her little shop fills a special place in her life but designing for "her boats", sharing stories with the other people who work on them, and serving the clients who are onboard during the summer is what feeds her soul.

The question for my friends and colleagues in retail floristry and independent design practices is, how are you spending your summer? If you are waiting for work to come in I suggest you take the time to decide what you really want in your garden (business) and make a plan that feeds your soul and so you can flourish in the seasons and years to come.

Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 Archives

Flowerhandlers^®   -   We Promote the Whole Floral Industry - One Story at a Time
Return to Flowerhandlers.com