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Shirley’s Flowers Inc Honored by Top 250 Florist Award
Suzi Lawrence, Jo Buttram, Shelby Shy
Shirley’s Flowers Inc. was recently recognized by Teleflora, the world’s leading
floral service offering the best choices in floral arrangements along with
convenient local delivery, as a TOP 250 florist for the year 2008. Teleflora has
approximately 25,000 member florists throughout the U.S. and Canada and this
prestigious award recognizes Shirley’s Flowers Inc. as being in the top 10% of
all U.S. florist shops sending orders through Teleflora. This coveted award
stands as a public tribute to this enterprising florist and their contribution
to the floral industry.
Teleflora is the world’s leading floral service offering the best choice in
floral arrangements and convenient local delivery. Headquartered in Los Angeles,
California, Teleflora has approximately 25,000 member florists throughout the
U.S. and Canada, with an additional 20,000 affiliated florists outside North
America. Teleflora offers industry-leading floral arrangements and gifts,
technology, marketing and education services.
Holiday Open House November 9, 2008
Shirley's Flowers design team created bigger than life floral sculptures at their annual Holiday Open House. As you can see in the pictures below we created a Santa, Holiday Ornaments, and of course our adorable Snowman who appeared on our Open House Announcement. Guests got in the holiday spirit with holiday desserts, coffee, and apple cider from Pfeffer’s Catering. This year was very exciting because the Shirley’s Creative Team and Pfeffer’s Catering gave seminars on How to Create a Holiday Tablescapes and How to Prepare Gourmet Dinners. One very lucky winner went home with a door prize of “Flowers all Year” a value up to $400.00! Thanks to all of our great clients and customers we had another phenomenal Holiday Open House.
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28th Annual SAF
(Society of American Florists) Congressional Action Days
February 25-26th, 2008
Shelby Shy and Jo Buttram walked on
Capital Hill and met with Arkansas' State Senators and Congressman.
Many issues critical to the floral industry have come to the forefront
and Shelby and Jo met with the legislators to bring knowledge of our
industry's issues. SAF consists of everyone in the floral industry --
growers, importers, researchers, retailers, suppliers and wholesalers.
We all came together and spoke with one voice to raise awareness and
understanding throughout Congress.
"Shelby Shy, Congressman Boozman, and Jo
Buttram."
Economic Symposium: Growing Global
Businesses
Reynolds Center for
Enterprise Development at the University of Arkansas
Jo Buttram of Shirley's
Flowers presented to the Rogers 7th grade gifted students at this
years Economic Symposium. One hundred and ten total students
attended the Symposium. In Jo's sessions she spoke on being an
entrepreneur in a family business that has been in operation for over
35 years. The students were very hands-on and were able to make
their own corsages and boutonnieres. She was able to show the love
and happiness flowers can bring into the life we live. Thank you to
the Rogers School District for asking us to be a part of this
project!
The 2008 Designer Wedding Challenge February 17, 2008
The Shirley's Flowers Design Team participated in the 2008
Designer Wedding Challenge held at the Clarion Hotel in Bentonville , AR. The
Design Challenge judges consisted of 136 brides as well as bridal party
attendants. The award winning Shirley's Flowers design team participated in the
Floral Category and Tablescape Category.
In the Tablescape Category Shelby Shy with Shirley's
Flowers won 2nd place with Shirley's owner Jo Buttram receiving
honorable mention.
In the Floral category Shirley's flowers designer Tiffany
Dacus won 2nd place with Shirley's owner Jo Buttram winning 3rd place.
2nd place winner Shelby Shy in the Tablescape category
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2nd place winner and honorable
mention Jo Buttram in the Tablescape category
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2nd place winner Tiffany Dacus
in the floral category
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Jo Buttram, owner of Shirley’s Flowers and Gifts in Rogers, AR
The Society of American Florists (SAF) inducted Jo Buttram, owner of Shirley’s Flowers and Gifts in Rogers, AR into the prestigious ranks of the American Academy of Floriculture (AAF) this year. She was officially inducted into the Academy during the Industry Awards Dinner at Society of American Florists Palm Springs 2007, the association’s 123rd Annual Convention in Palm Springs, CA.
Since 1965, the Academy has sought to encourage, measure and recognize professionals – retailers, wholesalers, growers, educators, scientists, designers and allied business people – who have committed their time and energy to the floral industry and their community.
Jo Buttram, AAF, AMF, is a 27 year industry veteran. She currently serves on SAF’s Floral Management Advisory Committee and is a former member of the Retailers Council and Consumer Marketing Committee. A member of the Southern Retail Florist Association, she also has served as a board member and president of the Ozark Florist Association and the Arkansas State Florist Association. She served as a unit board member of Teleflora in 2003. Buttram received the Ozark Florist Association’s Award of Merit in 2002, and the 2006 Arkansas Florist Association’s Bill Plummer Distinguished Service Award for commitment, dedication and service to the industry.
Active in her local community, Buttram served on the following committee’s Challenge of the Champions Charity event (for which she won Volunteer of the Year in 2002¬), the Cancer Challenge Charity event, NWA Community College, St. Mary’s Foundation Charity Ball, Heart Gala, Gucci Charity Event, Celebrity Waiter, and the LPGA decorations. The city of Rogers awarded her its Beautification Award in 2004.
Holiday Open House November 11, 2007
Shirley's Flowers design team created a Christmas fantasy at their annual Holiday Open House. Guests kept warm and fuzzy with the holiday desserts and apple cider. The first 100 guests received an Old World
Christmas ornament and every one received a lovely red rose. Three lucky winners went home with gift certificates ranging from $25.00, $50.00 and $100.00. We at Shirley's want to thank everyone who attended!
Ozark Flower Convention September 15-16th 2007
"Nightmare Before Christmas" was the 2007 theme where the Shirley's Flowers went as the "Flower Power Team".
Maria
Tapia joined Shirley’s Flowers and Gifts with her sister Veronica April 5th,
2007 and has quickly adapted to the fast pace of the Shirley’s Flowers team!
Prior to coming to Shirley’s Maria lived in
Santa Clarita, CA at her
family’s flower shop. There she realized the love she found with working with
flowers and has been doing so ever since. She recently competed at the Ozark
Convention design competition in Joplin, MO. The categories consisted of a
sympathy, wedding and theme piece. Congratulations on doing such an amazing
job in your very first competition!
Veronica
Guzman joined Shirley’s Flowers and Gifts with her sister Maria April 5th,
2007 and has become an integral spoke in the Shirley’s Flowers wheel! Before
joining Shirley’s Flowers Veronica worked in Santa Clarita at her family’s
flower shop. There she has learned the inspiration working with flowers bring
to her life. She recently competed at the Ozark Convention design competition
in Joplin, MO. The categories consisted of a sympathy, wedding and theme
piece. Congratulations Veronica on a great job in your very first
competition!
Trish
Upshaw was a strong competitor within this competition. At the Ozark
Convention design competition in Joplin, MO she competed in three categories a
sympathy, wedding and theme piece.
Chelle
Powers was a powerful competitor within the Ozark competition. There at the
Ozark Convention design competition in Joplin, MO she competed in three
categories, which consisted of a sympathy, wedding and theme piece.
The
competition this year was fierce! The Ozark design competition includes
competitors from 4 states, which consists of Oklahoma,
Arkansas, Kansas, and Missouri.
After the
judges evaluated each design within the three categories they picked the top
five designers to compete in the final surprise category. Maria Tapia and
Chelle Powers were two of the top five! Out of all four categories Maria
Tapia and Chelle Powers received 2 awards for placing in the top three. We are
so proud of you two! Way to go!
Arkansas State Convention, August 17th - 19th
Chelle Powers entered the floral
world at 18 years old at Shirley's Flowers Inc. She has worked in every aspect
of the floral business and has been doing so for 18 years. Chelle became an
Arkansas Master Florist in 2004 and has attended many advanced classes including
several at Teleflora Education Center. Her design work has been in several
magazines, At Home in Arkansas Wedding, Celebrate Magazine, and Citiscapes
magazine. She most recently won 1st runner up in the Arkansas State design
competition where she designed in 3 categories: silk arrangement, sympathy
piece, and bridal bouquet. Congratulations Chelle!
Trish Upshaw entered the floral industry in 1989 and has been a dedicated floral designer for the industry 18 years! 10 of those 18 years has been with Shirley's Flowers and she is currently the assistant manager. In 2006, Trish won the Frankie Shelton Scholarship Seminar in Memphis, TN. M She is currently enrolled to become an Arkansas Master Florist. Most recently Trish participated in the Arkansas Scholarship competition and placed 6th. She designed in 3 categories: buffet arrangement, sympathy piece, and bridal bouquet. Congratulations Trish!
 
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