Display cases are an extremely cost effective and versatile display option. Not only do they protect your items from daily wear and tear but they safely and attractively display them without interfering with the item itself.

Display cases can be used to display a whole range of items from footballs to jewelry. They make an excellent point of sale display as they clearly display the item as well as protect it and deter over eager shoppers from handling them.

There are hundreds of different cases on the market made from many different materials. Probably the most cost effective and versatile display case is made from acrylic. Acrylic is an ideal material to use as it is light weight and does not shatter like glass does. Acrylic also has light protection qualities, in some cases these can protect your items from up to 90% of UV light, ensuring that they are kept from harms way. The UV filter will help protect your items from fading or becoming sun damaged. Standard display cases are normally made of 5mm thick clear acrylic. Glass ones are available on the market but can often cost twice the amount compared to an acrylic display case. Also, shipping glass cases can often cost a fortune as glass is more fragile and dangerous to transport compared to acrylic. Standard acrylic ones normally consist of an acrylic base onto which a clear acrylic lid fits.

Display cases are available in a whole range of sizes and can even be made with small locks to ensure your most precious items are safely and securely displayed. A lockable display case would be ideal for items of value such as jewelry, antiques, collectables and signed memorabilia. The lock system can be as small as 20mm in diameter and therefore won’t distract from the treasures inside the case.

If you are looking to display multiple items choose a case that has different compartments. These are often known as display cabinets. These can sit on a counter top or can be wall mounted. They are ideal for displaying lots of smaller items. Display cabinets are also available with or without locks and can often be made to measure.

Your supplier may offer a made to measure service, where a display case can be made to fit your item exactly. Some cases come with pins or steps to rest your items on internally. This lifts the item up slightly and will stop it from rolling around inside the case. For example a football display case normally has three small flat pins that the ball sits on to stop it from rolling around. You might even be able to choose the acrylic base colour, or select the type of wood used. Be sure to discuss this with your supplier to see what options are available.

There are many manufacturers of display cases, but before committing to buy one ensure that your supplier uses top quality acrylic that has a UV filter. Another important aspect of your order to consider is shipping costs, this is because the acrylic cases can be difficult to transport, however a good supplier should be able to offer you a good quality packing and shipping service at an affordable price.

The way you present your flower shop does matter. Every little creative detail builds your business as unique and imaginative. That is most definitely what you want. Say your customer has spent a smart amount of time making selections from buckets of flowers. He or she does not want them arranged. What is left? You have to wrap the flowers. Have some ingenious tricks up your sleeve. Now is the time for you to show off and to show off your flower shop.

Wrapping flowers is fun! You can end up with a masterpiece in paper. Presentation of wrapped flowers is important. They will not be put in a vase or basket at this time, but they are a gift. Make the flowers look like a gift. Whatever you do, do not just throw them in some paper and staple shut!! Be resourceful. Here are some ideas to spark you imagination. As well as focal flowers, try to make sure your customers have selected some form of greenery and filler flowers. Tell them the main flowers they have chosen will look much nicer in a vase with greens and filler flowers. Always try to educate your customers, as well as just make a sale. Guide them to what your professionalism knows.

What papers to use? You have many choices. Clear cellophane is a start. This wrapping tied off with a ribbon of course is classic. You may want to try to bring out a color in the loose bouquet of flowers. So you could lay down as clear sheet of cellophane and layer with a colored piece of floral wax paper. Wrap and tie off with a long flowing ribbon. Make a bow with satin ribbon and raffia. Raffia is inexpensive. Use lots of it, just short of taking away from the flowers. The flowers are after all the main event. Raffia ribbon comes in many colors. The raffia brings out the naturalness, garden- like quality of the flowers. You may want to use brown wrapping paper, with a organza ribbon for a European look of just stopping off at the florist on your way home.

I have seen flowers wrapped with the newspaper cartoons as an accent. This may work if it is for a young sick child, or a birthday. Floral and design wax papers can be bought from your local wholesaler. You may want to make the loose flowers into a pageant type presentation bouquet. Tie off with floral bow with long streamers. You may want to loosely arrange the flowers in a nosegay and wrap with cellophane in the color of your choice, for more of a dimensional look.

When wrapping flower do not just lay them on the paper. First, lay down some greens, then add some filler and main flowers. Then repeat, building up as a three- dimensional bouquet, rather than just flowers lying there flat. As an up-sell, tie flowers off with a balloon, a fuzzy, little bear or some chocolates. Always offer water tubes for the ends of the flowers. The customer may not even know they are available. Again, by offering water tubes and explaining what they are and what they are used for, you have just educated another customer. It is especially important to include floral preservative with each bouquet of wrapped flowers. Explain how to use it. By telling your floral customers to re-cut the stems and adding the preservative to the water you will have a happy customer because their flowers will perform better and last longer. I like hearing, “Wow, my flowers lasted two weeks!!”

Debra is a professional florist and consultant. She loves to design flowers, jewelry, and home interiors. She is an avid floral design instructor. Debra aspires to use the art of designing flowers in conjunction with healing from abuse and domestic violence. If anyone has any specific questions on floral topics they may email me at moabflowers@live.com. I will be glad to begin an initial consultation on the floral business. Debra also has a blog Floral Design and would love to hear from all.

***this is the twentieth article in a series of 100 articles on floral design and running a flower shop.

May Day is on May 1. May Day has its origins even before the birth of Christ. It is not a prominent holiday in America, but it could be encouraged if advertised correctly. Inspiring May Day would be another little fun holiday to promote and bring in extra sales. You and your shop could make it an annual event that you and your community can participate. Excellent exposure for your store!! Sponsor it as a time of celebration, the beginning of summer. May Day is best celebrated with fresh spring and summer flowers.

The tradition of the May basket is a unique way to let your friends and loved ones know you are thinking about them. The baskets can be any size, but generally are small. Paint them bright, cheery colors, or leave natural. Offer a bunch of assorted flowers to your customers so they can place them in the basket. Miniature rose, baby’s breath, heather, daisies, miniature carnations, and alstoemeria would be excellent choices to make mixed bunches. It is said that the basket giver would leave the basket of flowers on someone’s doorstep, ring the doorbell, then run and hide so the receiver does not know who left the basket. The person receiving the basket would try and catch the giver. If they caught the giver, they would exchange a kiss.

The flowers can be put in waterproof containers, and hung on the doorknob. Also take a canning jar, put in the flowers chosen from the florist, and tie it off with a piece of jute rope. Jute gives the arrangement a rustic feel. A simple arrangement of irises and lily of the valley offers long lasting fragrance and color. A vintage tin can could be used. Punch two holes, one on each side of the can and run a wire through, pinching the ends so the wire does not come out. Add some acacia, heather, monte casino, and baby’s breath. Tie a gingham ribbon around the can. Hang somewhere or give it away!!

Baskets and unique containers are not the only designs you can promote for May Day. You could also surprise a friend of loved one with a halo of flowers with long, tiny satin ribbons flowing in the back. They would wear the halo their head or drape it on a chair. Also, you could create a garland of flowers for a front porch rail. Lei would also be exciting. That could be worn at an outdoor barbecue or the May Day happenings, providing lots of enjoyment. Fun!!!

See, you can get very creative and playful and have a lot of fun promoting this age old holiday. These are great May Day ideas, or even every day gestures. Your customers will appreciate the creativity and the uniqueness. Place an ad in your local newspaper or create a radio spot for your May Day activities. Endorse it as a spry, relaxed chance to give flowers and make someone’s day.

There is also the Maypole dance. Legend has it that at dawn English country dwellers would meander in the country gathering flowers and blooming branches. A maypole was erected, usually a tall birch pole, and decorated with lots of flowers. Ribbons would be strewn from the pole and used in the dance. Beautiful! Then the villagers danced and sang around the maypole. Promote a maypole dance on May 1st. What a distinctive way to advertise your flower shop. Maybe involve an elementary school. It would be an awesome field trip for the kids, plus you are exposing the young ones to flowers and their enjoyable beauty and fun. Rejoice in the oncoming of May and the summer season. Besides, kids are May Day!

Debra is a professional florist and consultant. She loves to design flowers, jewelry, and home interiors. She is an avid floral design instructor. Debra aspires to use the art of designing flowers in conjunction with healing from abuse and domestic violence. If anyone has any specific questions on floral topics they may email me at moabflowers@live.com. I will be glad to begin an initial consultation on the floral business. Debra also has a blog Floral Design and would love to hear from all.