Industry Happenings and Disciplines for Improving Your Attitude
Easter is barely behind us, prom season is starting, and Mother's Day is bearing down fast. Before the six-week sprint begins, Vonda and Lori want you to do two things: get an educational event on your calendar for this summer, and get your attitude in check — because your attitude and reactions create the culture in your shop.
Put an educational event on your calendar
Summer is convention season, and there is something for every kind of shop owner. First up is the Society of American Florists' NextGen event in Miami, June 11–13. Lori attended the very first one last year with Ellie and loved the energy — and one of her favorite things was seeing shop owners who weren't "NextGen age" sending their employees. Those team members felt special, learned a lot, and came back to the shop ready to teach what they'd picked up.
Then in July, AIFD Symposium lands in Chicago at the Hilton, July 1–6. That's Vonda's happy place — her flower family, where she gets re-energized by the design work and the people. She still remembers her very first symposium in 1979. And if money is the thing holding you back, don't let it be: AIFD has scholarship money available. Visit aifd.org and apply. As Lori puts it, they would love to give it to somebody who wants to come.
Rounding out the season is the SAF Convention in Phoenix, September 6–9. The hosts' advice: pick the event that best serves you or your staff, save the money and the time now, and consider blocking out that weekend from weddings so you can learn, recharge, and head into fall busy season enthused.
Get your team ready for the six-week sprint
Easter results were about 50/50 across the Flower Clique members — some shops were slammed, others barely sold a plant, with big-box competition, advertising, and spring break timing all playing a role. Now comes the real stretch: proms, Administrative Professionals Week, Mother's Day, dance recitals, graduations, and Memorial Day, practically back to back.
Set your staff up for success. Communicate schedules early — "I'm going to need you this Friday and Saturday, so take Wednesday off instead" — so your people get personal time and your shop stays covered. Lori shared a tip from Annie at Leona Sue's: put the summer calendar up now, get everyone's vacations on it, and make the expectations (like one Saturday a month) clear ahead of time. When it's planned early, staff are grateful instead of frustrated — and if they can't work a shift they committed to, finding a replacement is on them. And don't forget training: get new hires through sales and flower prep courses before the rush hits.
Your attitude sets the tone
Here's the part that's harder than scheduling: when owners vent about their employees' attitudes, it's often the owner's attitude driving the whole thing. If you're negative and stressed in every team meeting, that rubs off. As the Taylor Swift line goes — hi, it's me, I'm the problem. It starts at the top, so the hosts walked through simple disciplines for improving your attitude, and your team's.
Be self-aware. All eyes are on you as the owner. Lori remembers principals who rushed into teachers' meetings radiating urgency and panic — and how that feeling filtered through the entire team. Many people aren't naturally self-aware; tools like the quizzes in the book Emotional Intelligence can show you (and your staff) where you stand.
Know your triggers. Be aware of what tends to set you off and plan ahead for it. In a shop, that might be the employee who's chronically late. Fix the problem, yes — but don't let it hijack your attitude and everyone else's.
Ruthlessly eliminate B.C.D. — blaming, complaining, and defensiveness. Blaming is especially damaging: some people respond to every problem by hunting for a culprit instead of a solution. Solve the problem first. The hosts loved this one so much they suggested posting "No B.C.D. allowed" in your shop as the affirmation of the week.
Manage your self-talk. The line that stuck with Lori: you talk to yourself more than any other person in your life, so get good at it. When a negative thought about yourself shows up, acknowledge it and rephrase it.
Start each day with reflection — and be patient. Be intentional in the morning: skip the phone for the first 30 minutes, get quiet, and think of three things you're grateful for, because gratitude changes your attitude. Building habits takes time, so when you slip (say, over an Easter-candy weekend), don't quit — reset and keep going. And never lose sight of the big picture: a positive culture that customers can feel every time they call or walk in.
A lesson from the ice cream counter
Lori saw all of this in action at a Braum's in Tulsa. A busload of church kids poured in behind her, changing their orders constantly — and the young crew behind the counter never lost their cool. They joked, stayed patient, and stayed kind. When Lori asked one of them how, he said their manager tells them: don't lose your head. There was, as she put it, a cloud of joy hanging over the place — the kind that makes you want to drive across town to do business there. That's exactly what your customers should feel in your shop, even on Valentine's or Mother's Day week.
Key takeaways
- Pick one educational event this summer — SAF NextGen, AIFD Symposium, or SAF Convention — for yourself or your staff, and budget for it now. AIFD scholarships can cover the cost.
- Get summer schedules and vacation plans on the calendar early; clear expectations now prevent staffing drama later.
- Your attitude sets the shop's culture. Be self-aware, know your triggers, and model what you want to see.
- Ban B.C.D. — blaming, complaining, and defensiveness — starting with yourself.
- Start every day with quiet reflection and gratitude, and be patient with yourself when you slip.
Sponsored by:
Flower Clique
Flower Clique Prep School
Real Life Retail Florist