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Local Floral Designer Honored by Distinguished International Floral Group
BALTIMORE (August 2010)-
Samantha T. Pascal, Design Manager and Director of Education at
Plaza Flowers, has been recognized by the American Institute of Floral Designers
(AIFD) as a recipient of its coveted Certified Floral Designer (CFD)
designation. Pascal was granted this designation after successfully completing
the Professional Floral Design Evaluation (PFDE)
that took place July 1 immediately prior to the Institute’s National Symposium
in Boston.
The floral
industry’s leading non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of the
art of floral design through education, AIFD created its CFD program, in part,
to provide a tool for consumers to use when selecting a professional floral
designer. CFD recognition is granted only after a floral designer has
demonstrated their understanding of the concepts of design through education
pathways and then by subjecting their floral design work to a vigorous peer
evaluation conducted by an international panel of design experts.
“The AIFD CFD
professional designation salutes a floral designer for his or her artistry and
provides consumers with another tool to use for selecting quality professional
work,” said Bill McKinley AIFD, Associate Dean at Kishwaukee College in Malta,
IL and the chairman of AIFD’s CFD Development
Committee.
As part of its
recognition program, AIFD will assist consumers in locating a CFD qualified
floral designer by listing them on its website,
www.aifd.org.
Floral designers who achieve the CFD recognition will be required to hone their
artistry through continuing education in the field of floral design.
In addition to
leading a team of 30 at Plaza Flowers in Philadelphia and Norristown, Ms. Pascal
also runs the Floral Design Academy by Plaza Flowers. For more information,
please visit
www.pflorist.com/floraldesignacademy.asp
or call 610.630.8825.
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Plaza Flowers Recognized As Top 100 Florist Nationwide.
West Norriton, PA, July 14, 2009 - Teleflora is the largest floral wire service
in the world. It's 15,000 members are ranked annually based on order volume. For
2008, Plaza Flowers was ranked in the top 100 for the 24th consecutive year.
This week, Joyce Crist of Teleflora presented the award to Plaza Flowers owners,
Heather Tuckey and Chris Drummond. "This ranking places us in the top 1% of all
florists nationwide. Such a tremendous honor is a credit to our staff's
commitment to exceptional customer service." added Drummond. Plaza Flowers,
incorporated in 1983, has served over a million customers.
Plaza Flowers delivers distinctive floral arrangements and gift baskets
throughout the Delaware Valley from their one location in West Norriton, PA. The
10,000 square foot facility includes a floral & gift showroom, a
state-of-the-art floral conditioning station, a computerized delivery center, a
design studio, and offices. Last year, Plaza Flowers processed over 40,000
orders for decorations and gifts using flowers, plants, fruit, gourmet food,
plush toys, balloons, and other unique gifts. They specialize in combining these
products in creative gift baskets.
"High quality and unique products launched our success, but added convenience,
farm-direct flowers, and unsurpassed service has increased our volume in recent
years," said Tuckey. "We began in the 80's with evening and Sunday hours, then
started free fax and cell phone ordering programs in the early 90's. By 1995, we
had a full color catalog and order form on the Internet. We keep looking for new
ways to give our customers convenient access to our products and services."
After all of the national recognition, they still recognize the importance of
the local community. In the past year, Plaza Flowers has supported over 200
local charities with donations of time, money, and products. For more
information about fund raising opportunities for local charities, please visit
www.pflorist.com.
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Floral Designers Prepare Fresh Blooms For Parade Floats
West Norriton, PA,
July 1, 2009 - In preparation for a huge birthday party on the 4th
of July, the design team at Plaza Flowers in Norristown is busy creating
a visual feast of flowers for floats in the Sunoco Welcome
America! Parade. Thousands of blooms from farms in Colombia,
Ecuador, Holland, Hawaii, California, Florida and Pennsylvania will be
used bring a fresh, fragrant touch to this year's floats.
"We believe that
this parade is a celebration of liberty that was nurtured here in
Philadelphia and has spread throughout the world," says Chris Drummond,
president of Plaza Flowers. "As the world celebrates with us, it is
appropriate for the flowers to symbolize the international cause
of freedom."
Among the florists asked by parade organizers to decorate these colorful floats, Plaza Flowers was
assigned the opening production float, featuring Disney vocalist, Davonda
Simmons, and the finale production float, featuring Radio Disney recording artist, Joey
Page. Floral design manager, Samantha Pascal, has planned the
use of a wide variety of fresh flowers, including, roses, lilies,
larkspur, snapdragons, anthurium and iris. "The producer has given us
creative liberty, which makes this design challenge so much fun says Pascal. With keeping the
flowers hydrated and looking their best in the July heat as the top
priority, Pascal and the Plaza Flowers design team will decorate the
floats at 5th and Chestnut streets only hours before the
parade begins.
Parade producer Todd Marcocci says the fresh perspective adds new depth to the annual parade.
"Fresh flowers add another entire dimension to parade floats, and we are
so grateful to have so many florists from the region donating their time
and product to make America's birthday extra special. It is one thing
to see silk flowers, but to have live floral works of art
on floats is a huge addition to what will be a spectacular event -
everyone should come and see this parade!"
This year's parade will wind through the centuries-old streets of Historic Philadelphia.
Following traditional morning ceremonies on Independence Mall, Mayor
Michael A. Nutter and a few surprise guests will travel through
the city's oldest, most storied district.
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Plaza Flowers Partners with Snowball Express to Honor Our Fallen Heroes
West Norriton, PA, May 1, 2009 - This Mother's Day, Plaza Flowers will partner with Snowball Express to honor our fallen heroes. Bouquets of fresh flowers will be delivered to Delaware Valley women whose husbands died while honorably serving our country since September 11, 2001.
"We are proud to partner with an organization like Snowball Express," says Chris Drummond, President of Plaza Flowers. "Many of these women are also mothers who are working hard to provide for their children who have lost their father. We want these moms to know that they are remembered and honored this Mother's Day."
Snowball Express started in early 2006 with a simple idea: Provide hope and new memories to the wives and children of military fallen heroes who have died while on active duty since 9/11. The organization partners with businesses around the country to host gatherings for family members who have lost heroes. In 2008 a total of 1,437 attendees came to the third annual event with over 900 children attending, many for the first time. Children who had attended previous events rekindled friendships with children met at previous years and new children attending for the first time were mentored by those who had been before. For more information about Snowball Express visit www.snowballexpress.org.
Plaza Flowers is working in conjunction with non profit Kids Flower Foundation that develops flower fundraising programs across the USA. These fundraisers support great charities and causes within the participating retail florist's local community. The Kids Flower Foundation also supports educational and social awareness programs for children in flower producing countries that produce their products. Go to www.pflorist.com and click on the fundraising link for more information.
Drummond added, "In addition to honoring military heroes and their families, this program will hopefully bring awareness to the support we offer to all Delaware Valley charities through successful floral fundraising events."
Plaza Flowers is a family-owned retail florist with three generations of experience serving Philadelphia and suburbs.
Plaza Flowers 25th Anniversary Recognized by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
July 27, 2008 - West Norriton, PA
Pennsylvania Senator John Rafferty and Representative Mike Vereb officially recognized Plaza Flowers as an "outstanding business in the commonwealth for 25 years". In their showroom at Egypt & Trooper Roads, Owners Chris Drummond and Heather Tuckey accepted two citations, one from the House of Representatives and one from the Pennsylvania Senate. Each citation read:
"...Plaza Flowers is being congratulated upon the momentous occasion of its silver anniversary . . . Established in 1983 by Dottie Drummond, a second generation florist, Plaza Flowers grew upon the principles of availability, personalized attention and delivering an excellent product. Now operated by Mrs. Drummond's children, Heather & Chris, Plaza Flowers has expanded to the national level through a network of affiliate florists throughout the country. Throughout its laudable history, Plaza Flowers has made inestimable contributions to the welfare of society through a sense of fellowship and through its services, which are designed to enhance the quality of life for all. A succession of dedicated family members have made this possible for 25 years, keeping ever mindful of the noble maxims set forth by its founder."
Plaza Flowers began in the King of Prussia Plaza. Eleven months after the grand opening, a second location opened in Jeffersonville, which was planned to support the primary sales location in King of Prussia by housing the offices, warehouse, and design facility. This new location became one of the busiest intersections in the Philadelphia region. Continued success is a result of Dottie Drummond's very simple philosophy: "Deliver beautifully designed fresh flowers everyday." Many people thought she was crazy. Everyday? Even evenings and Sundays? No florists are open on Sunday. But Mrs. Drummond understood that Plaza Flowers had to be available for every occasion, even evenings and Sundays. She instilled this "be there for your customers" attitude into every member of her team. Chris and Heather have worked hard to make sure every customer gets the personalized attention that Mom promised. Since then the product line has expanded beyond flowers to include home decor, bath and body gifts, gourmet fruit and gift baskets, Godiva chocolates, and more.
During the presentation, Senator Rafferty, a loyal customer of Plaza Flowers for two decades, said this is "recognition of excellence and dedication to your customers." Representative Vereb added "I am proud to know each of you as a friend, proud to support your business, and proud that you have succeeded in West Norriton, Pennsylvania. I look forward to coming here for another 25 years!"
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