5 Ways to Save Money on Flowers

So you want to send flowers in Canada, but your budget's stretched a little tight? That's totally understandable. After all, the prime gift-giving season of the year is coming up and there's nothing worse than that "January hangover" when the credit card bills come.

But it's easy to take a load off your wallet if you're open to shopping for flowers online.

A great example of the huge
savings you can find with
Bloomex: this Melody
Collection assortment is
on sale for just $39.95.

Here are 5 easy ways to save money on flowers as we approach the holiday season.

1. Ditch the local florist
They know that once you're in the shop, you're not likely to compare pricing, so there's no motivation for them to offer the best possible prices. They also need a nice margin on their products to support the cost of their brick-and-mortar store and other operational costs. 

2. Forget the grocery store
Many grocery stores sell flowers because it's often an impulse purchase. Just like the tabloid magazine and packs of gum at the register, they're trying to tempt you to buy something that you had no real intention of purchasing when you walked in. And just like those batteries at the cash, they're high-margin items for the stores. Don't be sucked in.

3. Don't use a wire service
Most of the huge, international, well-known flower sites simply farm out their orders to the local florists. Again, everyone has to make a little margin along the way, and that drives up the end cost to you. Don't fall for it.

4. Shop around.
Do a little bit of price comparison if you have the time. It's quite amazing how much the same bouquets and arrangements can vary in price from place to place.

5. Buy from Bloomex.
Because of the company's revolutionary business model, we're able to offer flower bouquets and arrangements for, usually, about 35% - 50% lower than our competitors. Bloomex buys straight from the growers and arranges its bouquets in its own, company-owned production facilities spread out across the country -- and on-time delivery is available for upwards of 97% of the population. So go ahead, and shop around as we suggested.... but we already know what you'll find. Bloomex's prices can't be beat in Canada.

PRODUCT OF THE WEEK (Nov. 4 - Nov. 10): Breathless Beauty Bouquet

Our product of this week for November 4th to the 10th is the Breathless Beauty Bouquet.

Stargazer lilies are an absolutely gorgeous addition to any bouquet, and in this arrangement, they serve as a focal point.

Bloomex's Breathless Beauty bouquet mixes the aforementioned flowers with stunning red roses and an assortment of greens for an eloquent look. This bouquet is quite fragrant, and its large size makes it a great gift for many different occasions.

Sure to dazzle, these Stargazers will draw looks in any setting. And with the holidays coming up quickly, they're the perfect colour for a Yuletide celebration.

Price: $79.99
Ideal for: Christmas, corporate events, sympathy flowers and expressing gratitude.

VIEW OUR PAST PRODUCTS OF THE WEEK:

• Sept. 30 - Oct. 4: Signature Arrangement
• Oct. 7 - Oct. 13: "Friday Only" Rose Special
• Oct. 14 - 20:  Pink Beauty Basket
• Oct. 21 - 27: Beer & Nuts Basket
• Oct. 28 - Nov. 3: Classic White & Yellow Daisies 

5 Non-Traditional and Sort of Wacky Holidays to Send Flowers and Gifts For

The top special occasions to send flowers on is Valentine's Day. After that, it's Christmas and Mother's Day. But from there, it's a wide range of dates -- birthdays, anniversaries, and many more.

Why wait for some 'officially recognized' holiday
to show someone special that you care?

There seems to have been a large proliferation in the amount of "unofficial" holidays in the past decade. These dates, though not officially recognized, are celebrated in various corners of the world.

You may not have heard of them, but some of them are quite fun. Why not change things up, have some fun and celebrate one of these "not quite ready for primetime" special occasions with flowers from Bloomex.ca?

1. Festivus: "A Festivus for the Rest of Us!"
December 23
Okay, okay, it's supposed to be a rejection of the commercialization of Christmas, but still. Brought to public attention by a classic episode of Seinfeld, Festivus replaces the Christmas tree with a pole, and features such traditions as the annual "Airing of Grievences" and the "Feats of Strength," where the head of the houshold must be pinned in a wrestling match before the holiday is over. Incredibly, it was based on a real tradition by the family of a Seinfeld writer.
GIFT SUGGESTION: We feel that Frank Costanza himself would approve of this rather basic 8" planter basket.

2. International Talk Like a Pirate Day:
September 25
This day was conceived in 1995 and gained exposure through humour columnist Dave Berry's column in 2004. It's silly, but we're guessing it's kind of fun. And here at Bloomex, we support it! Even Google itself  has gotten in on the goofiness.
GIFT SUGGESTION: A Snack Lover basket, featuring packaged treats that won't spoil during a long journey apon a ship.

3. National Hug Day 
January 21
After the exhaustion provided from Christmas and New Year's, who's NOT ready for another holiday less than a month later? The day is celebrated by offering hugs to friends and family members.
GIFT SUGGESTION: We, uh, actually can't offer one since according to the always-accurate Wikipedia (wink wink), the creator of the holiday, Kevin Zaborney, holds the copyright for the day.

4. Singles' Awareness Day (S.A.D.)
February 14
You might notice that this takes place on the same day as Valentine's Day. If you've ever been single on Valentine's Day, as we all have, you know that it can seem quite lonely. Why not brighten someone's day with a little gift to remind them that even though they're single, they are not alone?
GIFT SUGGESTION: May we suggest a thoughtful Roses & Teddy special? Currently priced to go at half-off.

5. Sweetest Day
Third Saturday in October
A regional celebration popular in Rust Belt cities like Cleveland and Detroit, Sweetest Day was started by candymakers in 1921 in Cleveland, Ohio. The idea is to hand out candies, chocolates, sweets and flowers -- initially to charities and the underprivileged -- but it's gathered steam as a gift giving occasion for people of all backgrounds.
GIFT SUGGESTIONS: Take your pick from our large selection of Sweets Baskets.

As a final note, Bloomex came up with National Sorry Day in 2013, and it is set to become the latest (and greatest!) national holiday in Canada. It's celebrated August 28, and is super Canadian, eh?

In Honour of Halloween: The History of Chocolate and 7 Interesting Facts

Chocolate is delicious and probably one of the favourite snacks around the world. It has quite an amazing history as well, which stretches back thousands of years.

From bars to hot cocoa, there are so many different ways that we consume the stuff. As a whole, the industry is worth about $90 billion worldwide -- a staggering number that speaks to how regardless of culture or location, chocolate breaks down barriers.

The Chocolate Lovers gift basket
from bloomex.ca, available

for delivery throughout the

country. In fact, we have 

quite a wide range of sweets

baskets available. 

Let's take a quick look at some fascinating facts relating to chocolate.

1. The cultivation of chocolate is thought to have started before the Olmecs, and possibly as far back as 1400 BC.

2. Chocolate is derived from the cocoa bean, and upwards of two-thirds of the world's production of this plant takes place in Western Africa.

3. Why is this? Because the climate in places like Cote d'Ivoire makes it ideal for the tree to grow. The plants need roughly 200 centimetres of rain per year, and temperatures that hover between 21 and 32 degrees celcius to flourish.

4. The first European to discover chocolate? Good ol' Christopher Columbus, on his fourth voyage to the new world.

5. The conqueror Montezuma is believed to have drank 50 cups of day of xocolatl, a primitive beverage consisting of chocolate, vanilla and spices that was commonn durig those times.

6. Though we sometimes think of chocolate as being not the best for us (and like anything, moderation is key), dark chocolate, in particular, has been linked to a variety of possible positive effects on people's health.

7. Milk chocolate, the most commonly-sold type in North America, wasn't invented until 1875.

8 Reasons to Buy Flowers From Bloomex

You have lots of choices out there for spending your hard-earned cash on flowers. There's the familiarity of dropping by the grocery store on the way home from work -- but rest assured you'll be paying a premium. There's the local florist around the corner -- but again, you'll be paying a premium (more details on that later on.)

And then there's the multinational conglomerate wire services, which, hint-hint.... farm their orders out to, you guessed it, local florists. You end up paying a whole lot more than you deserve to.

A BETTER ALTERNATIVE:

Instead of all that, take a look at what Bloomex offers. Here are eight great reasons to use us for your flower delivery needs in Canada.

1. QUALITY. Our flowers arrive straight from the farm to our production facilities, which are located in eight major markets across the countries. That means fresher products.

2.  VARIETY. We have hundreds of bouquets and arrangements for you to choose from. But did you know that in addition to fresh cut flowers, we specialize in gift baskets, spa baskets, chocolate, gourmet foods and more?

Forget the rest. Go with the best.

3. CONVENIENCE. Point, click, order... it's as simple as that. Not sure exactly what you're looking for? Check out our popular Designers Collection, which puts the decision-making in the hands of our talented florists and floral arrangers.

4. PRICE. The flowers wire services and local florists get their flowers through a convoluted system of wholesalers and/or importers, and there are margins to be made at each step of the process. Cut those middlemen out, and it results in a lower cost for the consumer. We pass those savings on to you.

5. CUSTOMER SERVICE. Our operators are standing by to help. And if its the middle of the night, try our online chat system or shoot us an email. We always strive to live up to our company motto of "We care."

6. ORDER AHEAD. Hey, we're all forgetful sometimes. Take the worry out of the process by placing your order ahead of time, for delivery on a specific day.

7. WE DELIVER ALMOST ANYWHERE. Unless you're stationed in Alert, there's a pretty good chance that we can get your flowers to your loved one.

8. WE'RE CANADIAN. We were established in Ottawa in 2005 and provide quality work for Canadians in eight major markets. We really are Canada's National Florist.

PRODUCT OF THE WEEK (Oct. 28 - Nov. 3): Classic Yellow & White Daisies

Bloomex's Classic Yellow & White Daisy bouquet brings warmth and light into any room.

Quick rhetorical question: is there a flower more beloved and cherished than the daisy? Daisies bring a sense of pure joy to their surroundings, and this week's product of the week is a beautiful addition to any space, regardless of the weather outside.

This arrangement includes  36 gorgeous white and yellow daisies, adorned with a variety of fresh greens. Offered at a low, unbeatable price, they make for a very affordable option for any occasion. As well, they make for a nice change-of-pace from many of the more typical bouquets that people send throughout the nation.

Whether you're saying 'thanks,' 'get well soon,' or 'I messed up,' this bouquet will send the intended message with style and fun.

Looking for other sorts of daisies? We offer a variety of options here, with bouquets starting at just $19.99. 

Price: $29.99
Size: Approximately 24" high (vase not included)
Ideal for: Saying Sorry, Gratitude, Get Well, Birthdays

The exotic and incredible Parrot Flower -- is it real?

The incredible, surprisingly true, "Parrot Flower"

Have you ever heard of the Parrot Flower?

It was brought to North America's attention sometime around 2005 or so when an email began to circulate --  maybe it showed up in your inbox one day -- which read as follows:

Subject: VERY RARE PARROT FLOWER 

A FLOWER ALL THE WAY FROM THAILAND.
THE VERY RARE PARROT FLOWER 

Thought this was too beautiful not to share.

 There are several variations on the email. Naturally, with photo manipulation software so readily available, people were skeptical, as they had every right to be. 

But amazingly, this was one chain email that was not a hoax. The flowers are in fact 100% genuine, and as the email states, grow in parts of Thailand, Myanmar and India. Accordng to popular urban legend website Snopes the flowers' scientific classification is Impatiens psittacina.

Take a moment to marvel at the beauty of these appropriately-nicknamed flowers. Just when we think we've seen it all, nature surprises us. There are more images here (on a Thai website).