Tom Bowling AIFD, PFCI ~ Tom entered the floral industry as part time help in 1979. While teaching elementary school and running a retail flower shop for 8 years simultaneously, Tom found the floral industry to have the stronger calling. Tom owned a floral retail operation for 20 years before moving into the wholesale market as a design center manager for a large mid-west wholesale chain. He has been involved with the California Cut Flower Commission since its inception in 1997 and is an industry leader representing Teleflora as an Education Specialist throughout the country for the past 14 years. Tom has designed for the Presidential Inauguration as well as Rose Parade. Tom currently serves as a the Floral Director for Charisma Floats and this marks Tom’s 13th year at the Academy Awards serving as assistant floral director. He also presents educational seminars for Continental Floral Greens and Ocean View Flowers. Tom is still active in the floral industry marking his 30th year and is still discovering opportunities to bring the floral industry forward in a positive way. Tom is a member of the American Institute of Floral Design and currently serves on their National Board of Directors as Vice-President. He has presented two programs for AIFD’s National Symposium and has presented design programs for regional AIFD chapters as well. As a member of the Professional Floral Communicators International, Tom has commentated numerous local, allied, and state programs.
The countdown has begun! With less than one week to go, Florabundance is busy gathering the flowers and foliages that will be used to welcome the stars for this year’s Oscar Awards! The attendees this year will be surrounded with…
As winter still has its grips on much of the country,this is the time of year when everyone is getting anxious for spring to arrive. Why not make it happen for your customers a little early and welcome them in…
After the last of the red roses have been sold and Cupid has left the shop for another year, one of the most valuable activities you can do is a post holiday inventory. What is does is allows you to…
During major floral holidays, when the phone rings one of the first questions out of the mouth of the customer generally starts off with, "How much is...." This is especially true for Valentine's Day when customers are price shopping via…
Valentine's Day and Christmas have a lot in common. Both are a 'red holidays' that fall in a period of the year when sunshine is not as prevalent or abundant. Secondly, cooler or cold weather have a direct effect on…
In most areas of the country at this time of year we are spending more time indoors than outside. Often times the environmental factors are being controlled for us such as how much light, what temperature and the recycled air…
While in the middle of packing away Christmas and plotting your strategy for Valentines Day sales, it is important to remember the daily business opportunities that are happening all around. Typically many engagements are announced at Christmas. No matter if…
