FSG Workbook

Designing and Delivering Sympathy Flowers ” The new Sympathy Collections are perfect for grieving families because they make it so easy to shop for the service. I love the beautiful new easel sprays, casket sprays and urn arrangements, and the foldout spreads are so helpful in showing families full collections of color-coordinating set pieces. ”

Handle Security Before sending baskets out for delivery, make sure that the handle snaps in place and locks into position. Although baskets are not designed to be carried by the handle, that is how they are often transported. Rental Items Clearly label rental stands and vases with your shop name and address, making sure that the funeral director and family are aware they are rentals. Sender Information Include the sender’s full name and address on the back of the enclosure card as a courtesy to the family. Most point of-sale systems capture this information and print it on specialized Sympathy enclosure cards, easing the process of writing thank-you notes. Card Basics Attach cards securely to funeral designs. Speak with the funeral director for their preferred way of attaching the cards. Common methods include tying them on with ribbon, pinning them to the design’s ribbon, or using a plastic card holder pick. Delivery Etiquette Call the funeral home to inform them of the number of deliveries and ask what time they should be delivered, especially if your shop has the family pieces. These pieces are usually placed nearest to the casket and the funeral director will need to leave room for them. Train delivery personnel to assist the funeral director with arranging the flowers. Make sure delivery personnel are dressed appropriately and that all vehicles are clean and professional in appearance.

— Julie Poeltler, AIFD, PFCI, IMF, CAFA, Julie’s Fountain of Flowers, Lone Tree, IA

Design Mechanics Be sure your design’s mechanics are impeccable. The average funeral tribute is handled as many as eight times by funeral home personnel. Balance Basics Be certain your designs are physically balanced. Remember that most tributes will sit on a carpeted floor or wire pedestal, and an unbalanced design might fall over. Avoid Potential Injuries When designing set pieces and easel sprays, check for protruding sharp objects such as picks and wires. These may cause injury to a person handling the design and can scratch the casket and furniture. Make sure all easels are new or freshly painted and remove all signs of rust or wear. Design for the Casket Before designing a casket spray, verify whether the casket will be fully closed, fully open or half open to determine the size and mechanics needed. Provide the funeral director with a non-skid rubber mat to place between the casket spray and casket to prevent it from slipping off. Pollen-Proof Remove anthers from open lilies before the design leaves the shop. Pollen from anthers will stain clothing and carpeting. This is one of the biggest grievances of funeral directors. Traveling Water Tape, mosses, dried goods and ribbons often wick water from floral foam inside the container. To prevent damage to surfaces, check all elements of your designs before sending them out to a funeral service or home. Drip-Free Sprays and set pieces created in wet floral foam cages and forms should be designed several hours before delivery; overnight is better. They should remain upright to allow excess water to drip from the tribute before being delivered to the funeral home.

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