The Business & Pleasure of Flowers
Join Vonda LaFever and Lori Wilson as they share expert advice, insider tips, and a whole lot of fun on all things floral. While everyone loves flowers, running a floral business can come with its fair share of challenges that might make you lose sight of the joy it brings. In this engaging and informative podcast, Vonda’s wealth of floral expertise pairs perfectly with Lori’s background in teaching, sales training, and life coaching to deliver valuable insights you can use right away.
From industry trends and the flower shop of the future to overcoming obstacles like boosting sales and building a stellar customer service team, they’ve got you covered. Discover how small shifts in your mindset and approach can create big transformations in your business and life.
Hit subscribe to put the pleasure back into your life, go back to loving flowers, find fresh inspiration, and bring the joy back to your business!
Episodes
308 episodes
When It Rains, It Pours: Giving Yourself Grace in Life’s Storms
Episode 305: In this heartfelt and candid conversation, Lori opens up about one of those weeks — when everything seems to happen at once. From car troubles and family emergencies to the emotional rollercoaster of fe...
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Episode 305
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29:01
Wonder Over Noise: What Mr. Rogers Still Teaches Us
Episode 304: This week, Lori and Vonda catch up on life, caregiving, and the whirlwind of a recent Italy wedding trip before diving into the timeless wisdom of Mr. Rogers. Together, they reflect on his lessons of empathy, dignity, and hu...
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Episode 304
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30:53
Opportunity > Obstacles: A Candid State-of-the-Industry with SAF’s Kate Penn
Episode 303: Society of American Florist (SAF) CEO Kate Penn joins Lori and Vonda to unpack what’s really happening in floral retail—rising consumer spend, experience-driven shopping, value-aligned buying, and how smart sh...
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Episode 303
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42:27
What Is Flower Clique, Really?
Episode 302: One of the questions we hear most often when we're out at shows, conventions, and symposiums is: “So…what is Flower Clique?” In this episode, Vonda and Lori sit down with Ellie LaFever and Kami Martin to answer...
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Episode 302
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26:17
The Outsider’s Perspective: Working Inside a Family Business
Episode 301: What’s it really like to work in a family-owned business? In this episode, Lori chats with Mimi Pacheco, Marketing and Communications at Jet Fresh Flowers, about the unique joys and...
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Episode 301
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42:53
Episode 300: Celebrating Milestones, Memories, and Lessons Learned
Episode 300: Three hundred episodes later—wow! What started as a “let’s try it for a year” experiment has turned into a five-year journey filled with laughter, lessons, and lots of love for the floral community. In this special episode, ...
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Episode 300
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28:21
Morning Habits That Change Everything
Episode 299: In this lighthearted and thoughtful episode, Vonda and Lori kick things off with karaoke night plans, road trip shenanigans, and a few laughs before diving into something we all wrestle with—morning routines. Inspired b...
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Episode 299
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34:34
People, Petals & Big News: A Conversation with Bill LaFever on What’s Next
Episode 298: Lori’s voice is back—and so is the chatter across the floral world. In this episode, Vonda and Lori sit down with industry leader and President of Bill Doran Company, Bill LaFever, to unpack the big announcement ...
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Episode 298
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47:45
50 Years in Flowers: Vonda's Origin Story
Episode 297: In this special solo episode, Vonda LaFever, AIFD, takes us on a heartfelt journey through her 50 years in the floral industry. From her very first Saturday job at a flower shop in Ames, Iowa, to building her own business al...
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Episode 297
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32:47
Marketing with Intention: Tone, Templates & Timing for Florists
Episode 296: Marketing is so much more than pretty Instagram posts – it’s the way your team answers the phone, the words you choose in an email, and the vibe customers feel when they walk through your door. In this workshop-style e...
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Episode 296
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33:11
From SAF to Sympathy Sales: Lessons, Laughter, and Lasting Tributes
Episode 295: In this episode Vonda and Lori share their takeaways from the SAF Convention—highlighting programs, conversations, and connections that sparked inspiration. From co-presenting alongside industry leader Tim Farrell AIFD,...
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Episode 295
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36:12
Three Generations, One Flower Clique: Behind the Scenes of Family, Flowers, and Fun
Episode 294: What happens when three generations come together for a week-long Flower Clique photo shoot? Lori and Vonda are joined by Ellie and Vonda’s granddaughter Leighton for a heartwarming (and often hilarious) conversation ab...
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Episode 294
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39:33
The Deadline Advantage: Less Stress, More Done
Episode 293: In this solo episode, Vonda steps in while Lori waits to see if she is selected for jury duty—and uses the moment to talk about something every florist (and human) deals with: deadlines. From pa...
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Episode 293
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20:57
From Castles to Conferences: Lessons from Abroad and AIFD
Episode 292: Lori returns from her unforgettable trip to Scotland and Ireland—packed with castles, cobblestone streets, walking tours, pub chats, and even an ancient gospel manuscript. She and Vonda reflect on the joy of cultural ex...
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Episode 292
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28:12
The Most Profitable Tool in Your Shop: It’s Not What You Sell
Episode 291: What’s the #1 factor influencing your flower shop’s success? Spoiler: it’s not your flowers. In this episode, Lori dives deep into why your team is the most powerful profit driver in your business. From the pow...
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Episode 291
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35:54
Quotes, Bugs & Big Truths: What’s Crawling Across Your Mind (and Legs)
Episode 290: Lori and Vonda kick off with a hilarious (and slightly traumatic) story that every light sleeper will understand—then dive into a list of powerful quotes that spark real conversation on growth, mindset, leadership, and control (or ...
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27:41
Make a Statement or Stay in the House: Marlin Hargrove’s Journey to Freelance Floral Designer, one of Laughter, Redemption, and Floral Passion
Episode 289: Recorded on Lori's birthday, Lori and Vonda are joined by the one and only Marlin Hargrove—freelance designer, industry educator, and master storyteller. What begins with bus-ride memories from a trip to Holland quickly...
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Episode 289
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57:50
Behind the Click: The Reality of Our Photo Shoots
Episode 288: In this honest and behind-the-scenes episode, Vonda, Lori, and Ellie unpack the highs, lows, and lessons from Flower Clique’s most ambitious photo shoot to date—capturing Fall, Christmas, and Valentine’s Day collections...
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Episode 288
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33:30
Behind the Scenes at SAF: A Conversation with Amanda Jedlinsky
Episode 287: Lori and Vonda sit down with Amanda Jedlinsky, Senior Director of Content and Communications at the Society of American Florists (SAF), for a fun and insightful conversation about team building, the power of in-person events...
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Episode 287
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34:45
Inside AIFD Symposium: What to Expect, Why It Matters & How It Inspires
Episode 286: Lori and Vonda sit down with floral industry leaders and AIFD past presidents Lori Novak and Frank Feysa to talk all things AIFD Symposium. From personal stories of their first experiences to the evolution of the event ...
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Episode 286
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33:42
Aloha & Business Wisdom: Monty Pereira of Watanabe Floral Shares Lessons in Leadership & Legacy
Episode 285: In this inspiring conversation, Lori and Vonda welcome Monty Pereira, General Manager of Watanabe Floral, Inc. in Honolulu, Hawaii. Monty shares his journey from CPA to floral industry leader and offers a behind-the-sce...
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Episode 285
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38:41
You've Got RAS! (Reticular Activating System), Summer Mindset, and TX State Floral Expo with Marissa Guerrero
Episode 284: Summer has officially begun, and we’re diving into everything from backyard baseball memories to how summer traffic and summer hours impact our daily lives. But beyond the nostalgia, we’re focusing on what’s truly important ...
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Episode 284
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36:45
Flower Clique's Summer of Petals, Plans & Productivity
Episode 283: Join Lori and Vonda as they dive into the highs and lows of this year’s Mother’s Day sales, share their thoughts on how technology is making us all a bit lazier (and maybe dumber!), and discuss their busy summer ahead. They ...
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Episode 283
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26:52
Too Many Words, Too Little Time: Reading, Retention & Real-Life Learning
Episode 282: In this episode, Vonda admits her struggle with staying focused (and awake) while reading—and Lori steps in with practical, real-life strategies and successes for actually remembering what you read. From turning cha...
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Episode 282
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24:46
Chimneys, Choices & Customer Care: Why Actions Speak Louder Than Smoke
Episode 281: What do the Pope, memory care planters, and your favorite steakhouse have in common? More than you think. In this episode, Lori and Vonda take a thoughtful (and often funny) dive into recent global events—the passing of Pope...
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Episode 281
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29:04