Should you take your impudent flower show on the road ?
Oasis ask the owners of three hand truck — a florist at a family garden nitty-gritty , a large metropolis enterpriser and a rural duo with a sister and toddler — for their experiences and insights .
Like food trucks , peak truck draw crew at festival , parties , weddings , shopping nub and community events , delivering fresh flower hands - on experiences .
With a encouragement from social media , these mobile merchants get to flower shoppers who bask a impertinent experience as much as purchase a ware . By choose vintage vehicles , some also add exposure - worthy cachet to their firebrand .
A home affair : Graf ’s Flower Truck“With a flower hand truck we can reach out people where they are , ” explains Karlie Graf of Graf ’s Flower Truck in Akron , Ohio . “ At fleas , a craft show or local outcome shoppers are more potential to stop by a motortruck than chatter a storage . ”
For Karlie , flowers are a household affair go out back to 1910 and her great - granddaddy ’s farm . 100 descendants later , Karlie work alongside her dad , aunt and uncle at the garden center .
In July , 2018 , they added a bloom truck nominate Gladys .
The Ohio motortruck time of year is from mid - June through October . High tunnel greenhouse facilitate unfold the growing time of year . “ Our goal is to extend the sell season to March or April by 2020 , ” Karlie explain .
sell from a blossom bar“Working from a flower hand truck is the same as a shop , but in a smaller infinite , ” say Karlie .
flush are picked and process the Clarence Shepard Day Jr. before an event . Eight to ten buckets of flower stanch are choose for the blossom saloon along with ten buckets of pre - made peak bundles .
“ Our most pop item is lisianthus , but we ’re also know for our dahlias , zinnias and sunflowers . ” bouquet account for 90 percent of sales . A efflorescence food packet is give with each posy .
“ We spring up a lot of our own woodies like winterberry , curly willow and red twig dogwood tree , that are democratic , too , ” say Karlie . plant , succulents and sign of the zodiac plant sell well from the truck and workshop at the store .
hired man - on classes teach the enjoyment of floral foam , wreath , container , tapes and adhesives and tools .
“ We deal the Graf account in our store , online and with shop attendees , ” says Karlie . “ We print posters , tonne - shirts and put up a weekly handout to encourage our stock and motortruck events . ”
JJ ’s Flower TruckAtlanta resident Sarah Rice started front for a new hobby or side lance in July , 2018 . “ I want to do something I would love and blossom sounded fun . ”
She was n’t ready to open up a brick and mortar flower store . She began her enquiry , took floral classes , looked into license and started seek for a truck .
In August , she turn up a 1968 VW Transporter in Beverly Hills , California . She had it inspected by a local automobile mechanic and transported to Georgia . Her pappa tag the 51 - year - old fomite “ Bev ” .
Sarah named her bud byplay JJ ’s after her sidekick and favorite pup , Jaxon Jones .
Bev arrived with a metal anatomical structure and canvas canopy . After wooden shelving and a logo were tally , the 26 - bucket peak motortruck went on the road in September .
Build - your - own - bouquet job modelAbout 90 percentage of the business involves customers building their own bouquets , with Sarah giving figure tips as needed . bloom are priced per stem .
She often project sweetness for customers , particularly men . Pre - made bouquets are also available .
About half of JJ ’s events are privately hosted ; the relief are public event . Some are by invitation , others by permission .
Sarah finds that customers outside the city prefer traditional flower like rosebush and sunflowers . Inside the city a wildflower face is more popular . She adjust her selection and price to the location and character of issue .
“ I have n’t pay for any marketing , ” aver Sarah . “ The line markets itself . People sleep together to take photos and deal them on social medium . ”
learn more at Floriology ( Sharon McGukin )
