Flowers have always been a great way to celebrate special occasions. But maybe it’s time to think differently and not wait for a special occasion to send someone flowers.

This summer, as we delight in spending more time outdoors with family and friends, enjoying our summer vacations and the warm weather how about the idea of sending someone flowers as a goodwill gesture as continuation of a joyful summer. This idea is the basis for the 1-800-Flowers.com campaign ‘Summer of Smiles‘.

As the world’s leading floral & gift shop, 1-800-Flowers.com is once again launching its ‘Summer of Smiles‘ campaign, encouraging its customers across the nation to send someone they know a bright bouquet of summers flowers and gifts that will leave a smile on their face – no special occasion required.

The ‘Summer of Smiles’ campaign will have 1-800-Flowers.com team up with various celebrities and renowned personalities throughout the summer to surprise fans and deliver smiles to unsuspecting customers. 

To encourage as many people as possible to participate, 1-800-Flowers.com is hosting a ‘Summer of Smiles’ sweepstakes to reward those who know how to make someone smile. Starting July 1, 2010, customers can submit who they would like to send a smile and why and be entered for the chance to win the Happy Day Bouquet™.  No purchase necessary to enter or win.

For more information on the ‘Summer of Smiles’ sweepstakes visit www.1800flowers.com/smile.

Here a just a few of floral arrangements designed to celebrate the summer holidays:

Summer Rose Mix Bouquet– Bright orange, yellow and green colors radiate from this 18-stem bouquet that is bound to bring some extra sunshine to someone in your life

Berry Beautiful™ – A vibrant combination of carnations, roses, and daisy poms arranged in a hand-designed berry bowl is a reminder of summer fruits and the sweetness of the season

To view the full summer flower collection visit www.1800flowers.com.

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CEO Chris McCann of  1-800-flowers, made due on his promise to have  a bouquet designed after one his most passionate employees in one of their retail locations. Dee, the expert floral designer was honored with the ultimate tribute. 

After going undercover on the CBS hit show “Undercover Boss”, McCann sought to find out the reason why this particular store Dee worked in consistantly outperformed others.

He soon discovered that the secret to the stores success had nothing to do with the customers affinity to 1-800-flowers per se, but with the connection Dee developed with customers in addition to her attitude and passion as a florist.

In a show of gratitude McCann decided to have a bouquet designed after Dee called Dee’s Paradise.  

See Dee’s Paradise here

The floral arrangement features roses, Gerbera daisies, snapdragons, carnations, lilies, hypericum, button poms and seeded eucalyptus among other flowers for a beautiful arrangement. 

The Dee’s Paradise flowers at 1-800-Flowers come in a special olive green glass hurricane vase which stands about 8 inches in height. 

A portion of all proceeds from the sales of these arrangments will go to the “Certified Floral Designer” program which is a scholarship fund for aspiring florists.

You can also see the full episode of “Undercover Boss” featuring Dee’s Paradise and 1-800-Flowers in our previous post or go here.

Dee’s Paradise reflects the passion and dedication behind her job much like the dedication and passion exhibited by Mom’s everywhere who love and care for their children.

For Mother’s Day find a bouquet that represents your Mom’s passion and dedication and honor her, for the jobs she has done.

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September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and you can support CancerCare for kids buy buying, baking or sending cupcakes through www.cupcakesforacause.org.

In 2004 CancerCare launched its Cupcakes for a Cause program to provide free support services to children affected by cancer and their families with the help of a group of bakeries selling specialty decorated cupcakes.

Now a week long event bakeries around the country are selling their specialty cupcakes and donating a portion of sales to the CancerCare for Kids program. This event has had tremendous success but can always do better. The 2008 Cupcakes for a Cause campaign raised nearly $120,000 for CancerCare for Kids.

This year will mark the 6th Annual Cupcakes for a Cause™ Week which will be held September 21–27, 2009. The campaign has expanded to include participating BloomNet florists parent of 1-800-Flowers.com, who will be selling its signature Cupcake in Bloom™ arrangement and donating 10% of net proceeds from its sales. Click below to find out where you can buy cupcakes or the Cupcake in Bloom™ near you. Participating florists   

When you send a virtual cupcake through CupCakes for Cause 1-800-FLOWERS.COM® will donate $1 for each e-cupcake sent,up to a total of $5,000 USD, through 9/30/09. You can also support Cupcakes for a Cause online by shopping the exclusive 1-800-FLOWERS.COM® Cupcakes for a Cause collection from 9/1-9/30/09. 10% of net proceeds from select floral and edible cupcake products and 1-800-FLOWERS.COM best-sellers, benefit CancerCare for Kids.

The Retail Bakers of America (RBA) is also a proud supporter of Cupcakes for a Cause™

You may or may not be aware of the fact that the majority of the flowers we buy are imported from developing countries – in particular countries like Ecuador, Columbia and Kenya, who are crucial producers in the flower trade business.

Most of us aren’t aware of or perhaps care how some of the flowers we buy from these flower importers end up in our loves ones hands in the form of beautiful bouquets or table centerpieces for our homes and offices.  Yet some flower producing countries have been producing some of the best looking flowers at the expense of its workers.

“Although imported flowers are less expensive for American consumers, they come at a steep price for Colombian workers. Wages are below what is needed to support families, many workers are exposed to dangerous pesticides, and workers find it difficult to form independent labor unions…” as reported in an article in Food & Water Watch, a nonprofit consumer organization that works to ensure clean water and safe food. 

To combat unfair and abusive labor practices non profits such as TransFair USA with the Fair Trade Certified Labelling has been empowering communities by cultivating a more equitable global trade model that benefits farmers, workers, consumers, industry and the earth. They achieve their mission by certifying and promoting Fair Trade products.

In recent years Fair Trade Certified products have been gaining popularity amoung consumers in the U.S. for such products as coffee, tea, sugar, honey wine and flowers.

“The US market for Fair Trade products has surpassed $730 million and grows more than 50% each year… ” according to Trans Fair USA.

Fair Trade certification on flowers guarantees that growers meet strict social and environmental standards and that workers receive a premium to invest in community development. When you buy FTC flowers a portion of each purchase goes directly to a community development fund for projects that fund scholarships, housing, health clinics, and micro-enterprises.

Buying flowers that are Fair Trade certified means you can impact the lives of farmers and workers and change the world by promoting fair labor practices and helping build stronger communities.

You can buy Fair Trade Certified flowers from online flower retailers like 1-800-Flowers.com!, FTD, and Sam’s Club Online. You can also find Fair Tade Flowers at your neighborhood supermarket. Just luck for the label or ask for Fair Trade Certified flowers where you shop.