Behind the Blooms
Thursday, August 30, 2012

Tiger Lily goes Legally Blonde


Legally Blonde, the musical, is coming to Charleston Stage and Tiger Lily is glad to contribute to the production! In keeping with the musical, sassy and pink is the theme for the opening night Directors Circle party. Manny and Clara will be there and are looking forward to talking with all the great Directors Circle people who support local theater and everyone who has worked so hard to make the show a success. Our creative designers are beautifying the space with luscious pieces Elle Woods would surely approve of.
 
One of the centerpieces being worked on for the party


Vanessa Moyen and La Mein as Elle Woods and Bruiser!

 If you liked the movie, the Legally Blonde musical is right up your alley. Opening night is tomorrow, the 31st and the show will be playing until Sunday, September 23rd. Get your tickets before they sell out and find out more about the musical at http://www.charlestonstage.com/shows-and-tickets/the-shows/28-legally-blonde-the-musical.html

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Posted by Manny Gonzales
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It's a Small Town After All
Monday, July 9, 2012

Charleston is a bustling, growing city, but at its heart it's still just a small southern town, and we love it!  The picture you see here was taken about 15 years ago at our very first store front on King Street. The little girl with the bright smile is the daughter of our driver, Bennie.  We didn't even know Bennie at the time.  He just happened to snap this pic years ago while they were on a walk.  
Bennie's daughter is now grown and living in Atlanta, Georgia and is a student at Clark Atlanta University.  Tiger Lily has grown too, from a small shop on King Street to the largest florist in South Carolina.  Likewise, the city of Charleston has grown and flourished into a dynamic and culturally rich utopia. It was voted as the #3  best city in the world to visit by CNNGO.com in 2011, it is one of the top wedding destinations in the U.S., and ranks amongst the top 5 Best Places for a Job by Forbes in 2012. With all the recognition Charleston has received, it is very easy to forget that at the heart of all the accolades, is a charming small town that stays humble.

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Posted by Manny Gonzales
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Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Tiger Lily Goes Global


It's a destination wedding! On May 20th lovely couple India and Matt will wed on the picturesque Paradisus Punta Cana resort in the Dominican Republic. Below is a picture of the resort, just look how blue that water is! Our wedding planner extraordinaire, Lindsey, will accompany the couple to make sure everything runs smoothly and India, Matt, family, and friends can relax and enjoy the three day event which will include plenty of salsa dancing and beach lounging.

http://www.paradisus-puntacana.com/photo-gallery.php#

Though the wedding takes place a little further from home, as always, local businesses were heavily used in the planning. Local paper goods and accessories boutique, mac & murphy, designed the custom wedding invitations, pictures to come!

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Posted by Manny Gonzales
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Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Finding Inspiration Through Client J. Herman Blake



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Don Rothman (left) and J. Herman Blake (right), image found on http://news.ucsc.edu/2012/04/herman-blake-don-rothman-2012.html
At Tiger Lily our goal is to be the Best In Charleston every day.   We definitely have The Best Customer's in Charleston!  We have a parade of great folks walking into our shops.  Some are well-know celebrities, some are under the radar, all are awesome.  We often find inspiration in our customers and their stories, but were particularly moved when MUSC professor J. Herman Blake (above, right) came in for a boutonniere last year. 

It was a Tuesday morning, a strange time for a boutonniere.  "Is it for a special occasion?" I asked.  He explained that he is a professor at MUSC, and wears a boutonniere everytime he makes a presentation.  He vaguely said that he does it as a salute to someone he admires.  He pinned it on and, you know, it really did add that special zing to his whole persona.
Since then, Dr. Blake comes in often for a boutonniere.  He gets the best rose we have, often in a unique color.  We have a brief conversation, and he always give me some things to think about.  He's just a real smart person with a wealth of life experiences.  Above all, he's an optimist with a natural ability to inspire.

Recently Dr. Blake mentioned he was on the west coast for a little presentation.  I could tell there was more to the story, asked him for more information.  He forwarded this link.  After doing a little research on the professor we discovered he has inspired many, many people over the years.  In the presentation above, several audience members were moved to tears when relaying what Dr. Blake meant to them.  Please click on the link  for an inspiring perspective of a man we are proud to call a customer and a friend.  You'll also discover just why Dr Blake wears a boutonniere.  Dr. Blake is the real deal. http://news.ucsc.edu/2012/04/herman-blake-don-rothman-2012.html.

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Posted by Manny Gonzales
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Monday, May 14, 2012

Mother's Day 2012

For the largest florist in South Carolina, Mother's day is no small affair! With an array of special Mother's Day arrangements on our floral menu and custom orders, the team had  their work cut out for them. We are happy to say Mother's Day was a success, with hundreds of bouquets delivered to Mom's all over the Charleston area.


Floral Designer, Beth, hard at work on a custom arrangement

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Posted by Manny Gonzales
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When Google Called Us...I Thought It Was A Joke
Monday, May 7, 2012

When Google called us...I thought it was a joke.  They called from San Francisco and said something like, "We've been following Tiger Lily, and the way you use Google business apps, and would like to shoot a video of your story."  I responded with "Listen, we're really busy, so if this is scam or advertising pitch, your'e wasting your time". 
Well, it was legit, and Google sent a production team of 11 people down from Boston for 4 days.  Cameras, lighting, boom mics, even make-up! We told our Google Business Apps story, and it was then that I realized how much Google Business Apps is part of our daily operation.  Everything from emails to schedules to daily reports are all driven by Google Business Apps, often times remotely!  Most importantly, we SHARE that info in real time with our key staff members.  Now all of our goals are top of mind for the entire staff, as well as the results.  And the results have been amazing.  By following sound business principles, we're having a great year.  But it's Google Business Apps that makes following those principles so much easier! 
People often say "It must be a blast working with flowers all day."  Clara and I do feel we have a great profession, but the flowers are just part of it.  It's where the "art" of flower design meets the "business" of  ownership that makes it a blast.  Like we often say, "I'ts never been easy but its mostly been fun."  Being part of Google's Business Apps story has certainly been a blast!

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Posted by Manny Gonzales
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Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Tiger Lily Partners with Charleston Center for Women

Tiger Lily is proud to partner with the Charleston Center for Women, in honor of Mother's Day, on the 12th. This year, when you order the "Charleston Center for Women" arrangement for your mom, $10 will be donated to the center. This elegant arrangement incorporates casablanca lilies, lavender roses, and lisianthus.

The Charleston Center for Women is a nonprofit organization working in the lowcountry helping women build success in their personal and professional lives. The Charleston Center for Women coordinates events and works closely with organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, My Sister's House, Darkness to Light, Carolina Youth Development Center, and more. You can find out more about The Charleston Center for Women and the Mother's Day Special event at http://www.c4women.org/enews_120501.html.

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Posted by Manny Gonzales
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Find Tiger Lily On Pinterest


As Pinterest has grown in popularity over the past year, for many it has provided the perfect place to find ideas and inspiration in fashion, DIY, wedding planning, home decor and more. We began using Pinterest over a year ago. For us, it has given a way to easily share pictures of the work we have created here in Charleston. Have a look at our wedding and floral boards at http://pinterest.com/tigerlilyweds/ , and if a walk down the isle is in your near future you can get a full dose of inspiration from our wedding gallery at http://www.tigerlilyweddings.com/

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Posted by Manny Gonzales
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Monday, April 30, 2012

We'd like to start the week off here at Tiger Lily by presenting our new advertisement running in the latest issues of Charleston Weddings Magazine and The Charleston Visitors Bureau Wedding Guide. Charleston Weddings Magazine is the go-to for wedding design inspiration and the CVB's Charleston Wedding Guide provides a directory of all the venues and professional services to make any special occasion perfect.

We are also pleased to be on the cover of Charleston Wedding Guide for a second time. Check out their website: http://www.charlestonweddingguide.com/

Charleston Weddings Magazine can be found at: http://www.charlestonmag.com/weddings/main and for extra inspiration here's a Tiger Lily feature: http://www.charlestonmag.com/weddings/feature/a_rose_by_any_other_name

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Posted by Manny Gonzales
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Tiger Lily helps with Charleston Nine Memorial
Thursday, June 19, 2008



June 18, 2007 was a tragic day in Charleston, as nine of our City firefighters perished in a fire. Our entire community grieved the loss, and emphathized with the families. Yesterday marked the one year anniversary of the tragedy. Tiger Lily was proud to be asked to provide the flowers and plants for the event.

Two Tiger Lily employees are full-time City of Charleston firemen. The wreath on the left was for the Uncle of one of them. We could say the event touched us especially close, but Charleston is still a small town. It affected everyone "especially close". The memorial service was a chance to express our feelings of loss.

There was an AM public memorial at the Galliard. We provided the plants and the three stage arrangements for that, but didn't have the chance to take any pics. You could see glimpses of them in today's Post & Courier.

Last evening, at the same time of the actual fire last year, a private memorial was held for the families of the victims and fellow firemen. We donated a wreath for each firefighter who perished. As you can see, we didn't hold back on the design. Tiger Lily designer Wendy Long created all the arrangements. It took her the entire day, but they looked spectacular. Hydrangeas, lillies, roses and more. No greens, no fillers, no carnations, no shortcuts. The City provided the plaques, which the families will keep forever.

The private memorial was not open to the media. Each wreath was placed at the exact location where the firemen were found. We are proud of the designs, but we hope we never, ever have to do that again. It's always been my opinion that firemen, police, and teachers should be considered heroes, everyday. I couldn't do any of those jobs. Thank goodness they step up and do! A very sad day in Charleston.

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Posted by Manny Gonzales
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The Beginning
Monday, June 9, 2008
Welcome to the first entry into our blog! Our goal is give you a glimpse of what happens behind the scenes at Tiger Lily.
Most folks say "It must be fun to play with flowers all day, so relaxing and nurturing for your soul" and stuff like that. Hey, our entire staff loves being around flowers all day. We always appreciate the beauty that surrounds us. But make no mistake, Tiger Lily rocks and rolls. Imagine being in the kitchen of a busy 5-Star restaurant! Deliveries coming and going, appointments, 5 delivery vehicles in constant rotation, phone calls, photo shoots, interviews, beach weddings, whew! And that's a "typical" day!

Over time, we hope to convey what it's like to be part of Tiger Lily. We'll be posting a couple times a week what's happening, including photos, stories, challenges and hopefully solutions. In short, what goes on "Behind the Blooms".

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Posted by Manny Gonzales
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