A Fresh and Modern Thanksgiving Table

As featured in the November 2014 issue of Inviting Arkansas

Long before the first appetizer is served, your tablecape sets the tone for the holiday meal. As we look forward to Thanksgiving, we are seeing several new dynamic trends in color and décor. Traditional is shifting to sophisticated. Rich crème and natural hues are replacing typical warm colors. Make a bold first impression with these ideas for centerpieces, dishes and more.  Read More A Fresh and Modern Thanksgiving Table

2014 Partners Card Event

Get 20% off storewide with your 2014 Partners Card!

We are a proud participant of the 2014 Partners Card event, beginning October 24 through Sunday, November 2. Show your card at any of our locations and receive 20% off storewide (some exclusions apply).

You can purchase your card at any Tipton & Hurst store, and 100% of the profit goes directly to the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute Auxiliary.

And don’t forget to pick up your spooky decorations! All Halloween decor is now 40% off.

4 Gift Ideas for National Bosses’ Day!

Thursday (October 16th) is National Bosses’ Day, which makes it the perfect opportunity to send your supervisor a gift from Tipton & Hurst! We specialize in exclusive, custom gifts and arrangements that will be sure to brighten anyone’s day. If you need assistance determining which present will suit your boss the best, don’t worry! We have fantastic collections for you to browse. Read More 4 Gift Ideas for National Bosses’ Day!

Tailgating Tips!

Looking to spruce up your tailgate for this year? Check out our article in the September edition of Inviting Arkansas! Our very own Chris Norwood designed a WONDERFUL tailgate area that not only looks good but it is functional as well!

 

Read the article here!

We’re headed out west!

TIPTON HURST EXPANDS WITH
NEW WEST LITTLE ROCK LOCATION

 

Little Rock, AR, 7.30.2014 – Tipton Hurst, Arkansas’ oldest and largest florist is expanding with a new  location in West Little Rock located within The Promenade at Chenal shopping center.

 

The new Tipton Hurst store will be located in the former Coldwater Creek space at the front of The Promenade main entrance.  The store is expected to open mid to late September 2014 and will offer a unique array of seasonal and holiday focused décor, floral arrangements, gifts and more. Special creative learning seminars will also be offered for the DIY customer later in the year.

“A seasonal Tipton Hurst location at The Promenade is a perfect addition just in time for our holiday shoppers. We are proud to have them join us for what we hope will be a very exciting end to 2014. ” Linda Hinton, General Manager, The Promenade at Chenal

Coldwater Creek vacated The Promenade at Chenal with the recent Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing of Coldwater Creek, Inc. that instituted the closure of all 365 stores in the company portfolio.

About Tipton Hurst

Since 1886, Tipton & Hurst has been constantly evolving, innovating, and raising our own expectations, all with the goal of satisfying yours. Tipton & Hurst was built on a foundation of family — meaning we put our name on everything we do. With that in mind, we work to make sure that every plant, every flower, every gift, and every interaction meet the Tipton & Hurst standard of excellence.

With an award-winning team and vast resources that include our own wholesale warehouse and a network of the premier suppliers around the world, Tipton & Hurst continues to work hard to make sure that you, your friends and your family always get our best.

About The Promenade at Chenal

The Promenade at Chenal is a 303,000 square-foot open-air lifestyle center located in the Chenal Valley Neighborhood of west Little Rock, Arkansas. The shopping center is home to a variety of upscale national, regional and local merchants, many of which are first or only to the market, such as Apple, Anthropologie, Nike Factory Store and J Crew. In addition to the shopping, visitors will find an array of dining and entertainment options, including the Chenal 9 Theatres with IMAX.

Best of Arkansas Life

Best of ARLTipton Hurst is proud to announce that we have been named “Best Florist” by Arkansas Life Magazine! It is such an honor to be recognized be such a great publication, but it would not be possible without  y’all. Our customers are the backbone of our business, that’s why our motto is “satisfaction guaranteed since 1886″. ” Our customers deserve a HUGE thank you” said President and 3rd generation owner Howard Hurst and we could not agree more! Thank you for all of your continued support and for voting us “Best Florist” in Arkansas Life magazine.

Jenny Harper | Little Rock Wedding

Winner of “Best Overall Wedding Decor” in Arkansas Bride
Jenny Harper, originally from Oakdale, La., met the man of her dreams, Adam Dunaway (you might know him as Pool Boy on Alice 107.7 FM) of Little Rock, while volunteering for the Children’s Protection Center; she just didn’t know it yet. It took a lot of Adam asking and a lot of Jenny rejecting before she finally agreed to go on a date with him.

Fast forward to Jenny and Adam on the beach with his family. When he asked her to go for a walk on the beach, she had no idea that he was about to pop the question, or that her family was in a condo a few blocks away, waiting to celebrate the wonderful news together.

jenny-harper-adam-dunaway-312

The Palm Springs flavor of the Dunaway wedding is clear from the first stunning glance. Jenny looked to the garden ambiance of the Viceroy Hotel as a touchstone, as well as Jil Sander’s spring runway for luscious florals.

CN0079

Personal and unique touches reigned supreme with Jenny. She scoured places like vintage stores and Craigslist for much of the décor. Acrylic boxes meant for displaying dolls were filled with flowers, and they made tiny disco ball drink stirrers to match the giant ones over the dance floor.

jenny-harper-adam-dunaway-532

See the full feature on Arkansas Bride here.

 

Little Rock Flower Delivery

Google Economic Impact 2014

Each Year Google selects one business and one city from every state to feature in their Economic Impact Report. This year, Tipton Hurst is proud to announce that we were selected to represent the state of Arkansas. We are more than honored to have such a company recognize our online marketing and e-commerce efforts.

Google came into our store in May to take pictures and interview President and CEO, Howard Hurst about his use of Google within his business and the efforts of his staff to create Tipton Hurst’s online presence. While in the interview Howard said  “[The Internet] is how people find you today, whether they’re on the next block or overseas”  and  “People will email us or contact us and say, ‘I’m overseas,’ even service members in Iraq and Afghanistan. We get them emailing us and saying, ‘Hey, I found you online and I’m looking at your website.” How awesome is that?! With the help of Google and the internet a local business is able to send flowers around the world! 

Our customers deserve a HUGE thank you for all of your loyalty and support. Without you all there would be no marketing, no e-commerce and no Tipton Hurst.  We know that you have a choice when sending flowers and we are so thankful that you place your trust in us to handle all of your floral needs.

 

You can read the full story on Tipton Hurst and view the Economic Report Below.

 

ei-report-2013-ar-page-001

 

 

 

Anniversary Sale

Family owned and operated since 1886, Tipton Hurst has spent more than a century working toward delivering customer service that exceeds customer expectations. With every sale, every customer interaction, and every plant, flower or gift that leaves our store, our goal has always been perfection. Because at Tipton & Hurst, we understand your satisfaction is vital to our success!

This month marks 128 wonderful years of service to central Arkansas and our customers around the world! We at Tipton Hurst view being the area’s oldest florist as an honor and we are excited about what the coming years will bring! We are so excited, in fact, that we had to celebrate with our customers. So, starting this month come in to any Tipton Hurst location and receive up to 90% off on select home decor, mesh, wire frames and silks. Come see us and take advantage of these great savings!

 

 

National Rose Month!

Did you know that  June is national rose month?

In fact, in 1986 President Ronald Reagan signed a resolution making the rose the national floral emblem. As a part of that resolution President Reagan said “Americans have always loved the flowers with which God decorates our land. More often than any other flower, we hold the rose dear as the symbol of life and love and devotion, of beauty and eternity.  For the love of man and woman, for the love of mankind and God, for the love of country, Americans who would speak the language of the heart do so with a rose.”  With that said, Americans have communicated feelings via roses for a number of years. However, did you know that different colors of roses mean different things?  Here are just a few:

Red : Love, Beauty, Courage and Respect

White: Purity and Innocence

Pink : Appreciation, “Thank You” and Admiration

Yellow: Joy, Gladness and Friendship

Yellow with Red Tips: Falling in Love

Orange: Desire, Enthusiasm

Peach: Appreciation, Sincerity and Gratitude, Closing The Deal

Lavender: Love at first sight

Could you imagine showing up to a final business meeting with lavender roses instead of peach roses? That would just be awful.

So once you’ve bought the correct roses, how do you arrange them?

Look no further, our own Chris Norwood was on television this past week giving advice. Check it out!

 


The Top 5 Mother’s Day Gifts

On Sunday, May 11, more phone calls will be made than on any day of the year. In the days both prior and after, hand-written cards will zoom across the nation to land in mail boxes at childhood homes. And flowers galore will travel from florist to doorstep, bringing smiles to the faces of mothers everywhere.

This year marks the centennial anniversary of when President Woodrow Wilson signed a measure officially establishing the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day. While this holiday had been celebrated long before 1914, it serves a national recognition of how important our mothers are to us.

Are you prepared to show how important your mother is to you? This year, give more than a phone call. Below, we have the topMother's Day Gifts 5 Mother’s Day gifts. While your voice and presence is sure to be enough for your mother, it never hurts to send her a beautiful surprise in the days leading up to Mother’s Day, just something to say “Thank you for everything.”

1. The Morning Sunshine 

A perfect gift for the woman who motivated you out of bed every morning for school, the Morning Sunshine arrangement is a stunning bouquet of yellow roses, blue hydrangeas and white stock held in a blue glass vase. And with a hand-written note saying thanks for all those morning wake-up calls, it’s sure to add brightness to her home and a smile to her face. And when you order the $99 arrangement from Tipton & Hurst, get it $20 when you use promo code MD14.

2. Bold ‘N BeautifulScreen Shot 2014-05-01 at 8.28.19 AM

Is there a better way to describe moms? For the woman who can easily shift between sophisticated hostess to mama grizzly bear protecting her cubs, get her a bouquet of flowers that perfectly matches her personality. The Bold ‘N Beautiful bouquet holds a stunning collection of colorful gerber daisies,  red roses, lilies and stock in a glass cube vase. It’s like bringing an elegant explosion of color that will undoubtedly make this Mother’s Day one to remember.

3. European Garden Basket

Screen Shot 2014-04-28 at 5.03.04 PMMother’s Day comes at the most beautiful time of the year. Spring has been busy blooming and summer’s heat hasn’t gotten a hold of the outdoors yet, so nature is all pretty pastels, verdant green and huge blossoms. For this Mother’s Day, bring your mom a piece of that beauty with blooming plants she can keep long past May 11. You can have the blooms delivered in a garden basket in an assortment of brilliant colors, bringing the best of the season to your mother’s home.

4. Scents Baskets

Is your mother something of a smell freak? Is she into gifts she can really use? She may love Screen Shot 2014-05-01 at 9.10.50 AMflowers, but when it comes to scent products, there’s along list of gifts you can choose from. If that’s the case, then go with a gift basket overflowing with sweet and soothing scents. If she’s looking to aromatize her home, get her a candle collection basket. If she wants to aromatize her style, send her a Rose Water basket. Or go with Sorbet by Aromatique basket, a dreamy assortment of candles, fragrance sprays, votives, diffuser oils and potpourri. Regardless of which you choose, any of these baskets will be sure to lift her senses and her spirit.

5.  Orchids

Orchids symbolize perfection, because of their symmetry and the straight lines of their petals.
Screen Shot 2014-04-28 at 5.12.00 PM
During the Victorian era, orchids were considered a luxurious gift, since they could only be grown in the Tropics. And in Japan, orchids were treasured by the royalty and seen as a
symbol of wealth. So can you think of a better gift to give you mother? Get her a double stemmed phalaenopsis orchid with air plants, set in a ceramic container, showing just how special and perfect she is to you.

We know Mother’s Day is more than a holiday, it’s a day of saying “Thank you” and “I love you” and “I wouldn’t be here at all without you.” So we ensure every gift we design and deliver receives a motherly dose of care and attention. Any of the gifts listed above can be bought at Tipton & Hurst’s locations or online. And if you live in Arkansas but your mother lives far away, we won’t charge you the extra wire fee for delivery (use promo code FREEWIRE at checkout). We’ll still make sure she feels your love even from afar.

See what else we have in store! Peruse our Mother’s Day Collection today.

 

 

How To Send Funeral Flowers

It is not easy to experience a loss. Even if the deceased was not of direct relative of yours, but a friend, it is still a difficult time. There is usually uncertainty of what to say or do when someone you know experiences the passing of a loved one. You want to show them you care and are thinking of them, but at the same time, you want to give them space to breathe. It is always important to show support and encouragement during this time and flowers express your sympathy beautifully.

But what are the rules for sending funeral flowers? Is there a proper etiquette you should be aware of when it comes to what types of flowers to send and when to send them? And what about instances where the deceased is cremated?

If you’ve found yourself asking those questions, you’re in the right place.

The Personal Touch

To start off, when it comes to sending floral arrangements, always add a personal touch. When you send flowers, be sure to send a short note expressing sympathy and support. They don’t have to be long letters, just something as short and sweet as “Thinking of you during this hard time,” is enough. It depends on how well you know the deceased’s loved ones. It is always best to attend the funeral if you can. Many funerals are private matters for the family and close relatives, but there will often be memorials or viewings of the body for more people to pay their respect. It is always good to appear at these times, even if you already sent flowers. A personal touch provides warmth and encouragement to the family, enhancing the gift you send.

What Kind of Funeral Flowers Do I Send 

When it comes to picking the type of flower arrangement to send, get an arrangement that matches the deceased’s personality. Feel free to be creative and let the flowers stand out by including the deceased’s favorite flower, favorite color or photos and ornaments. Tipton & Hurst can add ribbons with the deceased’s name or relation to you (such as “friend,” “mentor,” “uncle”, it makes a nice touch). You can plan it out together with your floral designer if you’re unsure how it should look. It shows you went the extra step for the family. But don’t feel obligated to personalize it if you did not know the deceased very well. Traditional arrangements include roses both red and white, sprays you can lay on the coffin and standing sprays that can be arranged around the coffin.

As for what kind of color of flower to send, like we mentioned before, it is creative to incorporate the deceased’s favorite color or something that matches his or her personality. However, if you didn’t know the deceased well enough, you might be hesitant about what kind of colors to send. Colors convey messages all on their own. White communicates tranquility, serenity and purity. They also evoke strong senses of humility, reverence and modesty, always a classical choice. Pink is more of a feminine color that signifies grace and gentility.  Yellow is a strong symbol of friendship and caring, and communicates hope. It is all right to send red roses as well; red captures the essence of strength and courage (they’re not just for Valentine’s Day).

Where and When to Send the Flowers

It is acceptable to send flowers as soon as you learn of the death. Sometimes you learn the same day as the deceased passes, sometimes you don’t learn until after the funeral. Even if you do learn of the death after the funeral, it’s still perfectly fine to send flowers to the family’s home. There are no set rules for whether to send your flowers to the family’s house or the funeral home. Flowers in the home are good reminders to the family that others are thinking about them during their time of grieving. If you decide to send to a funeral home, check with the funeral home to see what kinds of vases they take. Some do not take glass vases, as they are likely to shatter when dropped. Most funeral homes recommend that flower shops have the flowers delivered two hours prior to the service. Please, keep this in mind for orders that are delivered to the funeral home.

Can I Still Send Flowers When I See “In Lieu Of”?

If the deceased’s family requests in the death notice a charitable donation or “In Lieu Of”, it is still acceptable to send flowers. It is also advisable to make a donation or follow whatever the “In Lieu Of” states, but do not feel guilty for sending flowers as well. They still express support and sympathy during this tough time. And it shows the family you went the extra step as well.

What About Cremations?

We definitely still encourage you to send flowers to funeral ceremonies where the deceased was cremated. You can send flowers to the family’s house or the venue where the ceremony will be held. Treat it like you would a traditional funeral.

Feel free to reach out to us if you have questions or concerns about what kind of flowers to send. We can help you decide which way is best for expressing your support and provide our experience in what to communicate.

Five Tips For Selecting the Perfect Prom Corsage & Boutonniere

Prom season is upon us. Mark your calendar. Grab your tickets. Gas up the limo. Schedule the hair stylist. Find the perfect shoes. Call in dinner reservations. Make sure you have a date.

And don’t forget the corsage and boutonniere.

Prom has become a massive part of American culture — a rite of passage, almost. There are so many things to consider and plan for: shopping for that one-of-a-kind dress, tux fitting, saving up for the limo, making dinner reservations, telling all of your friends where to meet. It’s so exciting, and yet hectic, it’s easy to forget about one of the most traditional and classic parts: your corsage and boutonniere.

Make no mistake; those two little flower arrangements you wear to prom have been around a whole lot longer than prom itself. The Ancient Greeks used to wear them to ward off evil spirits. As it relates to prom, the tradition began when men picked up their dates for the evening. Each man would have a bouquet they would present their date with, then take a blossom from the bouquet and pin it to her dress around the bodice or on the shoulder. As dress styles have shifted in the past years, moving toward strapless and spaghetti straps, the corsages are now more commonly worn on the wrist.

For those who are first-time prom attendees, corsages might be a little confusing. What color do you go with? How much should you pay? Who pays for it? And when should you get it?

Here are some tips from the florist experts themselves:

What do corsages cost? And who pays?

Generally, corsages can run more than $25. The price increases if the corsage requires customization and add-ons. The rule of thumb for purchasing a corsage is to expect to pay 10 percent of the dress’s cost. It is traditional for the male date to purchase the corsage and the female date to purchase the boutonniere. That being said, the female typically still picks out the corsage and boutonniere designs to ensure they match each other and your outfits.

What color or type of corsage should I get?

Nowadays, modern corsages come in an amazing variety of styles. The color of your corsage should match the color of the dress or contrast the outfit. Rather it should enhance the outfit. That being said, choosing the color is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to your corsage. The first thing to do is select how you will wear the corsage (read further down for traditional styles for corsage-wear), is to pick out the pin or ribbon. At Tipton & Hurst, we have a whole wall dedicated to ribbons and bracelets in dozens of different styles, from silver chains that wrap around your wrist to gold bracelets encrusted with jewels. The variety is almost limitless. Once you have the flower and pin/bracelet/ribbon chosen, you can also add on accessories, such as small sprays, jewels, feathers, bows and so much more. While corsages may have been simplistic in the past, it’s definitely now in style to go flashy and big. No matter what your style, whether you’re into Great Gatsby classic or big purple everything, Tipton & Hurst can help you find the design perfect for you.

When should I start shopping? When should I pick up the corsage?

As mentioned before it’s important to have your dressed picked out before you decide on your corsage, since the flower arrangement will be complimenting the dress. It’s good to start shopping early, but don’t worry about going months early. It’s best to order your corsage at least a week before your prom night. Especially if you have a customized corsage, you’ll want to give the florist plenty of time to make it. As for picking up the corsage, this will occur the day of prom since it a live flower arrangement and you want it to be fresh.

Do I have to wear it on my wrist?

With today’s fashions, it’s most common to see corsages worn on the wrist. However, it’s not your only option. They can be worn in a variety of ways; it depends on what looks best with your dress. The most traditional way to wear a corsage is actually on the bodice of your dress close to your shoulder, but you’ll only want this if your dress has sleeves. There are also corsages that you can pin to your hair. However, this depends on the style of your hair. If you do wear a hair corsage, be sure to let your hairstylist know before he or she starts to style your hair. Another option is a clutch corsage. This is for those who don’t want to wear flowers, but still want to be in on the tradition. There are corsages you can pin to your clutch or purse. It’s definitely different, but still adds a touch of panache. If you do decide to not go with a wrist corsage, you can still add accessories and extra flair regardless of where you place it. Tipton & Hurst has several gorgeous pins that are noticeable and make a great statement.

What about the boutonniere?

Boutonnieres are similar to the corsage in color and style and are worn by the male date. While the color and flower of the boutonniere matches the corsage, the boutonniere is much more simple and usually only has one flower. They are pinned to his jacket’s left lapel just above the heart with the stem facing down and flower facing up. They should be ordered and picked up at the same time as the corsage.

It’s always a good idea to talk to your florist about your corsage. Be sure to come by Tipton & Hurst this prom season to visit our corsage bar, where you can hands-on design your own unique corsage and boutonniere.

Check out Chris Norwood’s TV appearances to learn more about the latest trends for Prom this year.