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Choosing Silk Flowers That Impress
As a floral professional, you know that permanent botanicals create new opportunities and allow for more creativity. Some are indistinguishable from fresh blooms, allowing you to create arrangements that are both breathtaking and long-lasting. Others take artistic license, featuring colors not found in nature but adding a desirable element to your art.
However, with the variety of suppliers of permanent botanicals available today, have you truly considered the steps to choosing high-quality silk flowers or artificial foliage to ensure that your work stands apart?
Tom Bowling, AIFD, PFCI recently said, “Understanding silk flowers’ features and benefits gives you more tools in your toolbox.” Does your buying team know what features and benefits to look for?
In this video, David Botchick, the owner of Pioneer Imports & Wholesale with 47 years of experience in the silk floral industry, breaks down the steps of choosing the best permanent botanicals for your business. His first piece of advice? You look at it! Does it look good to you? If not, move on! If it does, examine it more closely.
Beyond initial appeal, apply the checklist below:
What Creates Realism?
Petal Texture:
High-quality silk flowers have petals that mimic the natural feel of real flowers.
Get to know the materials: Silk doesn’t actually mean silk. Do you know the different fabrics used? Check out this guide to understand the materials being used in manufacturing today.
Layers of Petals:
The flower heads should have many layers and detail, which combine to create a more realistic-looking product.
Minimal fraying on petal edges are key indicators of quality.
Color Accuracy:
The colors should be lifelike, even if they are not botanically correct.
Leaf Detail:
Foliage should have realistic veins, textures, and colors. Florists shouldn’t worry about customers seeing the backside; since these are three-dimensional art supplies, all angles should look good.
Blended Colors:
The flower should not look like it was dunked in dye. Instead, look for soft, subtle variations in color and texture.
Shape and Size:
Look for flowers that have natural shapes and proportions.
What Makes Silk Flowers Stand Out for Professional Use?
- Stems: Choose flowers with sturdy wire stems that can be easily shaped and bent. The stems should feel strong, be malleable, and hold their shape once formed.
- Foliage: Ensure that the foliage is securely attached and does not come off easily.
- Overall Craftsmanship: Check for loose petals or leaves, uneven stitching, or other signs of poor quality.
Shopping Tips:
Watch the Size:
Keep your measuring tape handy and carefully examine the product details listed on the supplier’s website. Pay attention to the head diameter and stem length. To help you visualize sizes, here are some common references: a quarter is about 1 inch across, a golf ball is roughly 1.5 inches in diameter, a baseball is approximately 3 inches in diameter, and a typical cell phone is about 3 inches wide and 6 inches long.
Zoom In:
A website’s ability to zoom in on images, view photos of items in use, watch videos, and see finished collections helps you understand what you’re getting. Every detail matters when shopping online.
Watch the Stem Count:
"Shrinkflation" is a real concern, especially outside of trusted industry partners, such as with mass market sellers. This means suppliers are reducing the size or quantity of their products while keeping the price the same or raising it slightly. Don’t pay more for less. Ensure the catalog or website you are shopping from provides stem counts for bushes, and be sure that you are comparing apples to apples.
Read the Details:
A professional supplier will provide extensive details regarding size and materials. Take the time to read them! Pay attention to whether your supplier is transparent with the details that you need to make an informed decision. Transparency builds trust.
Look at the big picture: Cell phones have become such a part of us that they might as well be attached to our arms! But when you are shopping online for products for your business, you can make a much better decision if you see the product on a larger screen and really keep zooming into the photos.
Buy a Sample: When color match is critical, purchase a sample. Even with suppliers' best efforts to provide accurate color representation in their photos, colors may appear differently on your phone screen or computer monitor. To ensure the most accurate color match, obtain samples of a few color options.
Make Silk Flowers Profitable:
Cost of Goods x Labor x Longevity: With permanent botanical products, the value extends beyond just the stem. Consider how you can streamline your labor, design ahead of time, rent and reuse arrangements, and more when you invest in high-quality, durable designs.
Buy Bushes: Multi-stem bushes allow you to create many arrangements for less money than single stems and also ship and store more efficiently.
Buy the right product for the right application: Consider where the product will be used to determine whether a value-priced option will suffice or if a premium product is necessary. If arrangements are hanging from the ceiling and are not touched, a value-priced option can often achieve the desired look. However, if your customer will be handling the product, opt for a premium option. Professional suppliers like Pioneer offer both premium and value-priced choices to accommodate different applications.
“We know that every stem counts,” concluded Botchick. “Every dollar invested in supplies is a calculated risk. We make sure that our silks deliver on both quality and cost.”
If you have any questions about buying, using, or marketing silk flowers, turn to the experts. Pioneer Imports & Wholesale, located in the United States, operates a 24,000-square-foot warehouse full of merchandise. You can ask questions, order individual pieces, and discuss your needs. While their website offers easy shopping with over 3,000 products, virtual sample room visits provide a personalized experience for anyone, anywhere. Family-owned by the original founders for 47 years, they ensure that their products meet the needs of floral designers. They can truly be your partner for silk florals.