The Business & Pleasure of Flowers
Join Vonda LaFever and Lori Wilson as they share expert advice, insider tips, and a whole lot of fun on all things floral. While everyone loves flowers, running a floral business can come with its fair share of challenges that might make you lose sight of the joy it brings. In this engaging and informative podcast, Vonda’s wealth of floral expertise pairs perfectly with Lori’s background in teaching, sales training, and life coaching to deliver valuable insights you can use right away.
From industry trends and the flower shop of the future to overcoming obstacles like boosting sales and building a stellar customer service team, they’ve got you covered. Discover how small shifts in your mindset and approach can create big transformations in your business and life.
Hit subscribe to put the pleasure back into your life, go back to loving flowers, find fresh inspiration, and bring the joy back to your business!
Episodes
333 episodes
From Forensics Lab to Flower Moxie with Amy McCord
Episode 330: What do forensic science and floral design have in common? For Amy McCord, founder of Flower Moxie, they're both part of the same unlikely journey – one that started with a $100 wedding, a box of Sam's Club roses, and a lot ...
Hard Truths Flower Shop Owners Need to Hear
Episode 329: This one might sting a little.Lori and Vonda are saying the quiet part out loud—sharing the hard truths flower shop owners need to hear but rarely do. From not knowing your numbers, to blaming your team, to stayi...
What You Can Control (and What You Have to Let Go)
Episode 328: After Easter reflections (and a few stories involving pools, squirrels, and unexpected repairs), Lori and Vonda dive into a conversation that hits close to home for every business owner - control.From slow seasons in ...
Stop Overthinking Social Media: Real Strategies That Work
Episode 327: If social media feels overwhelming, confusing, or like one more thing on your already full plate, this episode is for you.Lori and Vonda sit down with Chris Grigas and Karrie Wallace, both from the Bill Doran Co...
Just Add Flowers: Inside That Flower Feeling’s Mission to Make Flowers an Everyday Habit
Episode 326: In this episode, Vonda and Lori welcome Vanessa Leite, Executive Director of That Flower Feeling, for a timely conversation about the industry-wide marketing movement designed to keep flowers top-of-mind beyond...
AIFD Registration Is Open!! From Vision to Reality: Elevate 2026 in Orlando
Episode 325: Registration is officially open — and we’re celebrating with a behind-the-scenes conversation you won’t want to miss. In this episode, Vonda and Lori sit down with Randy Wooten AIFD, co-coordinator of the AIFD Symposiu...
Jelly Beans & Trust: 7 Subtle Ways to Win Customers for Life
Episode 324: What do jelly beans, golf course comfort stations, and customer service have in common? More than you might think.In this episode, Vonda and Lori dive into the subtle habits that build trust with customers - <...
Why Showing Up Matters: The Power of Face-to-Face in Floral Education
Episode 323: In a world where we can learn anything online, is it still worth leaving your shop to attend a floral conference?After returning from the Great Lakes Floral Expo, Lori shares what truly happens when you step out ...
What Makes You Leery? Trusting Your Gut in Life, Business, and Flowers
Episode 322: What makes you instantly leery of a person or situation - and why does your gut matter more than you think? In this candid and wide-ranging conversation, Vonda, Lori, and Ellie unpack the meaning of being “leery,” from ...
Trust, Betrayal, and the Healing Power of Kindness
Episode 321: Broken trust doesn’t just hurt—it reshapes how we see people, relationships, and ourselves. In this episode, Vonda and Lori talk candidly about betrayal in friendships, mentorships, and the workplace, especially during high-...
Bizarre Psychology & Valentine’s Day: Why People Think, Feel, and Buy the Way They Do
Episode 320: Valentine’s Day brings out fascinating human behavior. In this episode, Vonda and Lori unpack bizarre psychology facts, from confidence bias and mood-based judgments to decision-making under stress - and how understandi...
The Warren Buffett Principle Every Florist Should Implement
Episode 319: Kindness is a free investment with the highest returns — so why don't more florists treat it that way? Inspired by Warren Buffett's philosophy, Vonda and Lori dive into how small acts of kindness can transform your cust...
Dilly, Dally & Clique Conference Confessions: SAF Next Gen
Episode 318: In this episode, Lori and Ellie sit down for a candid (and slightly unfiltered) conversation we’re calling Clique Conference Confessions. From hydrangea disasters, to needing all the Zofran, to unforgettable field tri...
Your Valentine’s Day Staff Meeting: Prepared, Profitable, and Positive
Episode 317: Valentine’s Day is the busiest and most important holiday of the year for florists, and preparation makes all the difference. Vonda and Lori walk you through a full Valentine’s Day staff meeting, just as they would with thei...
The Bingo Card Check-In: Progress, Perspective, and a Little Industry Tea
Episode 316: In this episode, Lori and Vonda flip their 2025 Bingo Cards and reflect on what actually got done, what didn’t, and why that matters.From surprise home projects and travel wins to the realities of burnout, distra...
Clean Up the Crap & Keep Going: A New Year, A New Word
Episode 315: In this special anniversary episode, Vonda, Lori, Ellie, and Kami gather to celebrate six years of Business & Pleasure of Flowers. They share heartfelt (and hilarious) holiday stories, reflect on how “Amplify” shap...
From Pinterest to Petals: Turning 2026 Trends into Flowers with Ellie LaFever
Episode 314: Ellie’s back as the resident trend predictor, and this episode is all about what’s coming next for 2026, before your customers start asking for it. Lori, Vonda, and Ellie dig into Pinterest Predicts 2026 (yes, the data-...
10 Signs You’re Mentally Strong (Even If You Don’t Feel Like It)
Episode 313: It’s almost Christmas, the packages are at the mercy of FedEx and UPS, and Lori’s dad is calling two days before the holiday wondering if he should buy gifts for all the grandkids. In other words, peak season energy.I...
My Customer Service Voice vs. What I'm Really Thinking
Episode 312: Lori and Vonda lean into the chaos of the holiday season and tackle a topic every florist can relate to, what your customer service voice needs to say vs. what you wish you could say.From last-minute delivery req...
Taking Your Brand to the Next Level in 2026 with Angelique of Accent Decor
Episode 311: In this episode Ellie sits down with Angelique Witcher, Director of Marketing at Accent Decor, to talk all things branding and elevating your business in 2026 – especially if you’re a floral r...
Not Every Customer Is Mad: The Power of Pause and Kindness
Episode 310: In this heartfelt episode, Lori and Vonda open up about the emotional side of customer service—especially during the busy holiday season. They remind us that not every upset customer is truly angry; some are overwhelmed...
Designing a Dream Wedding in Rome: Flowers, Flexibility & a Whole Lot of Love
Episode 309: In this special episode, Lori and Vonda welcome a very important guest—Ellie—to relive her unforgettable wedding in Rome and pull back the curtain on what it really takes to design an international destination weddi...
Email Marketing That Builds Real Customer Connection
Episode 308: Recorded at peak “end-of-day brain,” Lori and Vonda dive into one of the most overlooked tools in the floral industry: email marketing that feels personal, warm, and human. They break down why florists avoid email marke...
Mayhem with Marlin: Christmas Installs 101 — Pricing, Process & Profit
Episode 307: Lori and Vonda welcome friend and designer, Marlin Hargrove AIFD, for a masterclass in holiday home installs—equal parts sparkle and straight talk. From landing residential vs. commercial clients to dec...
Making Magic (and Marketing) Happen for the Holidays
Episode 306: When it rains, it pours — but even in the busiest, most chaotic weeks, florists know how to make something beautiful bloom. In this lively and laughter-filled episode, Lori and Vonda swap “one-thing-after-another” stories be...