Gets the prize for the strangest looking thing I've EVER seen at the flower market.
Be sure to sign up for the 2008 Portland Flower Market Design Show - go to PDXFlowermarket.com to get info and signup materials which you can print out and mail in with your registration. Another postcard reminder is going out soon! The show is September 21 - coming right up!!!!!
And yes the Flower Market does now have a new web site - check it out! Click on the link above...
She paid Peterkort Roses a big compliment on her site - that our web site has the best "rose finder" she's ever seen - it IS true that our "What We Grow" page for roses has a very good search engine. You can select color, shape, type, new or not, scented or not, and any combination of these, to get a list. Then you can look at a picture of each of the roses which comes up.
Thank you Leanne - hopefully people will look at the site and also BUY - need to pay for the winter heating bill!!!! Also please folks don't forget we are WHOLESALE only - we sell to florists but NOT retail -
Also see the above recent cover from InStyle Weddings magazine - a gorgeous bunch of lavender cattleya orchids. Karen, our orchid expert, says that the lavender cattleyas will be blooming in significant quantities soon.
Also please be sure to check out the new flower market website!!!! It's at PDXFlowermarket.com. Lots of great pix of flowers, and people in the market! Also information about events. The annual Portland Flower Market design show is happening Sunday, September 21, and you can print out the registration form from the new web site and send it in with your check to register!!! Something new this year...
We will mail reminder postcards but don't delay - you will like it - Frank Adams has already announced their designer - Noel Tribbey, AIFD, of California.
At Barnes & Noble I asked the information person where the calendars were. She was young, pierced lip, with a big cowl neck turtleneck that she was wearing way pulled up hiding her chin. She kind of vaguely pointed in a couple directions (I kid you not) and said, oh we have some calendars over there, some planners over there.
She kept adjusting her turtleneck, and all the time I'm thinking, does she have something wrong with her chin? Is her pierced lip infected and dripping ooze down her face so she needs to keep her sweater pulled up? Or is it a fashion statement?
Not good customer service.
So then I go over to Macy's to get a wedding gift for my cousin's daughter. As soon as I hit the registry Wanda is there, asking me if she can find anything on the list for me. And if I want to sit down while I peruse the list. Then when I decide what I want to look at, she goes RUNNING almost to where it is, apologizing and saying "I always take off like Seabiscuit," and shows me the things.
She's super great, so I decide to get it, have it sent, & gift wrapped & I'm out of there in like less than 10 minutes.
GREAT customer service!!!!
I illustrate this blog entry with Uncle Joe's stand-up desk. He made this himself back in the 50's and it stood for 30 plus years in the old shed at the Peterkort Roses (J. Peterkort & Co. back then) farm on Barnes Road.
There used to be an old crank telephone there too, which was a private line connecting the upper greenhouses where the office was, to the new place. Telephone calls would come in to the office, and Aunt Lois would crank up the private line to let the greenhouse know about orders.
When we moved out to the Hillsboro farm, we took the stand-up desk and installed it in a similar location. We still use the bulletin board with the orders posted on it by date!!!
I always admired Uncle Joe because I think he was great at customer service, I know he worked hard to make sure the customers got what they needed.
It's always worth remembering how to treat the folks in whose hands is our livelihood!!!!
"Rebecca" -- Daphne du Maurier
Thanks for coming Helene!!!
I met some really interesting people, Cheryl and Jeff from West Union Gardens, Dan and his visiting mom from Hood River Organic, and Mitch and his wife from Nossa Familia Coffee.
It is fun to meet people who also do farming for the local market, grow organic products, and have a lot of the same challenges as we do at Peterkort Roses.
Cheryl and Jeff as it turned out also knew my Dad because he would come over and get leaf compost from them, which they also use on their berry vines. We use it for part of the potting mix for cymbidiums.
Dan was interested in our use of coir (coconut fiber) because he is looking for a source for his mushroom growing. So maybe we can figure out a shared buying situation.
Our thanks to New Seasons Market for inviting us to this wonderful dinner!!!!
Here's a photo of Mom making petals - we are in high gear at Peterkort Roses for making rose petals - gallons & gallons for happy brides...
Remember if you need these let us know a week ahead of time. Many colors, and mixes of colors, are available. We sell them by the gallon. Call (503) 628-1005 - wholesale only of course.
Next week is a massive wedding week - already sold out of the following for Wednesday, August 6 2008: Vendela, Piano Freelander (red garden rose), Supergreen, Avalanche. Restricted lengths available on other varieties.
Of course Friday is 8-8-08!!!!!!