A Florist's Thank You Gets Top Billing

There are dozens of ways to let your customers know you are grateful for their business: a note in the mail, an ad in the paper. A Nebraska florist is taking a more "in your face" approach: a billboard.

The billboard across from Greens Greenhouses & Treasure House in Fremont, Neb., displays SAF's art and logo and thanks the town for "a great 110 years." It was mounted in March to coincide with the shop's 110th anniversary, as well as the town's 150th anniversary.

Joey Schwanke, AAF, PFCI, NAFD says that she and her husband, Mel, AAF, a past SAF president and member of SAF's Floriculture Hall of Fame, have been using SAF's billboards for more than 40 years. "We just love the 'How are you feeling today?,' billboard ... the '[Exactly] how mad is she?' billboard went over really well," Schwanke says.

The owners of Greens Greenhouses & Treasure House have just started making customized billboards, using SAF poster art combined with their own messages, in the past three years. Since the Schwankes own the land the billboard is on and let their advertising company rent out the other billboard spaces, they get customized billboards for free. Schwanke adds, however, that a customized billboard would normally cost about $400.

"The best advertising money you can spend is on a billboard. You can spend $500 or $600 on an ad in the newspaper, and some people still won't see it. But you can't miss a billboard," she says.

While it is hard to tell whether the newest billboard has caused increased traffic, as they have had billboards up for more than four decades, Schwanke says she definitely gets comments on the flowers displayed on the billboard. People come in and say "I want that bouquet!" she says.

Did you know SAF members can receive up to five eye-catching billboards a year for free? Contact Member Services, at (800) 336-4743 for additional information. Personalization is available for an additional cost.