When you need an energetic shot of instant style, flowers and foliage offer a quick and easy solution. Floral department customers ranging from preteens to octogenarians appreciate the convenience of supermarket shopping. Here are a few fashion-forward ideas for your department.

Bobbi Ecker-Blatchford• Stem Wear. There are psychological and biological drives involved in fashion that are pretty constant. A pin-on could be a fashion statement, symbolize belonging to a group, celebrate an event or express openness to life’s beauty. Wearing flowers is speaking the language of life. Dressing up my ponytail or hat or clothing adds a bit of fun to the day or night, and I know it boosts my confidence.

• Style in Your Lapel. In this age of mass production and widespread uniformity, individuality is at a premium. The meager cost of a single bloom or leaf on the lapel is a small price to pay for adding a bit of dash to the day. Jim, one of my successful deliverymen, wore a boutonniere and would carry a bag of blooms and pins on his delivery route.

Jim would hand them out or pin them on receptive men and women he came into contact with as he zoomed around town. The pin-on was an embellishment that was good for business. The idea can be equally effective for your in-store staff to use while developing sales and goodwill.

• Express Yourself. The Society of American Florists recently introduced the Express Yourself concept, which opens communications visually and personally and helps individuals choose their style preference. Flowers are smart, fresh and always in style. So whether your customers prefer a classic, modern, sporty or chic look, let them know you can create a floral fashion statement customized for them.

• Style Stars. As a floral designer, I always appreciate the opportunity to create for others and know the deep satisfaction that comes from doing it yourself or DIY. I spend most of my time in an apartment in Chicago and I like to use “floaters” on the dining table or little vase groupings to decorate for guests as well as for everyday use. Show examples of these in your department.

• Gift Giving. Every season has its excitement and rhythms of work and rest. As the pace slows with the shortening days, we need a bit of added beauty in our environments. Little leatherleaf trees, gaining popularity nationwide, make perfect gifts for the home or for a corporate customer. Although evergreen is commonly used in creating these mini-topiaries, leatherleaf ferns make a perfect design base that can be trimmed to fit the fashion and style of the recipient.

Recently, I saw a sign in an elegant clothing boutique that said, “A single shoe can change a life — Cinderella.” Supermarket floral merchandisers might post the thought: “A single flower or leaf may change a life — Your Super Florist.”

The flowers and foliage that we market are super style stars. Naturally beautiful and emotionally compelling, they are always in fashion and never out of style.

Let your supermarkt customers know that your floral department can provide them with an energetic shot of instant style.

Bobbi Ecker-Blatchford, a floral designer, design commentator and consultant to the floral industry, is the owner of Flora Pros. She lives and works in Chicago. She can be reached at [email protected].