Bloomex Partners with Canada Running Series

Bloomex is proud to announce a brand new partnership with Canada Running Series! We are delighted to be working with another national partner dedicated to improving fitness and community enjoyment for Canadians, as well as helping raise massive dollars for charities. 

Canada Running Series [CRS] is the nation's premier running circuit with 8 events: 4 in Toronto, 3 in Vancouver and 1 in Montreal. It annually attracts some 60,000 participants and raises more than $5 million for some 250 mostly-local charities.

 

For three decades CRS has been passionately committed to building community through running - to building a better Toronto, a better Vancouver, a better Montreal, a better Canada. Their vision has been to build complete, big-city races that welcome everyone, from Olympians to healthy-lifestyle enthusiasts to charity runners. 

CRS events are built on the twin pillars of organization and innovation, to provide outstanding, unforgettable running experiences. Driven by these commitments, CRS has grown into a turnkey, national, year-round program that offers exceptional value to all involved.

Bloomex Pretty in Pink

Bloomex is the largest florist in Canada, with 8 production centres coast to coast and a similar goal of supporting community and charity, while celebrating the meaningful occasions that mark our lives. 

"Bloomex is happy to partner with the CRS and provide beautiful medallist bouquets, fresh floral arrangements and gourmet gift baskets to enhance the race experience for all participants," says Mark Campaugh, Bloomex Director of Marketing. "We look forward to working with CRS and having fun at all the races."

“We're delighted to welcome Bloomex to the CRS community. CRS is about joy, achievement and celebration -- what better way to say this than with flowers!” -  Alan Brookes, Race Director, Canada Running Series.

 

Bloomex has been designated as the Official Florist of the CRS, and of their fall circuit marathons. These include the popular and family-friendly Oasis Zoo Run in Toronto, which

offers runners a chance to follow a scenic 5k or 10k loop through the Toronto Zoo grounds on September 12. The popular, family-friendly event also offers a “Cub Run” event & costume contest for kids.

Bloomex will also be providing the flowers and gift baskets for the always-enjoyable Vancouver Eastside 10k on September 19. This run takes runners through the historic east side of Vancouver, including parts of Gastown, Chinatown, and East Vancouver—parts of the city that are rarely closed to traffic.

And finally, Bloomex is the official florist for the prestigious Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon on October 18. This  event is the Grand Finale and signature event of the Canada Running Series. This race attracts a large field of over 25,000 runners each year as Canada’s #1 big-city marathon. In addition to holding a prestigious IAAF Gold Label, it will also serve as host of the 2015 Canadian National Marathon Championships.

For more information on these races and those in 2016, including race entry forms, hotel information, social networking, and charity information, please visit the CRS website. 

To order flowers to cheer on or congratulate a race participant, please visit the Bloomex website.

We hope to see you at one (or all) of these amazing events! 

Best Summer Party Flowers

The lazy, hazy days of summer are fully here! It's the height of summer and in most of Canada that means long days, bluer skies, and balmy temperatures. This lovely weather usually leads to more social gatherings in the great outdoors. Hosting a party is always more fun in summer, whether the festivities occur inside or outside, usually with less fuss, easier cleanup, and all new decorating options. And what party would be complete without some gorgeous fresh flowers? Flower bouquets or planter baskets will always add the perfect finishing touch to your table or your buffet. They help you set the mood for your guests and accent your chosen theme, creating a far more memorable event.

Check out our top picks for best bouquets to help your summertime entertaining, at prices that won't break the bank. We've grouped them by four of the most popular party themes. There are many more mixed bouquets, fresh roses, lilies and other beautiful fresh flowers at the Bloomex site, so be sure to browse them all. 

Let's get this party started! 

Elegant Cocktail Party 

If you're hosting a lovely dinner or cocktail party and keeping things upscale and modern, try a White Calla Lilies or a Pure Devotion Bouquet. 

Either will grace your table with an elegant touch. We also have beautiful hand-blown glass vases available at checkout for the perfect way to display your beautiful flowers. 

 

Ladies Garden Party 

Having the ladies over for a lunch, a bridal shower, tea, or a glass of wine on the patio? 

Adding these pretty, feminine bouquets will be provide a beautiful accent to your decorating. The ladies will notice and appreciate your good taste!  Try Spring Equinox, or Pretty in Pink. 

 Tex-Mex Fiesta 

Everyone loves a good old Tex Mex BBQ! Fresh salsa, corn chips, guacamole, buritos, steaks—the menu is already going to be a hit. 

Add some fresh accent bouquets in cute rustic earthenware vases and your decor will be a hit too! A Rainbow Gerbera Bouquet, or some earthy Orange Roses would be great choices here. 

Summer Picnic 

There is nothing like frosty lemonade, strawberry shortcake, delicious salads and other yummy treats to create a fun family picnic!

Perhaps you are hosting this year's family reunion, or setting up a relaxed meal outside at the cottage. If you are entertaining picnic style this summer, add a few cheery bouquets, like the Classic Yellow and White Daisy bouquet, or a charming Golden Days Basket, and boost the ambiance all the more.


Whatever mode of entertaining you choose this summer, Bloomex wishes you lots of fun and happy memories with friends and family!

Bloomex Partners with the Hershey Company

Chocolate lovers, rejoice! Bloomex Canada is pleased to announce its national supplier partnership with the Hershey Company. The Hershey Company has agreed to provide Bloomex with special samples of delicious Hershey’s chocolate products. From July 2015, every Bloomex order of fresh flowers or gourmet gift baskets delivered in Canada will include complimentary Hershey’s chocolates. Yummy!

We are so happy to provide free chocolates to our Bloomex customer family.  For those who have allergies, please also be assured that chocolate samples will be separately wrapped and labeled to alert customers to any potential allergens.

Bloomex is proud to have been chosen by Hershey. Hershey’s selects its partners based on key criteria such as a company focus on quality, company stability, competitive costs, flexibility and innovation, as well as a demonstrated expertise on the goods and services offered. “We are delighted that Bloomex met or surpassed all key partnership criteria,” says Mark Camphaug, Director of Marketing at Bloomex Canada. “In return we are proud to work with a company that also values high standards and quality products. We look forward to an ongoing partnership with the Hershey Company which allows our customers to enjoy or share these delicious complimentary Hershey’s products with their Bloomex orders.”



The Hershey Company was started by Milton S. Hershey as a subsidiary of his Lancaster Caramel company, through his 1894 experimentation with chocolate as a coating for caramels. In 1905 the company began producing milk chocolate at a dedicated factory in Pennsylvania, where its headquarters remain. Hershey Chocolate World has become a popular attraction here as well, with other locations now open in other cities.

photo from strawberryblondelife.com

Today the Hershey Company is the leading North American manufacturer of quality chocolate and non-chocolate confectionery and chocolate-related grocery products. The company also is a leader in the gum and mint category. Hershey’s products are currently enjoyed in over 90 countries around the world with more than 80 types of treats. For more information on the Hershey Company, please visit www.thehersheycompany.com. 

To enjoy your own FREE sample of Hershey's, place your next Bloomex order! See you soon :)

Best Canada Day Gifts and Flowers

We are in countdown to Canada Day! Bloomex is very proud to be Canada's largest florist, serving Canadians for over ten years and with over a million customers served. We love Canada and our national holiday is certainly a good time to celebrate. 

This year marks the 148th anniversary of the day that Canada became a nation, when Upper Canada, Lower Canada, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia united to become one dominion. Prior to 1982, this celebratory day was called "Dominion Day" and only became Canada Day thanks to an act of Parliament declaring it such. 

photo from CTV.ca

Today we often celebrate with picnics, parties, BBQs and fireworks.  It's a family event that unites all Canadians young and old, coast to coast.

If you are hosting a Canada Day event this year, whether it is a supper at the cottage or a picnic in a park, it's always a lovely idea to add some fresh flowers to your decorating. A few gourmet treats are always welcome too!

photo from Cityline.ca

To help get the party going this July 1, Bloomex provides delicious homemade cookies and gourmet cakes, baked fresh in assorted yummy varieties, that you can order up or send to a loved one for their celebration. 

What is more Canadian than fresh Atlantic lobster? Send a real treat to someone across the country, or order for yourself. Bloomex lobster is fresh caught, flash frozen, and shipped directly from our Halifax facility. This lets you enjoy a delicious gourmet feast this year, at the best prices around! We have lobster in various size orders, from one to twenty.  





We've included a few of our best red and white bouquets for you here, with more choices at Bloomex.ca. And remember, we can always create a custom bouquet, just for you! However you choose to honour our national holiday, we wish you a happy and healthy event. Check the website for even more great gifts and flowers.
 

Happy Canada Day to all!   

Always & Forever Bouquet is a gorgeous "Canada Day" choice featuring fresh red roses and beautiful white lilies, perfect to dress your table this year.

Crimson Delight is sure to add that pop of "Canada red" to set off your picnic or BBQ with style. 

The Bestseller Bouquet is one of our most popular choices all year, and is especially perfect for Canada Day! 

Bloomex Provides Roses for Global Morning Show

Bloomex Canada was proud to be asked, and pleased to provide, the prize for a recent contest held on Global TV's The Morning Show.

Movie and stage actress Blythe Danner provided an interview to Global TV recently to help promote her amazing new movie. Danner stars in I'll See You in My Dreams, alongside such veteran stars as Rhea Perlman, Sam Elliott and Martin Starr. 

Danner spoke with familiar Global News personality Liza Fromer about the movie and the experience of making it. Danner discussed how it was to work with her co-stars, and has shared how her movie character parallels her own experience of widowhood following the loss of her husband Bruce Paltrow (father of actress Gwyneth) almost thirteen years ago. 

The movie is garnering some award buzz and very positive reviews for Danner's shining performance as Carol and for its sensitive and endearing treatment of aging, love and loss. Read a review to learn more about this lovely film and how Danner "knocks it out of the park." 

During the interview, The Morning Show ran a contest for "free roses for a year" and Bloomex was asked if we could possibly provide the prize. We were happy to help! Congratulations to winner Trish H. of Ottawa She will now enjoy a dozen beautiful, plump, long-stemmed roses every month for a whole year!

Bloomex also gave away some free movie passes as part of a fun contest for Bloomex customers. Read the contest blog to find out more. If you haven't seen the movie yet, put it on your list and check out this wonderful story.

Watch the full interview clip and enjoy this lovely visit with Blythe Danner, as well as the contest information!

Father's Day Photo Contest

photo from danoah.com

It's almost Father's Day—that special day of the year set aside to take a moment and tell Dad you love and appreciate him.  After all he does for you, often quietly and without thanks, it's time for us to treat this special man to a thoughtful gift or two.

At Bloomex we are happy to provide you with an array of great gift ideas for Dad, including some amazing new gift baskets designed just for him, with easy delivery coast to coast. Be sure to enter our photo contest for your chance to send Dad a special surprise this year!

WIN DAD A GIFT BASKET FOR FATHER'S DAY

Win Dad an awesome new Car Wash Bucket IV, full of everything he needs to make his car shine. Bucket includes items such as Armor All Protectant, Deluxe Hose Nozzle, Microfibre Wash and Scrub Sponge, Air Freshener, Tire Protectent, Upholstery Cleaner, Window Cleaner, Engine Degreaser, Tire Pressure Gauge, Carpet & Fabric Refresher. To top it off we include one Tall Boy of Beer and full sized Card all in a plastic wash bucket! This makes a creative gift for Father’s Day!

Alternate prize is the superb BBQ Gift Basket IV, sure to get Dad all "fired up" with an array of items for masterful grilling, such as savoury spices, Diana Marinade Spicy Southwest Chipotle Sauce, seasoning, skewers, fork, spatula, corn holders, tongs, napkings, grill scourer, basting brush and more...along with a Tall Boy (710ml) of Beer and a full sized card. Dad will love this way more than another boring tie or shirt!

 

   

photo from brainjet.com

Send us a DAD PHOTO, any funny or touching photo of a Dad doing Dad-like things, and you could WIN a Car Wash IV Gift Bucket, OR a BBQ IV Gift Basket! 

Photos must be received by TUESDAY JUNE 16, 12 noon EST. 

Tweet us your photo to @Bloomex_canada

Email us your photo to contest@bloomex.ca 

OR 

Message your photo to the Bloomex Facebook Page.

Two winners will be selected (one winner for each prize). Top two photos will be selected by a panel of Bloomex employees. Winners will be randomly assigned either prize. Delivery of gift baskets to take place on Friday June 19. Please note that by sending your photo you agree that we can share it on the Bloomex blog, Twitter account, and/or Facebook page. Contest open to residents of Canada. 

Good luck, and Happy Father's Day! 

(And be sure to check the Blog for even more Father's Day gift ideas!)

Best Father's Day Gift Ideas

Let's not forget Dad this Father's Day! He may be the quiet one who says he doesn't care about gifts, but that doesn't mean we should overlook him on this special day. Dads are sometimes hard to buy for, but choose something just for him and you are sure to put a big smile on his face. 

Bloomex wants to help make things easy by putting together some awesome ideas for Dad that are sure to please at every price range. 

You can also check out some "man-friendly" flowers to let Dad know you are thinking of him...there is no reason Dad's can't enjoy some beautiful blue and white flowers, a thoughtful card, or a growing green plant.

Here are a few of our top gift choices for Dad, but be sure to check out all the Father's Day gift ideas at the Bloomex site! 

Men's Spa Basket

Who says guys don't enjoy a bit of pampering too? Treat Dad to this manly gift basket full of products to keep him looking and feeling great. 

 

Gourmet Cookies

Yum! Dad will love these delectable homemade gourmet cookies, baked fresh daily with no preservatives. Available in four delicious varieties! 

Gourmet Cake

Save yourself the baking, or treat Dad if you are not there in person, with a delicious homemade gourmet cake to celebrate his special day. A decadent treat baked just for him! Available in five scrumptious flavours!

Coffee Gift Baskets

Choose from a variety of gift baskets specially selected for the coffee lover. Dad will love this array of gourmet treats with a variety of coffees to sample and savour.

Premium Lobster

Yes, Bloomex provides delectable, top-quality lobster! All lobster is freshly caught off the Canadian Atlantic, expertly cooked in the shell, flash frozen and delivered directly from our Halifax facility right to Dad's doorstep. Provide him with a gourmet feast he will love, at a price you can hardly believe! 

Gourmet Cheese & Snack Gift Baskets

Bloomex provides you with a fantastic selection of gift baskets featuring an array of gourmet cheeses, snacks, crackers, and seafood that are sure to make Dad super happy this Father's Day! 

 

Beer & Nuts Gift Basket

The perfect "Man's basket!" This basket is a perfect assembly of beer, nuts, candy and snacks that is the perfect choice to send Dad this year. 

 

Gourmet Collection Gift Baskets 

Can't narrow down your choice of gift basket? Go for variety! The best value in town, check out all the Bloomex Gourmet Collection gift baskets with a generous assortment of gourmet snacks for Dad. Best of all, these Gourmet baskets are all at half price.

Happy Father's Day from Bloomex Canada! 

Top Five Most Loved Flowers: Gerberas

Rainbow Gerbera Bouquet

One of the top five most popular flowers in the world is the gorgeous Gerbera. Gerbera  is a genus of plants in the daisy family, named for German botanist Traugott Gerber.

Gerber Brights

Gerbera daisies enjoy the heat and are native to tropical regions in South America, Africa, and Asia. Gerberas are sometimes referred to as the “African Daisy.”  

Arrangements that feature lovely gerberas always have high impact and are especially wonderful choices for get well, congratulations, thank you, house warming, new baby, or other cheerful occasions.










 

Wondrous Wishes

Pink & Lilac Extravaganza

These species of daisy have a large flower head with striking two-lipped florets that come in vivid colours of yellow, orange, white, pink or red. The same flower can many contain variations of colour in  its petals. The flower head (capitulum) is actually composed of hundreds of tiny flowers and can range from small (such as the “Harley” variety) to up to 12 cm (such as in “Golden Serena”).

  

Autumn Gerberas

Gerbera daisies are extremely popular. They are cheerful, vivid, and hearty, conveying enthusiasm and good wishes. They are used internationally as a decorative plant in the garden as well as for cut flower bouquets and arrangements.  In the garden, Gerbera daisies are perennial and are very attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds, but luckily, not to deer.

Gerberas are the fifth most used cut flower in the world. (Roses, carnations, chyrsanthemums, and tulips rank above it in the top five!)

There are many, many bouquets and flower arrangements featuring gerberas that are available at Bloomex for you to enjoy—be sure to check them all out and find your own favourite gerbera bouquet to send!