[OMS_MANAGERS] Flower Basket Program

[Executive Director]

Ariel, love the collaboration on the flower baskets. Being in a larger town
with a population of over 90k we do ours a bit differently.

In 2023 and past years, we hired a local nursery and we sold the beautiful
flower basket for them at no expense to them. The baskets the last couple
of years have been $375. Before you gasp that price includes putting up,
taking down, all maintenance including if they need replaced and watering
on a daily basis.

With that said 2024 is going to look a bit different as we are turning
everything over to the nursery for several reasons. First, the price went
to $425 with no warning.
Breakdown on cost
$95 for the 16' basket that is stunning and by August they are 3' long,
$20 for installation,
$20 for take down
and $1.80 a day for 168 watering, fertilizing, maintenance, etc $302

Attached is the flyer we used along with numerous emails and the thank you
flyer we sent out.

*Annie Jenkins, Interim Executive Director*

Downtown Medford Association

Mobile | 541-941-5204

Email | executivedirector at downtownmedford.org


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On Fri, Feb 16, 2024 at 9:59 AM Ariel M. Reker <bakercitydowntown at gmail.com>
wrote:

> We changed our flower basket program this year, but I'll do a quick
> explanation for both. A little background, back in the late 90s, the
> previous Main Street organization purchased the banner brackets and banners
> for a portion of our Main Street. When BCD got started in 2018, they
> fundraised for a local welding company to create the flower basket hangers
> to match the same section of Main Street that has banners.
>
> In previous years, our Design Chair took flower basket orders (same
> flowers, different colors) in January and gave that to a local nursery. The
> baskets are huge and cost $48 each. The nursery then notified our Design
> Chair when the flowers were available for pickup and delivery (after
> Mother's Day). BCD would cut a check for all the baskets at this time too.
> Design Chair would then have volunteers with trailers drive to the nursery,
> pickup flowers, and then coordinate delivery and pickup downtown. BCD would
> then be reimbursed when the businesses/building owners would either drop
> off a check or pay via square. A note here, we did not receive payment for
> one $48 flower basket from May 2023 until two weeks ago. So there's a small
> risk there. One of the main issues we've run into are folks buying baskets
> and then not watering them. We tried purchasing flower basket pots that
> have a reservoir to keep them watered longer, but people still didn't water
> and then would be upset with us.
>
> This year, in partnership with Crossroads Carnegie Art Center to help
> celebrate Gary Ernest Smith's final retrospective show
> <https://crossroads-arts.org/exhibits/towards-home-the-artwork-of-gary-ernest-smith>,
> we fundraised to extend the banner brackets and flower basket holders all
> the way down Main Street. Crossroads fundraised for the show by having
> special banners made for the show this summer with Gary's work displayed
> all down Main Street. To help take the pressure off our businesses as well,
> BCD is purchasing all the flower baskets (that way we can control the
> colors), and developing a watering program to maintain them and keep them
> alive. A water tank and trailer have already been donated, but we are
> working on a vehicle to pull it; along with a volunteer calendar to water
> everyday this summer. If this falls through, we should have enough funds to
> work with a local landscaping company to handle watering for us. The cost
> increased to $50 per flower basket, but we are seeking sponsorships for the
> flowers this year and in future years to make this sustainable.
>
> I can answer any questions that come up too!
>
> Ariel M. Reker
> Executive Director
> [image: Picture]
> Baker City Downtown
> P.O. Box 1148
> Baker City, OR  97814
>
>
>
> On Thu, Feb 15, 2024 at 5:19 PM <director.mfcda at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Any and all info- she is doing “R&D”
>>
>>
>>
>> *From:* OMS_MANAGERS <oms_managers-bounces at omls.oregon.gov> *On Behalf
>> Of *Lise Grato
>> *Sent:* Thursday, February 15, 2024 5:19 PM
>> *To:* Oregon Main Street Network Members <oms_managers at omls.oregon.gov>
>> *Subject:* Re: [OMS_MANAGERS] Flower Basket Program
>>
>>
>>
>> Are you looking for logistics and costs or sponsor info?
>>
>>
>>
>> Lise
>>
>>
>>
>> Lise Grato
>>
>> Executive Director
>>
>> Albany Downtown Association
>>
>>
>>
>> W: (541) 928-2469
>>
>> C: (541) 905-2908
>>
>>
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> *From:* OMS_MANAGERS <oms_managers-bounces at omls.oregon.gov> on behalf of
>> director.mfcda at gmail.com <director.mfcda at gmail.com>
>> *Sent:* Thursday, February 15, 2024 5:17:22 PM
>> *To:* 'Oregon Main Street Network Members' <oms_managers at omls.oregon.gov>
>> *Subject:* [OMS_MANAGERS] Flower Basket Program
>>
>>
>>
>> Hi Everyone!
>>
>>
>>
>> If any of you have documentation of your flower basket programs, please
>> send them on to me. My design Chair wants to get this going on a wide scale
>> this year!
>>
>>
>>
>> Can’t wait to see you all this year!
>>
>>
>>
>> Yours,
>>
>> *Maryelizabeth E. Garcia *
>>
>> *Executive Director *
>>
>> *Milton-Freewater Chamber Downtown Alliance*
>>
>> www.mfcda.org
>>
>> W: (541) 938-5563
>>
>> C: (509)212-6313
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
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