VALENTINES DAY! This year we started sending out orders as early as February 8th and finished on February 17th. We had more than 1,000 orders. I made almost 50 flower arrangements. Above are just some pictures of our stores and the work I did.
Friday, February 27, 2015
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
Answer 2
1. What is your EQ?
How can a fruit and flower shop owner-manager best organize and grow her family business?
2. What is your first thesis sentence answer?
Ensure that both Sweet Fruit Arrangements and Sweet Flower Arrangements stores meet 1800Flowers expectations of ordering and delivering processes.
3. What is your second thesis sentence answer?
Employees should be hired and trained to meet 1800Flowers expectations on producing the arrangements.
4. List 3 reasons your answer is true with real world applications:
1. When the employee doesn't understand how to properly create an arrangement. An employee should be trained to be able to create a fruit and flower arrangement, its too difficult just to observe and start making the product, which could lead to many errors for new employees. This also entails understanding how to clean and cut the stems of the flowers and fruit.
2. When the employee doesn't understand how Bloomnet processes work. Bloomnet is the online wire by which we receive orders. I believe every employee should understand how to use Bloomnet online service so that when an order comes in last minute they are able to respond efficiently. Especially, when we receive messages through the wire for cancelations or adjustments, employees need to understand how to read them.
3. When the employee doesn't understand the kinds of arrangements and names of fruits and flowers used. 1800Flowers sends their own books with a huge variety of arrangements. These are the arrangements that a consumer choses from 1800Flowers.com. So when the customer orders the arrangement an employee would have to look through the book to find out how many flowers are in the arrangement, what container we are using, what it looks like, etc. One of the biggest parts of this job is remembering the many names of the flowers, fruits and arrangements.
5. What printed source best supports your answer?
Gitman, Lawrence J., and Carl D. McDaniel. ʺChapter 12.ʺ The Future of Business: The Essentials. Mason, OH: Thomson South-Western, 2008. N. pag. Print
6. What other source supports your answer?
Gutierrez, Lisa. ʺBusiness is Blooming: Florists Need Flowers, Creativity--and a Whole Lot of Muscle.ʺ Career World, a Weekly Reader Publication, 38.3 (2009): 11-15.
7. Concluding Thoughts:
I drafted this answer while working in the store for my Independent Component 1 and my Interview 3 with my second mentor was also an inspiration. I have worked in the store as an employee for many years and now with this project I observe real world applications as stated above. My first answer was specifically related to order and delivery processes, now my second answer is specific to employees. The only way to organize and grow our business is to start from the bottom with the employees and work towards the top. If they don't function efficiently we will not be able to successful at organizing the business.
How can a fruit and flower shop owner-manager best organize and grow her family business?
2. What is your first thesis sentence answer?
Ensure that both Sweet Fruit Arrangements and Sweet Flower Arrangements stores meet 1800Flowers expectations of ordering and delivering processes.
3. What is your second thesis sentence answer?
Employees should be hired and trained to meet 1800Flowers expectations on producing the arrangements.
4. List 3 reasons your answer is true with real world applications:
1. When the employee doesn't understand how to properly create an arrangement. An employee should be trained to be able to create a fruit and flower arrangement, its too difficult just to observe and start making the product, which could lead to many errors for new employees. This also entails understanding how to clean and cut the stems of the flowers and fruit.
2. When the employee doesn't understand how Bloomnet processes work. Bloomnet is the online wire by which we receive orders. I believe every employee should understand how to use Bloomnet online service so that when an order comes in last minute they are able to respond efficiently. Especially, when we receive messages through the wire for cancelations or adjustments, employees need to understand how to read them.
3. When the employee doesn't understand the kinds of arrangements and names of fruits and flowers used. 1800Flowers sends their own books with a huge variety of arrangements. These are the arrangements that a consumer choses from 1800Flowers.com. So when the customer orders the arrangement an employee would have to look through the book to find out how many flowers are in the arrangement, what container we are using, what it looks like, etc. One of the biggest parts of this job is remembering the many names of the flowers, fruits and arrangements.
5. What printed source best supports your answer?
Gitman, Lawrence J., and Carl D. McDaniel. ʺChapter 12.ʺ The Future of Business: The Essentials. Mason, OH: Thomson South-Western, 2008. N. pag. Print
6. What other source supports your answer?
Gutierrez, Lisa. ʺBusiness is Blooming: Florists Need Flowers, Creativity--and a Whole Lot of Muscle.ʺ Career World, a Weekly Reader Publication, 38.3 (2009): 11-15.
7. Concluding Thoughts:
I drafted this answer while working in the store for my Independent Component 1 and my Interview 3 with my second mentor was also an inspiration. I have worked in the store as an employee for many years and now with this project I observe real world applications as stated above. My first answer was specifically related to order and delivery processes, now my second answer is specific to employees. The only way to organize and grow our business is to start from the bottom with the employees and work towards the top. If they don't function efficiently we will not be able to successful at organizing the business.
Wednesday, February 11, 2015
Blog 15: Independent Component 2 Approval
Content:
The Independent Component 2 is an opportunity for you to add a dimension of creativity and/or an additional outlet for research. The goal of the component is for you to explore your answers in more depth. On Friday, April 24, 2014, you will be turning in the following to your blog to prove completion of this component:
· Log of hours on an digital spreadsheet (with total number of hours included)
· Evidence of the 30 hours of work
For this blog post and approval, please answer the following questions.
1. Describe in detail what you plan to do for your 30 hours.
I will be attending an Online Management Course that is provided by my mentor's company WIS International. This course is given in not only his company but many other businesses. My mentors actually require me to take this course and there are many sets of classes and sections to this so that it will give me comfortably more than 30 hours required to pass Independent Component 2. I will take this course online on Mondays and Wednesdays because it works best with my iPoly and Cal Poly Courses schedule. I expect to finish by the due date which is April 24th.
2. Discuss how or what you will do to meet the expectation of showing 30 hours of evidence.
In order to receive an AE or E and to prove that I have taken this course for the next few weeks. I will take notes from the online textbook and use that as my main resource piece for the Independent Component 2 Blog Post. Along with having a notebook (which will be a physical copy of my work) I will also provide short reflections of each day I work on the online course. I will also have the certification of completion. This ensures three pieces of physical evidence. The final evidence is my Independent Component Blog Post. I will have meet more than expected.
3. Explain how this component will help you explore your topic in more depth.
My EQ wants me to discover (as an owner-manager), in depth of how to manage the stores. I currently cannot manage the store without having a class to know the basics. One of my mentors recommended this course because he has taken it and also provides it to his employees in the business. This course will help me discover my 3rd Thesis Answer in the future when I complete Independent Component Work. I will also be able to use the textbook as references for my research notebook. Finally, this course is benefitting me with answering my Essential Question, research notebook and references for my Senior Project Final Presentation in May.
4. Post a log in your Senior Project Hours link and label it "Independent Component 2" log.
DONE It is highlighted in Purple under Independent Component 2
The Independent Component 2 is an opportunity for you to add a dimension of creativity and/or an additional outlet for research. The goal of the component is for you to explore your answers in more depth. On Friday, April 24, 2014, you will be turning in the following to your blog to prove completion of this component:
· Log of hours on an digital spreadsheet (with total number of hours included)
· Evidence of the 30 hours of work
For this blog post and approval, please answer the following questions.
1. Describe in detail what you plan to do for your 30 hours.
I will be attending an Online Management Course that is provided by my mentor's company WIS International. This course is given in not only his company but many other businesses. My mentors actually require me to take this course and there are many sets of classes and sections to this so that it will give me comfortably more than 30 hours required to pass Independent Component 2. I will take this course online on Mondays and Wednesdays because it works best with my iPoly and Cal Poly Courses schedule. I expect to finish by the due date which is April 24th.
2. Discuss how or what you will do to meet the expectation of showing 30 hours of evidence.
In order to receive an AE or E and to prove that I have taken this course for the next few weeks. I will take notes from the online textbook and use that as my main resource piece for the Independent Component 2 Blog Post. Along with having a notebook (which will be a physical copy of my work) I will also provide short reflections of each day I work on the online course. I will also have the certification of completion. This ensures three pieces of physical evidence. The final evidence is my Independent Component Blog Post. I will have meet more than expected.
3. Explain how this component will help you explore your topic in more depth.
My EQ wants me to discover (as an owner-manager), in depth of how to manage the stores. I currently cannot manage the store without having a class to know the basics. One of my mentors recommended this course because he has taken it and also provides it to his employees in the business. This course will help me discover my 3rd Thesis Answer in the future when I complete Independent Component Work. I will also be able to use the textbook as references for my research notebook. Finally, this course is benefitting me with answering my Essential Question, research notebook and references for my Senior Project Final Presentation in May.
4. Post a log in your Senior Project Hours link and label it "Independent Component 2" log.
DONE It is highlighted in Purple under Independent Component 2
Monday, February 2, 2015
Independent Component 1
LITERAL:
(A) I, Sara Baggia, affirm that I completed my independent component which represents 36 hours of work.
(B) Sources that helped me with my independent component 1:
(C) Independent Component is pink section under Senior Project Hours Log.
(D) Explain what you did:
Throughout my SME senior project, I have focused more on the leadership aspect and in return neglected the most important aspects of the stores, which are the fruit and flowers which is now the highlight of my independent component!
I want to outline my independent component 1 to make it more clear to break down and explain:
INTERPRETIVE:
Defend your work, explain significance, and provide evidence.
I created/designed these arrangements:
These are examples of the books that contain orders we have to create from 1800Flowers. These books give specific instructions like a cook book. I had to constantly use them for my reference when I practice. There are different books for each season. Right now we are using the one on the bottom left.
APPLIED:
Include examples to how your independent component helped you understand the foundation of your topic.
My project is Small Business Management and my Essential Question is "How can a fruit and flower shop owner-manager best organize and grow her family business?"
In order for me to understand how I can organize and grow our family business first I need to start from the bottom:
I need to relate with the employees. The only way I can do this is by working along side them and learning how to make the arrangements myself. That is why I focused this component on training myself.
I need to understand basic terminology. I worked on memorizing and learning the different names of the arrangements, flowers and fruits. I can not waste my time looking through pictures and pictures to find out what a word means.
I need to learn management skills on my own. What I discovered is that there are many management books I can read but unless I actually place myself in that position I will not be able to realize my strengths and weaknesses. I can relate to this because of my leadership in Robotics and Diversity clubs.
These 3 elements combined with my previous understanding of how our stores function helped me understand the foundation for my topic.
(A) I, Sara Baggia, affirm that I completed my independent component which represents 36 hours of work.
(B) Sources that helped me with my independent component 1:
- "Plant Gift Guide - 1-800-FLOWERS.COM." Plant Gift Guide - 1-800-FLOWERS.COM. N.p., n.d. Web. 2015. http://www.1800flowers.com/plant-gift-guide?flws_rd=1.
- http://conversations.com/
- This website was useful because I was able to study their investment management and yearly reports. http://investor.1800flowers.com/
- Julie Mulligan Floral Lifestyle Blog http://www.1800flowers.com/blog/julie/
- This website taught me floral and plant care as well as useful handling tips. http://www.1800flowers.com/blog/
(C) Independent Component is pink section under Senior Project Hours Log.
(D) Explain what you did:
Throughout my SME senior project, I have focused more on the leadership aspect and in return neglected the most important aspects of the stores, which are the fruit and flowers which is now the highlight of my independent component!
I want to outline my independent component 1 to make it more clear to break down and explain:
- Research: The basis of what I did was mostly my own research on how to design the fruit and flower arrangements. Whenever my mentor hires new employees, he has to make sure they have just the right amount of experience in floral and fruit design. Not too many years or too less months. Here is why. In order to be trained for 1800Flowers based arrangements, you have to be very flexible. You need to be able to adapt to different designs based on what the customers order. Keeping in mind, sometimes the customer orders with specific instructions. When I started my training for independent component, I worked with 2 women named Blanca and Maricela. I would say they are also part of my research. Most of my research as you can see above is from the 1800Flowers websites. I also have books that they provide for every season, which are posted below under "Interpretive". These books have pictures and instructions for each arrangement.
- Studying: In order for you to be an owner-manager for a business you would need to understand what your employees are doing. In a fruit and flower shop business I discovered that this means studying the names of the flowers, plants and fruits. I spent many hours with flashcards trying to study those so that when it was time for me to make the arrangement I knew what the instructions were about, even without looking at the pictures. This also helps with time. I can not waste valuable time as an employee trying to figure out the names of our products. This also includes names of arrangements. On the wall of our flower shop, we basically have a mural of all the arrangements. But during crunch time we can not focus on trying to find them.
- Fruit Design: Before my independent component, I was already an employee at the fruit shop. I already know the basics of fruit design and chocolate covered strawberries. During my independent component however, I feel like I have mastered this art to its full extent. I can now create any fruit arrangement. I still need to manage my time, an arrangement should take no longer than 30 minutes to create. This helps me understand my employees. By mastering this myself I am not only able to lend a hand anywhere its needed but I am also able to teach new hires.
- Flower Design: I have never worked with flowers in my life. Surprisingly it is more difficult to work with flowers than it is to work with fruit. Since our flower shop is barely even 1 year old, this is my first time actually working with flowers. I had to read many blog posts from http://www.1800flowers.com/blog/ in order to learn the basics. I also had help from our two employees, Maricela and Blanca. They demonstrated, I learned, I made. I made a few arrangements which are posted below under "Interpretive". I picked some of the more difficult arrangements so that I could start strong. I am still trying to master the art of floral design.
- Managing: Sometimes my mentors take a break and so they let me manage the store for a few hours. Managing the store is basically managing the employees and making sure the right arrangements are made ready for the drivers to deliver.
INTERPRETIVE:
Defend your work, explain significance, and provide evidence.
I created/designed these arrangements:
 |
| Blanca is demonstrating how to make a bow in slow-mo. This is the bow seen in the flower arrangement on right picture above. |
APPLIED:
Include examples to how your independent component helped you understand the foundation of your topic.
My project is Small Business Management and my Essential Question is "How can a fruit and flower shop owner-manager best organize and grow her family business?"
In order for me to understand how I can organize and grow our family business first I need to start from the bottom:
I need to relate with the employees. The only way I can do this is by working along side them and learning how to make the arrangements myself. That is why I focused this component on training myself.
I need to understand basic terminology. I worked on memorizing and learning the different names of the arrangements, flowers and fruits. I can not waste my time looking through pictures and pictures to find out what a word means.
I need to learn management skills on my own. What I discovered is that there are many management books I can read but unless I actually place myself in that position I will not be able to realize my strengths and weaknesses. I can relate to this because of my leadership in Robotics and Diversity clubs.
These 3 elements combined with my previous understanding of how our stores function helped me understand the foundation for my topic.
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