Being a local neighborhood florist and bringing smiles to people’s faces through the beauty of flowers is among the most special and rewarding professions anyone can have. BloomNet®, an international wire service and world class business solutions provider, is celebrating local florists throughout the country with an exciting new sweepstakes called I Heart FLORISTS.

The sweepstakes, which is open to all retail florists nationwide, invites florists to go to www.mybloomnet.net/iheartflorists and share their stories, pictures or videos about why they love being a florist. The first 250 submissions will receive a free I Heart FLORISTS T-shirt and all entrants in the Sweepstakes will be automatically entered in a weekly drawing to win a free Smithers Oasis/Floriology Institute Designer Tool Belt. What’s more, florists who submit a “selfie” picture or video of themselves at www.mybloomnet.net/iheartflorists wearing their I Heart FLORISTS T-shirt by November 30, 2014 will be entered into a drawing to win a $500 scholarship to the Floriology Institute in Jacksonville, Florida. Floriology Institute is the floral industry’s premier education center and an AIFD (American Institute of Floral Designers) Professional Floral Design Evaluation (PFDE) provider.

In addition to sharing their stories, pictures and videos about why they love being a florist, BloomNet florists participating in the I Heart FLORISTS sweepstakes are also urged to participate in the 1-800-Flowers.com / BloomNet “Local Exclusive Florist Designed Program” – which showcases florists’ designs to an audience of millions on the 1-800-Flowers.com website. When florists upload their truly original floral designs with their I Heart FLORISTS submission, they can request “Express Lane Approval” to submit their local exclusive designs for approval to sell on the 1-800-Flowers.com site and receive free worldwide exposure for their products and their shop.

“BloomNet is thrilled to celebrate the incredible passion and amazing creative artistry of local florists,” said Mark Nance, AAF, President of BloomNet. “The dedication florists have to their communities and to helping their customers express themselves through the gift of flowers is unwavering...and everyone at BloomNet is honored to acknowledge and thank florists for all they do.”

The I Heart FLORISTS sweepstakes runs 9/15/14 through 2/28/15. For further information and to submit their stories, pictures or videos with an opportunity to win valuable prizes, florists should go to www.mybloomnet.net/iheartflorists, Also look for information on this great promotion on Facebook, Instragram or Twitter.

About BloomNet®

BloomNet® (www.mybloomnet.net or 1-800-BloomNet) is an international wire service and a world class business solutions provider offering quality products and diverse services to a select network of professional retail Florists who utilize BloomNet’s resources to grow their businesses profitably. Professional Florists who are part of the BloomNet network can take advantage of several key benefits including the highest published rebate in the industry with the easiest rebate qualifications, tiered membership costs, state-of-the-art technology solutions, and a complete suite of value-added products and services. BloomNet has established and maintains the industry’s most stringent business standards for participating Florists. BloomNet, Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc.