We were lucky to catch up with Gaudencio Contreras recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Gaudencio thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. The more we talk about good leadership the more we think good leadership practices will spread and so we’d love for you to tell us a story about the best boss you’ve had and what they were like or what they did that was so great?
Michael George was the most extraordinary human being I ever had the privilege to meet. When I first interned in 1999 the business was swamped. He saw me and asked who I was. I introduced myself. I said
“My name is Gaudencio Contreras, sir, and it was very nice to meet you.” He asked me what my zodiac sign is and I told him Aquarius. He then said you’re a good man. Michael George was located on East 57th Street. I still remember the number of roses processed daily. One day, he came to me and said You will learn how to make arrangements, but first you must know how to process all the flowers.
Knowing the basics before going to the next step was essential. I was shy and quiet. The time passed, and I was getting to know everyone. I started to feel more comfortable with everyone in the shop. I processed flowers and cleaned roses for a long time. I would say it was 4 to 5 years before he let me start making flower arrangements. My job was processing all the flowers and maintaining the design space. I took my job seriously, ensuring the area where all the arrangements were made was clean. One day he came to me and said the best way to learn is by observation, he said, watch and pay attention, stay close enough to learn but don’t be in their way.
I did what he told me. I was always watching the designers. One day, out of nowhere, I was asked if I could make an arrangement, and my answer was I’ll try, so I did it, and the lady at the office said Wow, you can make arrangements, that is great. She mentioned to Michael that I knew how to make flower arrangements. He came to me, I hear you can make arrangements. I was asked if I could make an arrangement, and I said yes, I made one. The feedback was that it was beautiful. How did you learn? He asked. By doing precisely what you told me, watching and paying attention. After that, he allowed me to start making small arrangements and started taking me to set up events and weddings. I was his helper, not an assistant. I always ensured he had everything he needed right next to him when making arrangements, setting up the ceremony areas, the card table, the arrangements, and more. He taught me how to buy flowers, and more importantly, come up with concepts from the beginning to the end. He said you need to think out of the box, turn things upside down, see things differently, and be different from everyone else; being different is good.
He was like a father to me. I respected and admired him, he respected me as a human being, and numerous times he said I’m proud of you. You’ve got a future here. Here I keep his legacy alive.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I’m from Mexico, I grew up helping in the fields where people grew flowers like gladiolus tuberoses, sunflowers, and more. Before working in the floral industry, I already knew about flowers but didn’t know how to make flower arrangements or set up events. It was different; it was more about caring for the flowers and ensuring they were healthy and magnificent enough to be cut and ready to be sent to the auction.
The process before we get all the beautiful flowers for every flower business is crucial, that’s where the magic begins.
Michael George Flowers was opened in 1980.
We are a small family-owned business.
We work with the Fashion industry, private venues, hotels, and more.
Michael George Flowers is known for its simple, clean, and elegant work—one kind of flower in abundance with our signature spiral stem work.
Our services range from creating a centerpiece for a private dinner at a residence or private venue to executing a private event for 300 people, a Wedding reception, flower walls, and daily flower orders.
We provide services in the five boroughs of New York City, Long Island, Westchester, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Massachusetts.
Our clients come up with ideas or concepts, and it’s our job to ensure we understand their vision.
As a florist, our job is to make their dream come to life on the day of the event,
When it comes to discipline, that means that I need to make sure I get the best of the best from the flower market. That doesn’t mean just placing an order by phone. Oh no. I get up on Mondays and Wednesdays at 4:00 to ensure I’ll be one of the first at the market. This way I can ensure I get the best of the best. Remember the early bird gets the worm.
Working with fresh flowers can be a challenge at times. We are located in New York City, and Mother Nature sometimes hits us with freezing winters or very hot summers. Both can damage the flowers; They can die if not taken care of at the appropriate time of the Year. We must cover them in the winter, and in the summer, they must be at a suitable temperature. Once in a blue moon, we receive a call from a client that the flowers collapse within a few days. They always send us photos of the flowers to show how they turned out. It’s hard for us as a vendor to tell if the flowers will collapse in a few days or last two weeks. We are working with natural flowers. Of course, we all know this can happen, so we are always happy to send a new arrangement to replace the one that died too soon.
What sets us apart from others comes from the beginning, when Michael George had the brilliant idea of creating our classic spiral stem arrangements. We use a single flower type in abundance with the stems meticulously placed in a perfect spiral, allowing beauty to shine through the water in the vase, not just the blooms above. With the right flowers, these arrangements are strikingly beautiful from any angle and can last up to 8 days; as long as the client remembers to keep the vase full of water.
We are known for our monochromatic arrangements with spiral stem work. However, this doesn’t mean we refuse clients who want other options, like a mixed flower arrangement. We do create gorgeous mixed flower arrangements. We don’t follow a recipe to make mixed arrangements, but whatever the client wants, the client will get—99% of the time we never refuse a client’s request. Sometimes a client will call and need something specific in a matter of hours. Unfortunately, some things are impossible; however, we like to make magic. Often when a client is hunting for something specific to no end, we are the only ones able to make it happen. That’s the Michael George way!
We regularly update our website with what is new, what is seasonal, and what we are most excited about. Our site is very user-friendly and organized for ease. Let’s say it is after hours and we’re closed, or maybe you’re in another continent, anyone can simply search for our site, browse the options for that week, and complete an order all online and without having to speak a single word to anyone.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
From the earlier days when Michael George opened for the first time, the idea was to create a flower arrangement that was Simple, Clean, Elegant, and high fashion. That’s when Michael came up with the single flower arrangement with spiral stems. People in the fashion industry saw his work and loved it. That was when the Michael George brand took shape and has continued to blossom.
What’s been the best source of new clients for you?
Our best source of new clients has always been, and will continue to be, word of mouth. We strive for excellence 100% of the time and refuse to do anything else. Our work speaks for itself. We have grown our business by being a staple in the New York City fashion scene and corporate world. By continuing to provide first-class florals to top designers, all the way to exclusive hotels and clubs, we have become the only choice for top-notch luxury florals.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.michaelgeorgeflowers.com
- Instagram: michaelgeorgeflowers
- Facebook: Michael George Flowers
- Twitter: Michael George flowers
- Yelp: Michael George Flowers
Image Credits
Black table with a large arrangement of callas, image credit to Billy Ceglia