Flower School International

I am proud to say that I am a new student of the Chicago School of Flower Design. This is week two, and I have learned so much that I am already using the «strategies, grids, symmetry, grids… etc».
I am able to analyze and criticize someone’s arrangement, and I cannot wait to learn and see what is next.
The classes are well organized, there are three parts to it, almost like three little projects, that fit the same category yet they are different.
Michael is great, he is always going to be honest with you, «DO IT AGAIN» does not mean he hates you. hahaha, he just knows you can do better. Believe me after you do it again, you will see the difference and get the point. (You cannot argue with a guy who has over 25 years in the industry.)
That guy is on the call, even though he is busy, he wants to encourage others to contact him in any flower trouble or doubts.
Flowers are fresh, everyone has their own set of tools, keeping your area clean is very useful, especially for a clean freak as I am.
Every floral arrangement needs practice that is why, I come home rip the whole bouquet apart and try, and try again, until the flowers are dead.
Practice makes all the difference, and a positive attitude is a big plus.
Michael always walks around, looking over your shoulder and explains why it is not the way it should be (if you are doing something wrong.)
The class is worth every single penny, it takes you all the way from simple bouquets, to charming mind blowing, gorgeous pieces, and on top of that you get the honest and truthful insights on the business as a whole in 8 weeks from the man that has gone above and beyond in being a successful florist, that is known worldwide, MICHAEL GAFFNEY.

I recently used my Groupon with my Mom at the Chicago School of Flower Design. Overall, we had a great time and could not believe how fast the time went! Since the class, I purchased a $ 5.99 bouquet from Trader Joe’s and made 2 gorgeous bouquets. I would not have been able to make anything like this beforehand.
A few notes —
— The ladies were a little crazy over flowers. If you want to have the best flowers in your bouquet, I suggest sitting near the back and battling the ladies who jump up and literally grab the flowers from the (very nice) volunteer’s hands. This was not the fault of Michael, the volunteer or the school — the ladies were just a little nutty.
— Bring a box! We brought some bags to carry the flowers home in; that was simply not stable enough.
— Don’t park in the attached lot! They tell you this once you’re in the class, but it would have been good to know beforehand. (It may have been on the Groupon, but I missed it).

I recently used my Groupon to do Michael Gaffney’s flower design class in Chicago, and I have to say, I had the best time! Now, to caveat, I was a very motivated flower newbie, as I am getting married soon, but I thought his class was fantastic! The class learned how to put together a bridal bouquet (right up my alley!), a centerpiece design and boutonnieres! I found his instruction very valuable, easy to follow, and something I could definitely teach myself! I was so excited when he praised my bridal bouquet and flattered when he told me that I was a natural. He even said with my talent I could put together my own bridal bouquet! I absolutely loved the class. I am going to take my mom and sister to a class soon!
Thank you Michael for a wonderful experience!
P. S. I bought his book at the class, and it is fantastic. I cannot wait to go get some flowers from Costco (which he told us has the same exact flowers as the expensive flower stores!) and but together some great art!

My only experience with CSFD was at the last Unilocal event and at that event they looked wonderful. They gave me a nice rose which I gave to my wife. She seemed to like it so the flower quality must have been good: D
The arrangements were spectacular as well. If I ever need flowers, I will surely contact them.

I agree with BOTH reviewers here, though I will say if you get past the weirdness at the beginning, and get into the class, it is great fun and you will learn so many valuable things in a rather short and enjoyable time period.
Like Christy, when I followed the instructions on the groupon I first had to leave a voice mail that never got returned, and after I left a second voice mail two weeks later it was returned by a guy insisting that I was calling the wrong number. I insisted I was just following the instructions. I stuck with it, as did he (even though he was clearly irritated at my repeated phone calls) and we ended up realizing there were two conflicting sets of instructions.
Once I got on the RIGHT set of instructions, I quickly got in touch with a very helpful person who kindly got me and my spouse set up for a class at our convenience. We received a useful email reminder full of important info on parking and the like a few days prior. And when we arrived all was as expected.
And the class was delightful! At first I worried the instructor Michael might end up being a bit of a celebrity blowhard but after only 15 minutes he’d totally disarmed us with self-​deprecating humor and de-​mystifying the «art» of flower-​arranging to such a point that I ultimately walked out of the class feeling like a semi-​pro. Like reviewer Liz T. I might actually make arrangements in the future, like if a friend is getting married or something.
The instruction was hands-​on and delivered in a way that was easy to remember and incorporate, and we ended up creating three different types of designs that we could take home. With practice, I think I could do this as well as a professional in a matter of weeks. Seriously. And we really liked the instructors.
My spouse was the only man in the group other than the instructor, so he got a bit of special attention which he didn’t mind much. At least the class didn’t make him feel out of place.
I am not giving them five stars for these reasons:
* They were short of equipment — we had to share scissors, ask for things that other members of the class already had at their table, etc.
* When we started, we asked where to put our trash, and we were told to just put it on the floor. Then at the end of the class we were told we had to sweep the floor and get everything c leaned up around our space. I hate cleaning floors and would have preferred to just keep my space clean in the first place. Odd.
* I would have liked to have some of the main points or tips of the class written down as a handout or takeaway from the class. It’s hard to write all of this down while you are also listening AND watching AND doing with a table full of flowers and greens and such.
Nonethess I can completely recommend this. Fun fun fun. Great way to spend a morning.

I wouldn’t give these people my money! I called this morning and left a message with the school asking 1 simple question. Is this Groupon for 1 single class or are there several classes included in the $ 99 package? It was unclear to me in the groupon how this package was laid out. The man that returned my call was rude at best. He refused to give me an answer. I asked several times when he called me and he refused to answer. Kept telling me I’d have to check the online class schedule. I said that’s really not my question, when I buy the groupon, am I getting one single class for $ 99 or is it 2 or 3 classes for $ 99? He said I’d have to deal with groupon and look at the class schedule through groupon. Which I’ve already done, and my answer is not there.
Then he started talking about «flower arranging» and «flower design» and I asked oh, is there a difference between arranging and design? He sighed and said no, mamn, that is the same thing. But he was so rude about it. So irritated by my simple question.
He refused to be accomodating and answer my question. And it wasn’t just his refusal to answer, it was his tone and his exasperated demeanor. He was rude and treating me as though he was completly put out and bothered and wasting his precious time just having to even speak with me. It would have been one thing had the guy said, look I really don’t know the details of the groupon offer, however if you contact groupon directly they can answer your questions. But it was more of a cat and mouse game. He was not going to help me out. Period.
Then he tried to sell me classes directly through the school. I was calling about the groupon! He was a total jerk and I would NOT give them my money. Way to run a business. It’s called CUSTOMER SERVICE!