I was born in Brooklyn, NY, and lived in parts of Queens and Long Island but I have spent the last 3 decades right here at home in sunny South Florida. Even at a young age, I knew I wanted to run my own business. I didn't know exactly which career path life would take me on, but I knew I’d be working for myself, and I’d be doing something creative. At age 17, in college and woefully uninspired, I decided to switch gears and seek out new experiences. I found an interesting opportunity at a local florist in Bayside, Queens where I grew up. This seemingly straightforward ‘job’ turned out to be the very start of my passionate 30-year career as a florist and business owner. Originally hired to take phone orders, I was quickly relieved of duty - not my forte. I was sent to the back of the shop where the floral designing took place. I started doing all of the so-called "grunt" work – the odd jobs no one else cared to do. I cleaned buckets, cut and cleaned new shipments of flowers that came in, and, after a while, I was shown some fundamentals of floral design, and I slowly started to help fill (create) some of the day's orders. I learned the names of the flowers, how to care for them, and detailed handling techniques. I learned how much the flowers cost and how the cost would fluctuate based on the quality of the product and the change of seasons. I ended up getting that education after all, and then some. I worked as a full-time designer at two Florists in New York before relocating to Florida in 1990. I spent the next two years working as a designer for top Florists in and around Boca Raton and Delray Beach...until I was ready to fulfill that boyhood dream. In 1992, with some support from mom and dad, I opened Exceptional Flowers and Gifts. For more than 30 years now, my team and I have been providing the highest-quality floral arrangements and unique and modern floral designs, blended with truly exceptional customer service and value. Our empathetic, compassionate, and giving nature allows us to channel the emotions and sentiments of our customers and incorporate those feelings into our designs and all we do for our loyal clients no matter the occasion. We give with our hearts, and it shows in our work :) - Josh Laddin - Owner and Florist at Exceptional Flowers and Gifts
