an invitation for virginia florists
In August, floral professionals from across Virginia gathered in Richmond to talk candidly about the ways stalking and harassment can show up in their work. That conversation gave us a clearer picture of the challenges florists face, and the resources shops need to respond safely and confidently.
Now, we’re bringing the floral community back to the table for a focused strategy session to help shape what comes next.
Date: Tuesday, October 13, 2026
Time: 10:00 AM-12:00 PM
Location: The Dogwood Tree, 2171 Ivy Rd Suite 8, Charlottesville, VA 22903
Hosted By: Blue Octopus Consulting and Virginia Department of Health
Whether you attended the August workshop or are joining the conversation for the first time, we would love to hear from you.
we've all had an order that didn't feel right...
An anonymous sender, a refused delivery, a call that leaves your staff asking, "What do we do now?"
Florists are often closer to harassment and stalking situations than we realize. Most of us have handled these moments on our own and it’s time we put our heads together.
Join florists from across Virginia on Tuesday, October 13 in Charlottesville.
"If it feels weird and creepy, it probably is."
We'll spend the morning trading notes and building policies and tools you can actually use.
a first-of-its-kind project
This workshop is part of a statewide initiative funded by the Virginia Department of Health in partnership with Blue Octopus Consulting and Blakemore's Flowers (Harrisonburg).
The project began after VCU researchers documented how florists can unexpectedly become part of situations involving harassment, stalking, and intimate partner violence, often without guidance or consistent industry practices.
Together with florists across Virginia, we are developing practical resources that help shops respond with confidence while protecting staff, customers, and recipients.
This session was made possible by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) under nonresearch cooperative agreement CDC-RFA-CE-24-0027: Rape Prevention and Education (RPE) through the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. The contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the CDC.