BEHIND THE FLOWER FROGS

Floral Genius is the only US manufacturer of pin and cup-style flower holders and is the only maker in the world of Blue Ribbon Hairpin Holders. Also known as flower frogs or kenzan, pin holders are a timeless floral design mechanic that was the precursor to floral foam. Today, flower frogs are sought-after by floral designers, at-home arrangers, and vintage enthusiasts across the globe, largely due to a shift towards sustainable floristry and the “#nofoam” movement. 

Floral Genius started with two sisters who wanted to make their grandmother proud. When Stephanie Duncan and Jessica Hall were left with an inheritance, they knew they wanted to do something that kept their grandmother’s entrepreneurial spirit alive. In an ironic twist of fate, Lynn Dodson, owner of the Dorothy Biddle Service, was looking for someone to take over the manufacturing of the only US-made flower holders. 

Lynne’s history with the flower holders ran deep and began when her father, Rodney Johnson, purchased the Blue Ribbon Flower Holder Company in 1959 from hairpin flower holder inventor, Ida Sinclair. Holding the original patent for the hairpin holders, Ida had been the sole manufacturer of these flower frogs since 1936. In 2009, Dorothy Biddle Service expanded their flower frog operation when they took over the manufacturing of pin-style and pin cup holders from Bonnie Manufacturing and became the only US manufacturer of all flower frogs in Greeley, Pennsylvania. 

By 2016, Lynne was ready to move into retirement when she was connected through mutual friends with farmer-florist, Jessica Hall. As a designer, Jessica felt an immediate connection to the flower frogs and in partnership with her sister Stephanie, decided to purchase the manufacturing rights of the flower frogs.

The business officially changed hands in January of 2017 and was moved to Weyers Cave, Virginia. At the time, Jessica had just had twins, putting her brood total at four children, and Stephanie was residing in Charlotte, North Carolina working as a VP of a marketing agency. The girls had their fair share of challenges between building a facility, installing the equipment, and learning the trade of manufacturing the flower frogs which was led by Jessica’s husband, Brian. 

Nonetheless, they didn’t give up. Today, Floral Genius has grown to be the supplier-of-choice for floral designers and wholesalers internationally. The business is co-owned by Stephanie and Jessica, and still largely family-operated with production overseen by Jessica’s husband Brian, and the administrative duties managed by their mother, Chris. The family also owns and operates Harmony Harvest Farm, a flower farm that grows over 200 varieties of specialty cut flowers and ships that nationwide.