Originally Posted by obowl

Everybody needs and has a holiday/break..be it 1 week or 2 weeks,and all the contracts you do be they little or big know(whether they appreciate it is a different matter)that holidays are part of everybodys working life.
Now as for how to achieve a holiday with the least disruption to you financially,and with little upset to the contract is tuff...but you must be strong / confident /wily /and use a little "floral fibbbing" when needed(i will explain this later).
Give your contract as much notice as is possible...sometimes the contract may forego there floral requirements for the 2 weeks or 1 week you are away,or perhaps in the case of 2 week break they may eeeeek out the display for a little longer than the usual 1 week turnaround("floralfibbing" may come in handy here...as if you use something that easily lasts the 2 weeks they may then decide upon your return to have a display less frequently)so choose something that whilst still looking good for the week, may just crisp up or dull enough as to appear nicely jaded under the warm conditions and general lack of water most contract flowers get..
This second option is a tad more precarious,you have given your contract plenty of notice yet they have done nothing or failed to acknowledge(cause heck they are soooooooooo busy)that the holiday is fast approaching...then they say"well what are we going to do(usually bigger companies/hotels,that use this)...deep breath...now they can either(they usually have another florist in mind..friend of a friend type of thing...)get in another florist whilst you are away,to fill in("floral fibbing time",you don't have any objections to this..and you will gladly speak with whichever florist they have chosen to fill in whilst you are away,so that they get a seamless service,just ask them to give you a call......seldom if ever will other florist ring you...now bit more "floral fibbing" is needed here,the last display you do for your contract(the one before the stand in florist steps in)...whatever value you are allocated for the display/arrangement go over the top(not crazy just make it look gooooood)because new florist whilst working on same budget..they also will be trying to dazzle(if they have anything about them that is!!!)if not it's plain sailing...you look great as always,stand in doesn't measure up,contract is lucky to have you..cause it's just been proved you are better florist,and now that you are refreshed and tanned...you is gonna rock em!!!!
All of the above is the perfect scenario it can of course go all terribly wrong,but that is up to you not to let it.......once you have established a reasonable working relationship with a contract,you are more in control of the holiday situation...be business like,whilst friendly and hopefully you shouldn't go far wrong...best of luck.....see ya in Turkey...Scorchiooooo!!!