WF&FSA netWORK, 8-16-11 Issue
WF&FSA's Free Electronic Newsletter
August 16, 2011
California Cut Flower Commission Offers New Quarterly Newsletter - Field Notes - Sign Up Now!
Want industry updates as fresh as your California cut flowers and greens? Sign up for the California Cut Flower Commission's (CCFC) new Field Notes, a quarterly industry e-newsletter that will launch later this month. Each issue will be blooming with useful news and resources for florists, designers, retailers and cut flower enthusiasts alike.
Field Notes promises to bring you the latest industry news, fresh tips for growing California flower sales, grower and retailer profiles, pertinent promotions, and much more! Make sure to subscribe before the first issue - just click here to sign up today!
WF&FSA Welcomes New Members
WF&FSA would like to welcome its newest members: Premier Floral Corporation of Miami, FL, and Arbusta of Quito, Ecuador. For more information on WF&FSA membership and its benefits, visit www.wffsa.org.
AIFD Attracted More Than 900 Floral Professionals in July
Over 900 floral design artists from around the world gathered together in San Francisco, Calif. July 4-9 to celebrate ‘Imagine,' the 2011 National Symposium of the American Institute of Floral Designers (AIFD). The AIFD Symposium was an action-packed educational extravaganza that featured 10 design education stage presentations, four special event meals with abundant floral decor and a multitude of other spectacular events. To read more, click here.
Wholesale Florist Launching Video Contest, Mayesh Design Star!
Mayesh Wholesale Florist is launching its first ever video contest, Mayesh Design Star. The company is searching for a charismatic floral designer to be its 2012 spokesperson. The Mayesh Design Star will demonstrate and narrate 12 Mayesh educational videos featuring Mayesh Certified Awesome Blossom products.
Mayesh Certified Awesome Blossom products contain at least one of the following elements: unique shape, color, texture; unusual variety; superior grade. Certain Awesome Blossom flowers may leave designers asking: "What's this and how do you use it?" And that question is exactly what Mayesh's Design Star will facilitate - to help demonstrate usage and technique while portraying value. For More Information.
Free Webinar Available: "Leveraging the Modern Web for Better Risk Insight" - Thursday, August 18
Sponsored by the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors (NAW), you may Register for a free, one-hour webinar: "Leveraging the Modern Web for Better Risk Insight." This will be held Thursday, August 18, 2011 from 2:00 - 3:00 pm EDT. The Internet and social Web are changing how we communicate, connect and collaborate -- and the way we work in business credit. Join commercial credit pro Darrell Horton, Revenue/AR Manager for Shuffle Master, as he explores this change with tips on leveraging the Web for better risk management.
America In Bloom's 10-Year Celebration to be held in Nation's Capitol
Reprinted from SAF's E-Brief
White House florist Laura Dowling is headlining America In Bloom's 10th Annual Symposium and Awards ceremony, which the nationwide beautification organization is holding in the same city that hosted its very first one, Washington, D.C.
Attendees at the October 6 awards dinner , to be held at the American Horticultural Society Headquarters at George Washington's River Farm, will get a firsthand perspective from Dowling on how flowers are used at the White House. The former owner of Interieurs et Fleurs was chosen in November 2009 to replace long-time White House florist Nancy Clarke, who retired.
The dinner, sponsored by SAF, marks the beginning of a packed two days of events designed to show attendees how to succeed in their local beautification efforts, through workshops and tours that offer practical guidance on bringing together municipal, commercial and residential sectors, using sustainable landscape design and getting kids involved in beautification efforts through schools, among many others. Read More .
WF&FSA Wholesalers - Deadline Extended for Participation in 2011 Operating Ratio Study - Act By Thursday, August 25!
The deadline to submit your 2011 WF&FSA Operating Ratio Survey to Profit Planning Group has been extended to Monday, August 22. This annual report provides wholesalers:
- The Operating Ratio Report
- financial and operating profile of the entire industry.
- Performance Analysis Report
- A confidential report sent directly to you comparing your firm with similar participating firms. Many firms take this report to the bank to discuss loans and lines of credit.
- Profit Toolkit Online
- A Microsoft® Excel spreadsheet to assist your financial planning. Access instructions are included with your Performance Analysis Report.
For information, contact Molly Thompson at WF&FSA at mthompson@wffsa.org.
EZBloomers.com Announces New Florists Information Exchange
Online floral company EZBloomers.com, has started a Florist Information Exchange on Facebook to discuss ways florists can improve their business. The exchange will offer provocative and innovative ideas about the floral business, and will also be a place where unusual and interesting information about all things floral, from flower arrangement design tips to fun facts about the industry will be shared. Read More .
Sales Professional Training Camp Filling Up Fast - Only A Few Seats Left! Register Now for this SEPTEMBER 6-8, 2011 Program in Dayton, Ohio
WF&FSA is pleased to co-sponsor the Sales Professional Training Camp featuring the "Four Pillars of the Sales Profession", a 2.5 day-program of practical skills, tools and fundamental disciplines that are essential for sales professionals and a productive sales team. Led by coach and trainer, Don Buttrey, the Four Pillars explored are Personal Disciplines, Relationship Skills, Strategic Selling and Tactical Selling. Read More .
WF&FSA Floral Distribution Conference - Filling Up Fast - ACT NOW TO RESERVE YO
UR SPACE!
Have you registered yet for the 2011 Floral Distribution Conference scheduled for Wednesday through Friday, October 19-21, at the Doral in Miami, Florida? If not, act now! Here are a few "to do" items for your meeting checklist.
- Register for your Table Top Exhibit - more than 70 companies have already registered for their table top display. There are only 26 left, so act now to ensure you are represented in this unique program! You may register for a table by clicking here . To see who has already registered, just check out the list here . Anyone registering for a table top by September 1, 2011 will be entered in a raffle to win transportation, lodging at the Doral and tickets to the PGA Cadillac Championship scheduled for March 8-11, 2012.
- Register your delegates 4536261&Action=DisplayRegForm_Step1&EventID=49&RegNo=1&StartNewReg=1 Want to see who is already registered? Click here .
- Make Your Sleeping Room Reservations at the Marriott Doral Now. To make your reservation, please call 1-800-713-6725 and ask for the 2011 WF&FSA Annual Conference special rate of $134. The group code is wffwffa. You can also make your hotel reservations online by clicking here .
You can gain great exposure in our industry by becoming an FDC sponsor. For a look at available sponsorships, just click here .
Proflora 2011 Scheduled for September 28-30 in Bogota
Check out flowers from Colombia, Ecuador, Costa Rica and Chile at Proflora 2011, along with the main breeding companies from over 10 countries. Match-making business meetings will be provided for international buyers to meet with exhibitors on a one-on-one basis and farm tours for buyers to see where and how flowers are grown will be offered. The dates are September 28th through 30th. To learn more, click here.
WF&FSA SPOTLIGHT ON: 
U.S. Bank Merchant Credit Card Program: Visa and MasterCard Processing
In the world of credit card processing it is often times very difficult to understand exactly what you are being charged for. As processing rates continue to climb it becomes increasingly more important to understand and manage these costs. To help provide our Members with service as well as cost benefits, WF&FSA has leveraged our collective Member volumes to negotiate better pricing on credit card acceptance costs. Read more .