WF&FSA netWORK, 9-13-11 Issue

WF&FSA's Free Electronic Newsletter

September 13, 2011

More Than 400 Delegates Registered for the WF&FSA Floral Distribution Conference -ARE YOU ONE OF THEM?
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.

1. Register for your Table Top Exhibit - almost 80 companies have already registered for their table top display. There are only 17 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 .
2. Register your delegates 4536261&Action=DisplayRegForm_Step1&EventID=49&RegNo=1&StartNewReg=1 . Want to see who is already registered? Check here .
3. 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 .
4. Don't forget that if you want to play in the Armellini Golf Tournament, you should register prior to arrival in Miami. Please be sure to do so in advance.

You can gain great exposure in our industry by becoming an FDC sponsor. The following companies have already signed on as sponsors. We thank them for their support!

For a look at available sponsorships, just click here .

WF&FSA Open Talk Scheduled for September 22, 2011
The ABC's of Collection
Do you need to be introduced to proven telephone collection techniques to increase recovery of your company's receivables while not alienating your customers? This audio conference will:

• Explain the components of your "Telephone Personality" and how they relate to conducting successful collection calls.
• Cover how to properly prepare for a collection call.
• Walk you through the 7-Step Collection Call.
• Provide ideas on how to deal with common disputes/objections/reasons for non-payment that a customer may raise.

Learning Objectives:

• If you are a seasoned Collector, this audio conference will remind you of the basics of telephone collection techniques and will uncover some "bad habits" you may have fallen into.
• For the new Collector, this audio conference will provide various tips and tricks to conduct successful collection calls.
• Do you know how to react to a customer who tells you they have filed bankruptcy? You will after attending this audio conference.
• Are you sometimes stymied by the various excuses customers give for not paying? This audio conference will review how to handle the most common disputes.

For just $60 for members, you can gather those employees in one room who need to hear this message and provide an hour of valuable training for them. To register, click here .

WF&FSA Announces Webinar Featuring Sales Professional Joe Ellers
Monday, October 10, 2011 - 1:00 - 2:00 PM Eastern
WF&FSA, in conjunction with the Association Education Alliance, will offer a one-hour webinar on Finding Opportunities that are Real (and Good)? On Monday, October 10, 2011 at 1:00 pm Eastern. For just $149, you can hear one of the leading distribution sales consultants discuss two topics that deserve attention from everyone involved with sales from the company president to the people on the customer service desk: "Real" and "Good." Too often, our sales efforts are focused on opportunities that do not drive the business in the right direction. (And tons of sales time is spent working on pieces of business that are not real.)

In this session, Joe will work with you to define not only the type of opportunities that you need to be creating/finding--but also some very simple checks that can be applied to understand if they are real and/or good (for you.)

To learn more about Joe Ellers and this program, click here . To register for this program, please Click here .

We encourage you will take advantage of this cost effective training measure!

WF&FSA Welcomes New Members
WF&FSA would like to welcome its newest members: Natural Flowers of Miami, FL and C.P. Flowers Direct of East Moriches, NY. For more information on WF&FSA membership and its benefits, visit www.wffsa.org.  

Here's One More Chance to Sign Up for the New Quarterly Newsletter, Field Notes, Published by the California Cut Flower Commission -
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!

Assembly Passes Resolution to Help California Flower Industry
The California State Assembly recently passed Assembly Joint Resolution 15, encouraging the federal government to consider the job losses and decreasing profits the industry has experienced as the Free Trade Agreements facilitates the expansion of foreign flower industries.

The number of California's flower farms are reducing rapidly due to federal trade policies," said Asm. Alejo. "The losses to this industry will affect tens of thousands of jobs in the state, particularly in the central valley and the areas surrounding Santa Barbara and San Diego Counties."

Over 75 percent of domestically grown flowers come from California. The industry directly supports more than 10,000 jobs in the state, and contributes $10.3 billion to the U.S. economy.

Once AJR 15 passes the State Senate, it will be transmitted directly to President Obama.

A Budding Alaska Industry: Wedding Flowers
Demand for wedding flowers is helping a budding industry to sprout in Alaska. Peonies blossom later in Alaska than elsewhere. So when big competing growers are past their seasons, Alaska can meet the demand. The number of peony plants in the ground was estimated to increase by about 50 percent in 2011, to 60,000, North Pole grower Illingsworth told the Alaska Journal of Commerce. Read more.

Colombia Returns from Russia with 13 Gold Medals
The participating delegation at the Colombia, Land of Flowers Pavilion during the new FLOWERS EXPO 2011 show in Moscow, which ran from August 30th to September 2nd, was awarded a grand total of 13 gold medals for the quality and novelty of its products. This group walked away with the highest number of awards beating out all other event participants. Read more.

One Step Forward on Trade Deals
Reprinted from SAF's Government Relations
The process to ratify three pending free trade agreements (FTA's) took a small step forward this week as the House voted to renew the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP), a long-standing trade program that had expired.

The Senate plans to vote on GSP in the next several days but is likely to add an amendment to the bill that would renew Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA), a program designed to help workers who lose the jobs because of U.S. trade policy and foreign competition. Senate approval is expected, and then the bill would go back to the House for final approval. Read more .

Strategic Planning: More Than a Mindset
According to Dr. Bart Basi, there is no precise road map for preparing a strategic business plan. The length of the plan and areas of focus will depend on the industry, the stage of the company's development, the complexity of its business, and the intended audience. Strategic business plans are never identical. They are constantly evolving with the identification of new market opportunities, new technical breakthroughs, and the shifting of completion.

A well-written strategic plan is essential to the capital raising process for your company. It is a way for an investor to review your company's potential. Today, most investors and banks will not even consider putting money into your company without first seeing a strategic plan. So, take a look at some of the key factors to consider when organizing your strategic plan. For more information .

Order this Free White Paper: "But What Did It Cost Us?"
From the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors (NAW), you may now order the free white paper "But What Did It Cost Us? " The Innovations in Distribution Selling Research Series are quarterly white papers on critical distribution sales management topics. This series will give you maximum value for your minimum time investment. Each paper packs powerful insights and recommendations. Within an hour of downloading, you'll read and begin applying the lessons at your company.

WF&FSA SPOTLIGHT ON:

Electric Checks Makes Collecting Bad Checks Easy-and Free!
WF&FSA has endorsed Electric Checks as a more effective way to collect bounced checks for its members. Electric Checks takes advantage of a regulation that allows a third party other than a bank to electronically debit the bad check writer's account and (if funds are available) electronically credit the creditor's bank account. The service is available to WF&FSA members at no cost because the bad check writer pays a service fee. Read more .