WF&FSA netWORK, 8-31-11 Issue

WF&FSA's Free Electronic Newsletter

August 31, 2011

Hurricane Irene Visits WF&FSA Office
We apologize for the delay in sharing this netWORK to you, but Hurricane Irene paid a visit to the WF&FSA Office and left with our power. It took us a few days to get it back, but all is well now. Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience this may have caused. Thank you for your patience.

Registrations Are Pouring In for the WF&FSA Floral Distribution Conference -ACT NOW TO RESERVE YOUR 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.

You can gain great exposure in our industry by becoming an FDC sponsor. For a look at available sponsorships, just click here .

WF&FSA Welcomes New Member
WF&FSA would like to welcome it's newest member: Johnsen's Wholesale Florist of Beaumont, TX. For more information on WF&FSA membership and its benefits, visit www.wffsa.org.


In Memoriam - John Van Wingerden
After a brief illness and surrounded for ten days by all his children and grandchildren, John Van Wingerden, the last surviving brother of the "Dutch Brothers Nursery" passed away at age 87 at his home on Sunday, August 21, 2011.

He was born on March 9, 1924 in Naaldwijk, the Netherlands, the third of eight children. At age 23 he started his own nursery in his home town and in 1949 he married his longtime sweetheart Maria. Together they lovingly raised five children. Read more.

Proflora 2011, the first Carbon Neutral flower show
This Carbon Neutral effort confirms Colombian floriculture's commitment to its responsibility toward the environment, and substantiates its capacity for innovation and competiveness.

A carbon footprint is the total greenhouse gas or ‘GHG' emitted by direct or indirect activities from an organization, event or product. Calculating a carbon footprint entails measuring the total amount of ‘GHG' emissions (measured in CO2 equivalents) that get released into the atmosphere. In keeping with the significance of the global carbon-neutral trend, Bogotá Proflora 2011 will be the first 3-day Carbon Neutral flower show from September 28th - 30th. Read more.

Hon. Gabriel Silva, Colombian Ambassador to the USA Meets with AFIF Flower Importers
Highlighting the Importance on the FTA between Colombia and the USA
The Association of Floral Importers of Florida (AFIF) was honored to welcome the Ambassador of Colombia to the United States, Ambassador Gabriel Silva, to a luncheon that was attended by the AFIF Board of Directors and other AFIF importing company members. The Ambassador shared his views on the current situation in Washington DC regarding the Colombia FTA and the Andean Trade Preference Drug Eradication Act (ATPDEA) and expressed his appreciation for the excellent working relationship that exists between AFIF and the Embassy in Washington, D.C. "It was a good opportunity to listen to Ambassador Silva briefing us on the current status of the USA-Colombia FTA and all the difficulties in getting them approved by the U.S. Congress. This was a big surprise as we thought that when President Obama and President Santos shook hands at the White House in April 2011, everything was ready, and today we discovered that the FTA in far from being a reality and many American business and job positions are at risk. We need to urge our representatives and senators to vote in favor of the FTA when they return to Washington and gain support from our industry members all across the country" said Gabriel Becerra, AFIF Director and Golden Flowers President.

The second part of the Ambassador's visit included a meet and greet with some of the flower workers at one of the AFIF importing company's bouquet operations. The Ambassador was joined by South Florida's Congressman David Rivera. Edgar Lozano, President of USA Bouquet and an AFIF Board member, stated, "The opportunity to have Ambassador Silva tour the USA Bouquet production lines and talk one on one with the employees provided him with a first-hand look at just how important flowers are to the local economy as well as to our industry on a national basis."

For more information please contact Christine Boldt at Christine@afifnet.org.

2011 Michigan Floral Foundation Hall of Fame Dinner to Honor James O. Nordlie
A special evening honoring one of our industry's finest Mr. James O. Nordlie of Nordlie, Inc. will be held on Tuesday, September 20th. Since the beginning over 80 years ago Nordlie, Inc. has played an important role in the success of many companies in the floral industry.

The evening will begin with an open hosted reception from 6p-7p. Prior to dinner Mr. Robert Williams AAF, PFCI, VP North American Operations for Smithers - Oasis, and President of the Society of American Florists will provide attendees with a current industry economic snapshot and thoughts for future growth. Dinner will be served from 7p-8p. This will be followed by the Hall of Fame induction. The evening will conclude at 9p. For more information

Florists For Change Conference Establishes Framework For The Future Of The Floral Industry
Reprinted from Perishable News
Las Vegas, NV - A group of "brick and mortar" traditional retail florists known as Florists For Change concluded its inaugural conference at the Cosmopolitan Hotel in Las Vegas on August 19th, 2011. Attended by more than 100 retail florists from the United States and Canada, the group set the framework for its core principles for improving the economic condition for the retail floral industry.

The 3-day conference concluded with the establishment of the mission of the organization. Unanimously approved, the mission of Florists for Change is: To improve the economics of the retail florist by encouraging industry advertising, providing exceptional consumer value, and promoting equitable trading among florists. For more information .

Not Your Grandmother's Flowers: What combination of flower fragrance and color is preferred by young adult consumers?
Consumer trends in the floriculture market indicate that there is a need to introduce young adults ages 18-25 to floral products. There is an industry need to examine this audience segment, commonly referred to as "generation Y", not only in terms of buying trends but also to determine what factors influence their purchasing and retail shopping behavior. AFE Bulletin - 2011 - Issue Three . This research was conducted by University of Florida, Gainesville:

California Cut Flower Commission Offers New Quarterly Newsletter - Field Notes - If You Have Not Yet Signed Up, Do So 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!

Preston Bailey Designs Wedding Gown of Fresh Flowers
A stunning white gown made of orchids, hydrangeas and roses graces the cover of the fall issue of Munaluchi Bride, a new wedding magazine directed at women of color.

The gown was designed by celebrity wedding designer Preston Bailey, who says the feat was a dream of his.

"I've always had this fantasy of creating the ultimate bridal gown of all blooms," he said.

The strapless gown was inspired by a Marchesa gown and was created using 250 stems of white phalaenopsis orchids, 400 white hydrangeas, 300 white tibet roses and 100 pink rosita vendela roses. It is form-fitting with a dramatic skirt and train that expands at mid-thigh. A wave of large orchid blooms sweeps across the chest and over the right shoulder.

The gown took the design team of three people 24 hours to make.

Although not practical for a real wedding, a floral arrangement with similar blossoms is. If it was the bright, blooming orchids that caught your eye, indulge in a potted white or pink orchid plant that can be ordered online. Arrangements of white flowers are also widely available online. Ivory roses and baby's breath make a romantic bouquet while a combination of white daisies with yellow roses can send a playful and cheery message.

This article is brought to you by Teleflora - a leader in the flower delivery service for over 75 years. Teleflora helps its customers buy flowers online and specializes in bringing the freshest available flowers for a variety of holidays and occasions - all hand-delivered in keepsake vases by the best local florists.

Rising Prices Wilt Lebanon's Flower Industry
"The low income of Lebanese people and the high cost of living had a very negative impact on the flower industry this year as flowers sales dropped by 70 percent compared to last year, said Antoine Hwayek, president of the farmers' association.

According to an article published in As-Safir newspaper, the volume of flowers sales in Lebanon ranges between $18 million and $22 million yearly, but this figure has dropped by nearly 50 percent this year. "Losses in the flower sector reached $11 million in the first eight months of 2011," it said, quoting Elias Mansour, head of the committee responsible for the flower sector in the farmers' association. Read more . (The Daily Star :: Lebanon News :: http://www.dailystar.com.lb)

"Corpse Flower" Stinks, but Resembles Calla Lily
This article is brought to you by Teleflora
The campus at Western Illinois University in Macomb may have a slightly foul scent in the coming weeks, but it is not the chemistry or anatomy department that is to blame. In fact, the stench will waft from the Biological Sciences Botany Greenhouse, where the Titan Arum flower is blooming, according to the Belleville News-Democrat.

Also known as the "corpse flower," the rare bloom is in the same scientific family as calla lilies and philodendrons, reaching 20 feet tall and 15 feet wide. However, the strength of its stench matches up to its size. According to the news source, the blossom can smell like rotting meat. Read more .

Is The Customer Always Right?
By Nancy Friedman, the Telephone Doctor
Ask most folks and I'm betting the answer you hear will be, "Yes." Ask us at Telephone Doctor and we'll tell you, "The customer always thinks they're right." It's the perception of that you need to work with and, as we know, perception is reality.

If you go with our theory that the customer always thinks they are right, handling them and solving their problem will become a bit easier.
When the customer thinks they're right, they're right. IN THEIR MIND! And that's what is key. Instead of arguing with them and telling them they're wrong, get the mentality that they believe they are right. Think as they do. As we know, many times the customer can be wrong. Read more .

NLRB Issues Final Rule Requiring Private-Sector Employers to Post Notice of Labor Law Rights
The National Labor Relations Board has issued a final rule requiring most private-sector employers (whether or not they have union workers) to post a notice to notify employees of their rights under the National Labor Relations Act to engage in collective bargaining and join a union. The rule goes into effect on November 14, 2011. The notice is similar to the notice already required by Federal contractors. In addition to physically posting the 11 by 17 inch notice in the workplace, the rule requires a covered employer to post the notice on a company internet or intranet site if personnel rules and policies are customarily posted there. Employers are not required to distribute the notice to employees by email or other electronic means.

NAW filed comments in opposition to the NLRB's proposed rule on February 15, 2011, arguing that the notice is unnecessary, biased, beyond the NLRB's authority and a violation of employers' free speech rights.

NAW, the Coalition for a Democratic Workplace (CDW - which NAW helps manage), and other organizations argued in their comments to the NLRB on this rule that the Board does not have the statutory authority to mandate the posting of this notice. CDW is currently discussing whether to file a legal challenge to the rule based on the argument that the Board exceeded its authority. Other groups are engaged in similar discussions, and it is very likely that the rule will be challenged in court. (Please note that even if the rule is challenged, the posting of the rule will be required on November 14th unless a court enjoins enforcement of the rule pending final outcome of the litigation.)

The final rule (a 194 page pdf file) and a NLRB fact sheet may be viewed here .

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