WF&FSA netWORK, 12-6-11 Issue

WF&FSA's Free Electronic Newsletter

IN MEMORIAM - JIM RICCARDI

WF&FSA learned this weekend from Dwight Larimer of DESIGN MASTER color tool that Jim Riccardi passed away.  Jim spent many years in the flower business.  

Here is information provided by Dwight:

Dear all,

On Saturday morning, we lost Jim Riccardi. He fought gallantly but the Cancer was too much.

Jim Riccardi has been away from the floral industry for many years. He was the Riccardi in Seagroatt/ Riccardi Floral Distributors in Latham, New York. He is Ed Seagroatt’s cousin. Together they founded Seagroatt/ Riccardi Floral Distributors in 1988. Shawn Seagroatt is currently President of Seagroatt/Riccardi.

In 1995, Jim Riccardi left the floral industry and founded his own business. Here is a link (http://mrecovery.com/15_aboutJim.htm) to Jim’s business since leaving flowers.

He had a signature saying he shared with everyone he met! He was quick to say…”you are the BEST!” Truth be known, Jimmy was the BEST!

Please keep his wife Gayla, and their two boys James and Joseph in your prayers.

The funeral was held today in Loudonville, New York.

WF&FSA sends its condolences to the entire Riccardi family as well as his family at Seagroatt/Riccardi Floral Distributors.

Here Are Your Golden Nuggets - Take Home Tips From the 2011 Floral Distribution Conference!

We understand there was a problem with the link in our netWork of November 22, 2011.  We are sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused.  Here you will find the active link to help you review the “take home” tips from the 2011 Floral Distribution Conference, prepared by Rob Shibata.

During the 2011 Floral Distribution Conference, the WF&FSA Committees presented in-depth workshops on the following topics:

• Marketing to Event Planners
• Controlling Outbound Logistics
• How to Profit from New Technologies
• The Productive Sales Force – Using Social Media

Great nuggets of information were shared and thanks to Rob Shibata of Mt. Eden, here is the summary of tips gathered from these workshops. We hope you find this information useful and helpful.  Again, thanks to Rob Shibata for pulling together this information!


The WF&FSA Technology Committee has undertaken a project to address the ever increasing demand for seamless transfer of data, in this case specifically product information. Please read the information below to understand the power that this tool can provide to your company. For more information, click here.

2012 WF&FSA Management Institute to Be Held March 1-3, 2012 in Nashville, Tennessee
Every Sales Organization Can Improve,  Will Yours?

WF&FSA will return to Nashville, Tennessee for its 2012 Management Institute featuring Jim Pancero, renowned sales presenter.  This year’s focus will be on Steps to Increasing Your Team’s Competitive Advantage and Profitability.  Learn why investing in proactive future-focused sales coaching and leadership is critical, learn how to answer why someone wants to buy from your company, explore how to sell more and dig into selling best practices during this interactive program.

Jim's sales and sales management training is the most advanced approach being taught in corporate business today.  As Jim says, “Every Sales Organization Can Improve.  Having worked in-depth with more than 500 sales teams since my first selling job in 1969 I am confident every sales organization can improve, and each salesperson, no matter what their experience or level of success, can always sell more!" 

Watch your mail for registration details soon!

AFE Releases Research Study on Longevity Guarantees for Flowers

The American Floral Endowment (AFE) just released a comprehensive Public Benefits study on Longevity Guarantees for Flowers. This multi-part study examines several aspects of consumer preferences for longevity guarantees on flowers including: consumer willingness to pay for longevity guarantees, consumer preferences for longevity labels on cut flowers and consumer preferences for redeeming longevity guarantees. The study was conducted by Chengyan Yue, Ph.D., at the University of Minnesota, with support from Alicia Rihn, University of Minnesota, Bridget Behe, Ph.D., Michigan State University, and Charles Hall, Ph.D., Texas A&M University.

Guarantees are used in many different industries to entice consumers to purchase products, but they are rarely used in the floriculture industry. This study seeks to examine the consumer impact of longevity guarantees on flowers.

One of the key findings in the study was that 76% of participants indicated that a longevity guarantee on flowers would impact their purchasing decisions. Specifically, participants were willing to pay 3% more for a guaranteed flower arrangement than a flower arrangement with equal longevity but no guarantee.  Read more.

SAF Urges Flexible Health Care Definitions
Reprinted Courtesy of SAF E-Brief, November 23, 2011

SAF expressed its concerns to the White House Tuesday about the definitions of “full-time,” “part-time” and “seasonal” employees, which ultimately will determine how many workers growers, wholesalers and retailers must insure under the new health care reform law.

As a member of the steering committee of the Employers for Flexibility in Health Care Coalition, SAF joined coalition partners in encouraging regulators to recognize employers’ concerns about flexibility, affordability and practical administrative procedures as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) is implemented. Corey Connors, SAF’s senior director of government relations, attended the meeting, which the White House requested. In addition, representing the Obama administration were officials from seven agencies responsible for aspects of the new law.

SAF joined the coalition in stressing that many of the regulations being developed under PPACA could pose challenges that would be a hardship on small businesses with large numbers of part-time and seasonal workers, including many SAF members.  Read more.

USDA To Host Webinar on Specialty Crop Block Grants
Reprinted courtesy of SAF Washington Washington Week in Review, December 2, 2011

Groups or researchers interested in gaining access to funds to promote floral and nursery crops may want to register for a free webinar on the USDA’s “Specialty Crop Block Grants” program. The interactive webinar is scheduled for Thursday, December 15, from 2 to 3 pm EST, with a live question and answer session following the formal webinar presentation.

Interested? Go to this website to register before the December 9 deadline.  Read more here.

A California Grown Rose Parade

As is tradition, the California Cut Flower Commission is working with the students of CalPoly to help provide America's best source of high quality flowers to adorn their float for the journey down Colorado Boulevard on January 2 for the annual Tournament of Roses Parade.  To help secure the "CA Grown" designation for their float this year, the CCFC has also been working with the students to secure non-floral related items from California.

"When you think of the Rose Parade floats, you think of flowers," shares CCFC CEO/Ambassador Kasey Cronquist.  "However, you'd be amazed at how much of the floats are made up of non-floral items like seeds."  Read more.

2012 University of Industrial Distribution – Forget the Industrial!
March 5-8, 2012, Indianapolis, Indiana

I know, I know.  Why would WF&FSA promote a University of INDUSTRIAL Distribution?  Despite the name, this program is designed for all distributors and wholesalers – here is a sampling of the courses offered during this four day program:

• Marketing Strategies
• Pricing Strategies
• How to Improve Any Sales Force
• Creating a Winning Marketing Plan
• Creating a Competitive Distinction
• Profit Myths in Wholesale Distribution
• Branch and Operations Management
• Managing the Account Portfolio
• How to Get Paid for Service Value
• And more!

Presented by the leading industry trade associations, including WF&FSA, and delivered by content experts and nationally recognized university faculty members, the UID program is now in its seventeenth year and is recognized as "the source for distribution management education and cross-industry networking."

To learn more about this program, please click here.

WF&FSA SPOTLIGHT ON:
 
Up to 53% off select FedEx Express U.S. shipments. Up to 45% off select FedEx Express international shipments. FedEx Ground - This small-package program provides members with savings up to 18% off select shipments. FedEx Freight savings up to 62% off select shipments. FedEx Office savings up to 20% off select services. For More Information.