The Floral Logistics Coalition, a group of floral companies and associations, launched a pilot program last week as a step toward improving the movement of products through the supply chain. 

The arrangement has to be at the funeral home by noon. Your delivery driver only has to travel five miles and leaves at 11:30 a.m., giving him plenty of time. But he has to sit through four traffic light cycles before he can get through an intersection, so he's late.

Social consciousness, in everything from going green to focusing on health issues, is becoming a more prevalent theme with local businesses -- recent statistics by the Cone Cause Evolution Survey state that "more than two-thirds of Americans say they consider a company's business practices when deciding what to buy, while American workers in increasing numbers say they want their employers to support a social cause or issue."

On July 22, in Tucson, Ariz., about 23 floral industry members delivered 409 floral arrangements in less than an hour.

How do florists respond to a TV personality's "Send me flowers" request? With not one or two bouquets, but dozens of get well wishes in the form of flowers, gift baskets, cookies and stuffed teddy bears.

BloomNet, the order fulfillment arm of 1-800-Flowers.com, is reshaping its senior management team with the expansion of three personnel roles.

Flowers have been added to the list of things passing between the 31 million estimated members of Facebook, a social networking Web site where users create profiles, share photos and send messages.

672,000. That's the number of small businesses created in 2005, according to the Small Business Administration, as reported by The New York Times. Others have opened since then -- and many more are coming.

Record high temperatures across the United States, and even throughout Europe -- as shown on a nationwide spectrum of today's newspaper front pages -- should have business owners looking at ways to prevent on-the-job heat-related illnesses.

Designers who are masters of the principles and elements of design, and enjoy camaraderie, the thrill of competition and Palm Springs, Calif., should participate in the Sylvia Cup Design Competition.

Help strengthen the floral industry's voice on Capitol Hill (and have fun doing it!) by joining your fellow industry members for a round of golf on the breathtaking PGA-West Mountain Course at the La Quinta Resort and Club, during the SAFPAC Golf Tournament at SAF Palm Springs 2007!

The Ultimate Floral Industry Supply Guide is the place to to fufill all of your floral needs, from the everyday to the exotic -- and it just got even easier to find what you need.

One florist with a new business is wondering how she should price sample wedding bouquets and centerpieces that brides request. Weigh in.

Fifty-seven percent of readers responding to the previous week's e-poll say they have had an employee sustain a serious injury (requiring a trip to the emergency room) while at work.

The number of retail florist establishments fell to 22,750 in 2002, according to the most recent U.S. Economic Census, down from 26,200 (13.2 percent) in 1997.