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Headlines |
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Industry Tunes into 'Green' Standard Process
More than 90 participants received a better understanding of the ongoing process underway to create the first U.S. national standard for sustainable agriculture during a teleconference held Jan. 7.
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'Preservation Celebration' Takes Top Prize at Rose Parade
Public appreciation for all things sustainable may be evident in the judges' pick for the grand prize winner at the 2008 Rose Parade — The opulent, Indian-inspired "Preservation Celebration" float captured this Sweepstakes Trophy at the Jan. 1 Rose Parade.
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Online, Brick and Mortar Holiday Sales Up
As SAF awaits holiday sales tallies from its recently e-mailed survey, here's a recap of how retail sales in general fared for Holiday 2007:
Online sales for the 57-day holiday season, from Nov. 1 to Dec. 27 were up 19 percent from the corresponding days last year, according to comScore, Inc. Total online sales were $27.96 billion in 2007 compared to $23.56 billion in 2006. The gain of 19 percent compared to an increase of 26 percent last year. For the entire holiday period through Dec. 31, online sales totaled $29.17 billion, also up 19 percent.
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Newsmakers |
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Consumers Get Holiday Help with Flowers
Consumers got some flower-friendly organizational advice to keep their homes guest-ready this post-holiday season, as SAF distributed a ready-to-print article, "Ready Your Home for Holiday Guests," to newspapers nationwide between October and December. This resulted in 98 newspaper placements, generating 4.5 million consumer impressions.
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Bankrate.com Dishes on Flower Options
For high-quality flowers and service, skip the Internet and head to a local florist: That's one of the messages Bankrate.com sent out to readers in a recent holiday-themed story, "Thrifty Gifting." The story, which encouraged readers to be frugal, not cheap, advocated flowers as an appropriate, well-received holiday gift, but it also stressed that not all flowers, or florists, are the same.
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Valentine's Day Notebook |
Charitable Deliveries
The local Kiwanis may prove to be a good source for free delivery help at Valentine's Day.
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Online Retailer Turns to YouTube
Three-quarters of Americans are using the Internet, and e-commerce accounts for $1 of every $10 spent across all retail channels in the U.S., so it comes as no surprise that flower retailers are turning their attention to the Internet to gain customers this Valentine's Day.
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Trends and Tips |
Kick January Business Blues to the Curb
You're finally past that period of holiday craziness in your shop, but now you're struggling to find a happy medium between a dreadfully slow January and very busy December. So how do you do it?
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Webcasts Find Their Way into Funeral Industry
While funerals may seem to be rooted in tradition, the funeral industry is working to stay ahead of the curve on the latest technology trends. Testament to this is an increasing number of funeral homes offering funeral Webcasting.
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Mark Your Calendars |
Coming Up...
• Deadline for SAF Awards nominations and PFCI and AAF applications: Feb. 1, 2008.
• Valentine's Day: Feb. 14, 2008 — prepare by visiting SAF's Valentine's Day Resource Center.
• SAF's Congressional Action Days: Feb. 25-26, 2008, in Washington, D.C. Register online.
• SAF's Pest Management Conference: Feb. 28-March 1, 2008, in Atlanta. Register online.
• SAF Palm Beach 2008: Sept. 17-20, 2008, at The Breakers in Palm Beach, Fla.
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Regular Features |
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Product Spotlight: Business-to-Business Kit
Need some fresh ideas for landing corporate accounts in the New Year? Try SAF's Business-to-Business Kit (scroll down and click on Business-to-Business materials). This powerful package of step-by-step advice, promotional ideas and creative materials will help you pursue and preserve commercial clients, and in turn, increase your sales. In this kit, you'll find: a 6-page brochure of step-by-step advice and promotional tactics on establishing and maintaining business clients; sample pitch and follow-up letters to prospective and current clients; sample telephone pitch script; customizable camera-ready flier promoting the benefits of flowers and plants in the workplace; customizable camera-ready Rolodex card; customizable camera-ready customer satisfaction survey; a sample postcard; and a sample Sales Presentation Portfolio.
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Promoting Valentine's Day
Window displays, used by two-thirds of retail florists, was the Number 1 means used to promote Valentine's Day in 2007, as it was in 2006.
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