The Wholesale Florists and Florist Suppliers Association (WF&FSA) has partnered with a U.K.-based Internet start-up to bring more online orders to retail florists.

Floral trends, flower care, gardening, fashion and horoscopes can all be read and talked about by both consumers and florists on Teleflora's new blog.

Across the industry, professionals in all segments are working to understand how the current economic situation will affect business. And while the economy itself may be working against the floral industry, retailers, wholesalers and growers have not been left defenseless.

In a concerted effort to get the economy back on track, President Bush and Congress have approved the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008. This act provides eligible taxpayers with a one-time payment designed to give the economy a much-needed shot in the arm. Curious about exactly how the economic stimulus payments will work?

Johnson County Community College in Overland Park, Kan., is hoping to fill the area's gap in floriculture training through a new floriculture certification program that will begin this August.

SAF member, Sylvia Cup winner, member of the Floriculture Hall of Fame and lifelong florist, Frances J. Poetker, died on March 4, 2008.  Poetker was the former owner and operator of Jones the Florist in Ohio. She was fondly referred to in the greater Cincinnati area as "the first lady of flowers."

Creating designs for any event on a strict deadline is tough. Now, imagine the stress if you were working on an event, being taped by a TV crew and being judged on your work — all at the same time. That's the exact situation three floral designers recently found themselves in when they participated in an episode of The Style Network's "Making It Big."

While it isn't exactly "big brother," a "big employer" is monitoring employees in offices around the country, according to Workforce Week, an e-newsletter published by Workforce Management.

Customers taking to the Internet to air their grievances may not be a new phenomenon, but a new Web site is adding a different element into the mix: Product manufacturers and company representatives.

The most important thing to consider before joining an online social networking community is whether your customers are active in social networking. That tip was one of many offered earlier this month by North Star Marketing during a teleconference on how business owners can tap into the marketing potential of various social networking sites.

Looking for way to market your floral business for Professional Secretaries Week (April 20-26)? Look no further than SAF's Business-to-Business materials, offering a large number of promotional tools to get you started. The materials promote the findings of SAF's Impact of Flowers and Plants on Workplace Productivity Study, which proves flowers and plants in the workplace increase productivity and inspire better business ideas.

• "Keys to Communication" by SAF's PFCI featuring Sharon McGukin, AAF, AIFD, PFCI: July 7, 2-3 p.m. in Chicago, in conjunction with the AIFD National Symposium.
• SAF Palm Beach 2008: Sept. 17-20, 2008, at The Breakers in Palm Beach, Fla.

Connect to consumers with the click of a mouse with Magnet Mail E-Mail Marketing and Newsletters! This easy-to-use online tool lets you create and send professional, vivid, branded e-mail promos and newsletters. Here's how it works: You just insert text into a customized e-newsletter or promotional template, upload your customers' e-mail addresses and click "Send." Messages are transmitted and can be tracked instantly. Special tools help you find and remove common "spam triggers," so your messages get through. There's even an online library of ready-to-use floral articles and photographs. SAF has negotiated discount member rates on this exclusive professional e-marketing tool.

One member seems to be keeping the discussion forums pretty active this week with wedding-related topics.

According to the results of last week's e-poll, most people seem to be able to keep their eyes open at work or at least know to take a nap when no one's watching.

What name do you use to promote the holiday that falls April 21 to 24 this year? (And we don't mean Passover, which this year, falls around the same time.)