The Melting Pot stands firm on its recent use of negative remarks about flowers in a promotion, despite SAF efforts to dissuade the company.

Industry buyers can expect lower supplies and higher prices as the Colombian peso continues to appreciate against the U.S. dollar. Inflation and peso re-evaluation is forcing exporters to look for solutions to stay in business.

The American Institute of Floral Designers (AIFD) is adding business education to its historically design-dominated National Symposium, and SAF is a part of the new lineup.

Rocket Farms of Salinas, Calif., is hoping to get some media and consumer attention at Mother's Day, with its "Who's Your Momma" contest. The potted orchid grower is holding a contest that asks consumers to submit a photo of their moms with an orchid, and the grand-prize winner will receive an orchid plant each month for the upcoming year.

1-800-Flowers.com recently launched a new production company that will create broadcast commercials, corporate videos and original programming for 1-800-Flowers and, for a fee, corporate clients and retailers.

It may not have taken place in "Kitchen Stadium," but the Nebraska Florist Society's (NFS) take-off on the Food Network's Iron Chef television show had just as much intensity.

Can't figure out why your new hires keep slipping away after less than a year? You're not alone, according to Workforce Week, an e-newsletter published by Workforce Management.

Trying to figure out a way to take advantage of her shop's location off a main drag in Pittsburgh, Cheryl Bakin, owner of Parkway Florist, reached back to her youth for ideas. It paid off, she now sees a couple hundred dollars more in cash and carry purchases every week.

Twenty-two percent of U.S. consumers whose mothers are still alive will buy flowers for mom this Mother's Day, according to a Harris Interactive poll.

Wondering what to expect at SAF's Palm Beach 2008?

• "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.

Topping E-Brief's "most-clicked" list last week were stories about congressional legislation proposed to address the issue of rising credit card interchange fees, and another about a wholesaler's very successful 10th anniversary event.

Electronic marketing is at your fingertips with MagnetMail E-Mail Marketing and Newsletters! 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.

 On the discussion boards this week are quite a few responses to posted queries.

March revenues were worse than expected for almost 60 percent of respondents to last week's e-poll.

Preferred Types of Plants and Flowers for APW/PSW

Source: SAF Post-holiday online survey of retail florists. Based on 307 responses (9 percent response rate). Data rounded to sum of 100 percent.

Fresh cut flowers win over green and flowering plants for Administrative Professionals Week (APW) Week, according to the results of last year's post-holiday survey of retail florists.