Stem counts of ornamental crop imports are down this season by almost 9 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Last season at this time more than 2.15 billion stems were imported from sources outside the United States compared to only 1.96 billion so far this season.

"The best design in the world is no good unless you teach it to someone else." Fitting words, spoken by the individual who was given the design community's highest honor for, among other things, his seemingly unlimited capacity for teaching and mentoring other designers.

Jamie Raley recently kicked his decades-long tobacco habit. The Maryland farmer can thank Gary Mangum of Bell Nursery and some local government officials for helping him get on a new healthier regimen — at least one healthier for his business.

The overuse of "In lieu of flowers" in obituaries made local news recently in a Texas newspaper.

Be different but not for the sake of being different. That was the resounding call to action coming from this year's Seeley Conference at Cornell University.

She won't be designing in a swimsuit, but former Sports Illustrated cover girl Kathy Ireland is hoping to make a splash and turn some heads with her latest brand extension into the flower business. The marketing and merchandising force of Kathy Ireland Worldwide that's put its signature on home furniture, lighting and even maternity wear is now partnering with Florabundance of Carpinteria, Calif.

Do you recycle your boxes? Use energy-efficient coolers? Your Mother Nature-pleasing actions don't just help the "Environment" with a capital "E" but also the environment right there in your shop. Research shows that "green" practices can increase employee retention.

Some thought the new double Oriental lily showcased at the Keukenhof Lily Show held in May was just too good to be true.

In 2007, 1.8 million assaults occurred in American workplaces and the weapon of choice in most of them was the fist. Those sobering statistics come from Larry Barton, a crisis management and workplace violence expert who shared his insights at the recent National Retail Federation Loss Prevention Conference.

Flip-flops and cut-off shorts may seem like obvious no-no's when it comes to proper work attire, but don't assume your employees know what's expected of them unless you make a point to discuss — or spell out — your shop's dress code.

Say your shop's just been named Flower Shop of the Year by a very prestigious and rigorous group of judges. You'd want to tell the world about it — or, at the very least, the world walking by your shop, via a prominent sign.

We know the positive benefits for those who receive flowers, but what does it do for the giver? And how can you parlay that information into more sales? Make sure you attend the Marketing Breakfast: The Power of Giving Flowers from 7:00 to 8:45 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 19 at SAF Palm Beach 2008. Don't miss the opportunity to hear about the industry's newest research and how it's helping you sell flowers.

The study, funded by the American Floral Endowment (AFE), focuses on how people perceive those who give flowers. World-renowned researcher and psychologist Jeannette Haviland-Jones, Ph.D., of Rutgers University will present the study findings. SAF Consumer Marketing Committee Chair Dwight Larimer, AAF, will discuss how SAF is promoting the news to consumers. You'll learn first-hand facts on the study results and what they mean for the industry as well as invaluable tips on how to capitalize on the research for your business.

Get complete convention details now. Read about it online or download the full brochure using the links below:

Retailer Brochure

Wholesaler/Importer Brochure

Grower/Supplier Brochure

SAF and ANLA join Yoder Brothers, Inc., Ball Horticultural Company and GroLink, the major U.S. propagation and breeding companies, in presenting an important opportunity for growers — a free, 30-minute educational Webinar on Chrysanthemum White Rust.

CWR is a quarantine-significant pest, so it's particularly important for growers to be aware of the steps they can take to avoid the disease in their fall chrysanthemum crops.

•  SAF Palm Beach 2008: Sept. 17-20, 2008, at The Breakers in Palm Beach, Fla.

SAF/Hortica's first industry-wide health insurance plan was the top story from last week's E-Brief. SAF responding to Country Living encouraging its readers to bypass florists and the number of retail florists continuing to decline were also high on the list.

SAF and its longtime partner, Hortica Insurance & Employee Benefits, have created the first association health insurance plan exclusively for SAF members. Current members from all segments of the industry — retailers, wholesalers, growers and suppliers — are eligible to participate. In cooperation with Trustmark Affinity Markets, a division of Trustmark Life Insurance Company, SAF and Hortica have built a unique program designed to help you, the floral business owner, better manage rising health insurance costs while offering quality health benefits to your family and staff. The program is available now in most states, with more areas being added soon. To check availability in your state, and for more information about the SAF Health Insurance Plan, contact Hortica at (800) 851-7740.

Establishing a frequent buyer program and whether or not Web sites bring in revenue were just some of the topics on this week's discussion boards.

Almost 47 percent of respondents to last week's e-poll allow their employees to modify their work hours to save on commuting costs.

Value of Cut-Flower Imports by Top Five Countries

Source: USDA, Foreign Agricultural Service, 2008.

Cut-flower imports from Colombia surpassed $507 million in 2007, outpacing the values from the next four major sources combined. Of the collective $831.4 million of cut-flowers imported by the United States, Colombia accounted for 60 percent. Colombia and Ecuador accounted for 80 percent of the total value. Get additional data on imports from the Summer 2008 issue of Floral Trend Tracker.