HEADLINES

FloraStar Gives Remaining Funds to Endowment

More than just industry techniques and insight changed hands at OFA's short course this week.

FloraStar presents AFE with a generous check. Front row (l to r) Danny Takao, Mike H. Mellano, AAF, Bob Humm, Sten Crissey, AAF, Red Kennicott, AAF. Second row (l to r) Dave Niklas, Bob Maddux, AAF, and Gary Hudson.

On Monday, July 14, FloraStar, an association whose purpose was to develop and promote new varieties of potted plants, gave its remaining funds to the American Floral Endowment (AFE). The promotion program was dissolved last year after 19 years in business.

Bob Humm, former president of FloraStar, and Gary Hudson, former executive director, presented a check for $36,318.50 to AFE leadership, including Mike H. Mellano, AAF, chairman; Red Kennicott, AAF, chairman-elect; Sten Crissey, AAF, AFE vice president of development and industry relations and trustees Dave Niklas and Bob Maddux, AAF. Danny Takao, former FloraStar vice president, represented OFA during the presentation at the Columbus Convention Center.

"AFE has the most comprehensive programs in research and scholarships of any organization in the floral industry," Crissey says. "This donation from FloraStar will be of great benefit to the industry and we thank them."

FloraStar's former executives echo the sentiment that their money found fertile soil. "We are certain the donation will be used by AFE to continue to bring new and improved genetics to market in the years to follow," Hudson says.

For more information on AFE, visit endowment.org.

--Morgan Schimminger
mschimminger@safnow.org

  
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Gotta Buy a GUND: Enesco adds GUND to gift stable

Move over Boyds bears, there's another paw in the plush cage. The company that owns The Boyds Collection, Our Name is Mud and Bob Olszewski's Gallery of Light gift brands recently bought GUND, the plush company known for its teddy bears.

Enesco, LLC, recently announced its early July purchase of the 110-year-old family company business. Terms of the sale were not disclosed.

"The decision to sell our family's business ... was not easy," Bruce Raiffe, chairman and CEO of Edison, N.J.-based GUND, says in a statement. "Enesco has an appreciation for our associates with whom I feel fortunate to have worked with for many years."

Raiffe will retire from GUND but continue to serve on company's board of directors, reports ChicagoBusiness.com.

Officials with Itasca, Ill.-based Enesco say the acquisition is consistent with the company's strategy of "becoming a global leader in the gift, garden and home décor markets by internally building, buying and licensing the premier brands in the industry."

--Kori Kamradt
kkamradt@safnow.org

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USDA Announces New Requirement for Disaster Assistance

All agricultural producers, including nursery and greenhouse growers, should be aware of a specific provision in the new farm bill with which they must comply to be eligible for any available disaster program assistance. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the provision July 11.

To participate in any disaster program, the producer must have federal crop insurance or non-insured crop disaster assistance (NAP) coverage, if federal crop insurance is not available to them for purchase.

The USDA also announced a waiver this year from the deadline requirements for this "buy-in fee." The new deadline for paying the $100 fee is Sept. 16, 2008. By purchasing this one-time/one-year disaster coverage, producers are then eligible for Fiscal Year 2008 disaster programs. If producers do not purchase this coverage and do not have federal crop insurance or NAP coverage, they will be ineligible for any Fiscal Year 2008 disaster program participation.

This disaster payment does not afford producers regular crop insurance or NAP coverage, but simply allows them to participate in any FY2008 disaster programs. Interested producers should immediately contact their county USDA Farm Service Agency office.

Click on this link for the USDA press release.

--Morgan Schimminger
 mschimminger@safnow.org

 
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NEWSMAKERS

You've Got Plants: AOL Gives Props to Pots

Staring at a computer all day can leave even the most idea-generating employees sputtering for inspiration. One remedy to get the creative juices flowing, recently discovered by AOL Health, is plants.

--Morgan Schimminger
mschimminger@safnow.org

More Press Picks for Members

High insurance costs, deep roots, jaw-dropping designs earn coverage:

• To underscore the pressure of health care costs on small businesses, the New York Times interviewed two SAF members in a July 10 story. Carol Inskeep of Randy's Flowers in Culpepper, Va., put the issue into focus with this detail: Premiums were raised by more than 50 percent last year, after the owner turned 60. New Hampshire Florist Tom Massingham shared the frustration of his state's confusing price structure.

• "Hollywood has the Oscars. Sports has the Olympics. And the world of Floral Design has the AIFD National Symposium." That's how Chicago's ABC affiliate introduced a four-minute segment with Sharon McGukin, AAF, AIFD, PFCI, of Designer's Touch in Carrollton, Ga. The AIFD vice president talked trends, mentioned SAF's research about the emotional benefits of flowers and showed off designs by several SAF members.

• Deep roots in the bluegrass state earned the oldest continually operating florist and greenhouse in Kentucky an in-depth feature article in Lexington Business. The success of the 102-year-old Michler's in evolving to meet changing demand without sacrificing family tradition was the main thrust of the "Green at Heart" piece.

--Amanda Long
along@safnow.org

 

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AIFD Fires Up New Leadership, Nurtures Next Creative Crop of Designers

Walter Fedyshyn, AIFD, PFCI, is the new president of AIFD.

The American Institute of Floral Designers welcomed its new president, Walter Fedyshyn, AIFD, PFCI, and other officers during its 2008 National Symposium held over the Fourth of July weekend in Chicago. He succeeds Tom Simmons, AIFD, of Three Branch Palms Productions, Palm Springs, Calif.

Fedyshyn, of Anthony Gowder Designs in Chicago, who also just celebrated his 20th anniversary as an AIFD member, says he's looking forward to sharing his love of flowers and passion for design. One of his main goals is to see the Certified Floral Designer (CFD) program become a reality.

"AIFD's been working on this extremely important program for a long time now to make sure that we have all the particulars worked out," Fedyshyn says of what he thinks could be one of the group's "greatest contributions" to the floral industry.

Tina Stoecker, AIFD, PFCI, of Designs of the Times Florist in Melbourne, Fla., was installed as president-elect and Sharon McGurkin, AAF, AIFD, PFCI, a freelance instructional designer and floral commentator based in Carrollton, Ga., will be vice president.

Kokoro Okaya (left) of City College of San Francisco wins praise from Student AIFD Committee Co-Chair BJ Dyer, AIFD, for placing first overall in a student competition.

Also serving this year are Ann Jordan, AIFD, PFCI, of Ann Jordan Design Consulting in Naples, Maine, as secretary and Rich Salvaggio, AIFD, PFCI, of Teleflora, who will continue to be treasurer.

For a full list of officers, click here. 

The next generation of designers put their signature on the symposium during the Student Design Competition, where the City College of San Francisco (CCSF) garnered the top three spots.

Kokoro Okaya, a student at CCSF took home first place overall, while classmates Donovon Schinkel and Margaret Buxton placed second and third respectively. For winners in individual and challenging categories, including food-table design and napkin flower décor, go here.

--Kori Kamradt
kkamradt@safnow.org

 
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BUSINESS BUILDERS

PFCI Lifeguards Float Ideas to Rescue Image, Business

Top Photo: PFCI's Professional Lifesaving Lessons' Presenters (top row: Vince Butera, AIFD, PFCI; Deborah De La Flor, AIFD, PFCI; bottom row: Sherry Reinking, AAF, AIFD, PFCI; Jenny Stromann, staff liaison;  Joyce Mason-Monheim, AIFD, PFCI, AzMF; Jerome Raska, AAF, AIFD, PFCI, CAFA, MCF; Tina Stoecker, AIFD, PFCI. Bottom Photo: Sharon McGukin, AAF, AIFD, PFCI,  leading Keys to Communication. --Morgan Schimminger mschimminger@safnow.org

Clad in red shorts and armed with whistles, floaties, water guns and advice, six "lifeguards" soaked an AIFD National Symposium luncheon with pointers on professional image, shop environment and positive leadership.

The lifeguards were the Board of Trustees of SAF's Professional Floral Communicators — International (PFCI) presenting "Professional Lifesaving Lessons" during AIFD's 2008 National Symposium in Chicago July 3-7.

As part of PFCI's "Keys to Communication," Sharon McGukin, AAF, AIFD, PFCI, shared her secrets to give a winning presentation, in part by winning over attendees with her presentation.

Attendees took home a copy of "Public Speaking for Success" by Dale Carnegie, courtesy of Smithers-Oasis.

Click the links for handouts from Professional Lifesaving Lessons and Keys to Communication.

  
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GREEN HOUSE

Florverde Gets Global Green Certification

More than 100 Florverde-certified farms can tout their environmentally-friendly growing methods to the European market after obtaining an internationally recognized certification from The Global Partnership for Good Agriculture (GLOBALG.A.P.).

After passing a series of evaluations, Colombian farms already carrying the Florverde certification, which indicates their adherence to a number of social and environmental standards, will now also carry the GLOBALG.A.P. seal.

The European-GLOBALG.A.P. is a private sector organization that sets standards for the certification of agricultural products around the world. The certification is carried out by more than 100 independent and accredited certification bodies in more than 80 countries and includes annual inspections of the producers and additional unannounced inspections. More than 80,000 producers carry its seal.

"This is a decisive step for Colombian floriculture," says Augusto Solano, president of Asocolflores, the Colombian Association of Flower Growers. "In addition to offering the quality demanded by international markets, it validates compliance with the highest environmental protection standards on the part of our floriculturists."

The certification will allow Florverde to participate in discussions with other international farms that carry the seal about setting rules for agriculture and environmental practices worldwide.

--Kori Kamradt
kkamradt@safnow.org

 
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Florist to Brides: Don't Toss the Bouquet, Recycle It

Brides and their bouquets — it's a bond so fierce only a florist can truly appreciate its strength. (Especially if you witnessed a ceremonial breakdown over a bouquet boo-boo). Now, one florist is making it so brides never really have to let go of the big-day bouquet. Walter Knoll Florist, through its FloralNotes.com division, is recycling wedding flowers into thank you notes and seeds for a perennial garden.  The symbolism is almost too good to be true, the bride can literally plant the seeds of an annual reminder of her big day when she sends her flowers to a FloralNotes' paper mill.

"We're going greener and greener here and this helps pull all brides along with us," says Di Anderson of Walter Knoll. The stems-to-stationery manufacturing process uses 100 percent post-consumer waste and no VOCs, or volatile organic compounds that are often given off in chemical processing.

Don't go kicking yourself for not thinking of this green and gushy idea. Florists can participate by acting as partner dealers with FloralNotes.com, advertising the service to their bridal customers with in-store signage. The customers send their bouquets to FloralNotes.com, where they're turned into paper. The paper is embedded with seeds. FloralNotes.com sends the goods to the customer. So far, eight florists, including St. Louis-based Walter Knoll, are letting brides keep their grip on the bouquet a little while longer.

--Amanda Long
along@safnow.org

 

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TRENDWATCH

Florist Says 'Scram' to Scam

Florist Elizabeth Deabler says she never signed up to advertise in even one online directory, much less 13. But that hasn't stopped the directories from repeatedly calling and asking the Pennsylvania florist to pay up. Deabler is fighting back, filing complaints and warning other florists about the possible scams.

It started in October 2007, when Deabler, owner of Edgely Flowers & Gift Baskets in Levitttown, Pa., received a phone call asking for a $500 payment that she owed for advertising in an online business directory.

"I told [the representative], she must have the wrong people because I never signed up for any online advertising," Deabler says. "Then [the representative] said she was going to call the sheriff. I told her go ahead, I know the sheriff."

Deabler became more suspicious when the company, Nationwide Marketing Bureau, kept calling back and told her she could reduce her bill if she paid over the phone with a credit card. After several more confusing phone calls, she decided she needed some help. After calling around to several other local businesses to ask for advice, she filed complaints with the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General and the Federal Trade Commission and wrote a letter to the editor of the local newspaper.

In the response to the complaint, obtained by the Bucks County Courier Times, Jon Samson, site supervisor at Nationwide Marketing Bureau, blamed an employee for misrepresenting the company in her conversation with Deabler. He agreed with Deabler's contention that the florist had never authorized the listing.

Samson declined to comment on the case to the paper, but did say that if clients had an issue they should contact the company to resolve the issue.

After the Nationwide incident, Deabler received several more calls, from 12 other companies asking for money for similar online advertising directories. Deabler says she tells each one that she has contacted the attorney general and FTC, which usually stops the calls from coming.

"There was no way I was going to pay all these bills," Deabler says about what added up to be about $6,000. Deabler 's staff knows to hang up on anyone who mentions anything about online advertising and wants to verify a name and address. Something as simple as verifying an address or phone number to the companies, she warns, could be enough to sign the store up for a listing.

Deabler also encourages other florists who get similar calls to follow her lead and contact their state and federal officials and reach out to the local media, who might help alert other business owners to potential scams.

--Kori Kamradt
kkamradt@safnow.org

 
 
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LIFE AT WORK

Fiscally Fit: Lose Weight? Gain Bonus

Employers are watching a different bottom line when it comes time to hand out incentives. Employees who move the scales in the right direction, join a smoking-cessation class or do something to lower their health risks and the insurance costs of their employer are increasingly finding an added bonus to being fit.

Seventy-one percent of major U.S. employers use incentives to promote employer-sponsored health and wellness programs according to a new survey released by the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), the ERISA Industry Committee and consulting firm IncentOne. These incentives ranged in value from $100 to $300 a year per person, or an average of $192 per person per year.

"Employers are keenly interested in innovative ways to lower costs and enhance productivity," says John Engler, president and CEO of NAM. "Incentives are proving an effective tool to engage employees and keep them interested in these programs."

The most popular incentive is gift cards, followed closely behind with reductions on insurance premiums and cold hard cash.

Can't afford to initiate a formal wellness program at your shop? Consider starting a walking club where your staff gathers before or after business hours or secure a group discount with a local gym.

For more tips for keeping employees in top shape at your shop and the importance of promoting healthy living, check out the E-brief archives.

--Kori Kamradt
kkamradt@safnow.org

 
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MARK YOUR CALENDAR

Find Balance at SAF Palm Beach 2008

Are we so out of whack in this country that we need an institute dedicated to life balance? Yes, you with the BlackBerry at the soccer game, we sure are. And luckily, for SAF members, The Life Balance Institute will be sending instructor and author Sheryl Nicholson, CSP, to SAF Palm Beach 2008. On Friday, Sept. 19, her "How to Get a Life...Balanced!" seminar will equip you with take-home tools to improve productivity and find balance.

You'll learn how to pinpoint where you need help and how to better manage your daily tasks. Removing stress from home life, taking healthy risks and living with purpose are also on the list of equilibrium-setting tips up for the taking.

SAF's 124th Annual Convention is set for Sept. 17-20 at The Breakers in Palm Beach, Fla. Don't miss it. Register for SAF Palm Beach 2008 today.

Questions? Contact Laura Weaver, CMP at (800) 336-4743 or lweaver@safnow.org.

 
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On the Horizon

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

 
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REGULAR FEATURES

E-Brief Top Five

A Texas paper's coverage of the "In lieu of" issue was the most clicked story from last week's E-Brief. The presentation of AIFD's awards at its annual symposium, a British florist being forced to take down her shop's banner and a new form of lily making its debut at a Netherlands' flower show all ranked high on the list. Click on the links to the stories below to catch up on what you may have missed.

1. Texas Paper Unearths "In Lieu of Flowers" Fallout

2. AIFD Honors its Best and Brightest

3. Sign of the Stuffy Signs: British Florist Fined For Banner

4. New Lily Doubles the Fun

5. Fewer Flowers in the Pipeline: Floral Trend Tracker Tackles Impact On Industry

 
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Reader Feedback: 'In Lieu Of' Prompts E-mail In Defense Of Flowers' Comforting Nature

The most clicked story from last week's E-Brief may have put the focus on how Texas-area florists are trying to get rid of the "In lieu of flowers" phrase, but the troubling trend knows no borders.

Garlene Lewis of Floral Express in Little Rock, Ark., shared her own efforts to erase the "heartbreaking" words with E-brief editors.

When Lewis' mother died, the generous outpouring of flowers reinforced her belief in their power to comfort, one that resonates more than 20 years after her mother's funeral.

"I was overwhelmed by the flowers. I will never forget the impact that had on me," she wrote of the 1985 service. "Not because the flowers were beautiful, which they were, but it showed me the many, many friends she had, the people who cared for her. When the opportunity presented itself, I share the story about my mother's funeral [with customers] and the impact having all the beautiful flowers at her service had on me."

--Morgan Schimminger
mschimminger@safnow.org

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Product Spotlight: On Sale — SAF Postcards

Take advantage of the lowest prices ever offered for SAF's highly effective marketing materials. Members who use our postcards get results and now you can, too, while saving 30-50 percent on four select designs. Packets of our Instant Delight, Mother Nature's Social Security, How Are You Feeling Today? and Just Because postcards are just $3.95, no matter what quantity you order. Supplies are limited, so please call or visit the Web site today; (800) 336-4743.

  
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On the Discussion Boards

Written wedding contracts were the focus of a new discussion added to the discussion boards. The poster has had some brides-to-be asking for a signed contract from the florist that covers all the pertinent information. He likes the idea of "spelling out everything like when payment is due and cancellation or refund information." Do you know of a good written contract he can use or know where he can find one?

There were also posts about new wiring services and the hunt for the right POS system. Go ahead and respond to any of these topics or start your own discussion.

--Morgan Schimminger
mschimminger@safnow.org

 
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Dress Codes Addressed Primarily in Writing

Almost 38 percent of respondents to last week's e-poll have established a written dress code. Close to 38 percent have no dress code in place at their shop. Dress codes exist, but not in writing at 25 percent of respondents' shops.

--Morgan Schimminger
mschimminger@safnow.org

 
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Survey Says: High Fees Don't Put Brakes on Delivery

Eight out of 10 florists agree — demand for deliveries remains strong despite increased fees. The remaining 20 percent say higher fees have sapped delivery orders. The results were part of SAF's Fuel Survey in May and June.

Have Increased Delivery Fees Led to a Decline in Deliveries?

Source: SAF's online Fuel Survey of retail florists with e-mail addresses. Based on 603 responses (response rate 17 percent).

 
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