Feature

Leading Edge Floral Professionals

It seems to me that WFE exhibitors and attendees alike are the most forward thinking professionals in the industry. Or, maybe those are just the people I happen to run into there. In any case... David Kaplan, Sandy O'Neil, and John Henderson kept three computers in the Floral Alliance Connection booth busy throughout the entire WFE demonstrating the inventory control, invoicing, and report features of the floral industry software and exhibiting samples of a wide variety of high quality flowers and foliage that the Alliance can source for clients.

David Kaplan explained, "Our mission is to help floral providers to efficiently find sources of competitively-priced, quality flowers, improve logistics of the business, and help growers establish prestigious accounts. We do this through a two-fold method; by acting as a liaison to introduce and solidify relationships between sellers and buyers, as well as by providing software technology."

Floral Alliance Connection provides the SMART Systems Floral Software for Growers, Importers and Wholesalers. For additional information contact John Henderson, President at 727-483-7450 or john@floralallianceconnection.com or David Kaplan, CEO at 727-483-7449 david@floralallianceconnection.com.

Sarah Hamilton of Wholesale Florist & Florist Suppliers Association was at WFE promoting their upcoming November 3-5 Floral Distribution Conference at the Doral, in Miami, FA. WFFSA is known throughout the industry as one of our foremost educational resources. Throughout the year they offer various seminars, forums, and programs in person and virtually in order to keep their wholesale, supply, and support members on the cutting edge of industry possibilities. Their November conference boasts an all new shortened format with an affordable price.

Sarah says, "The conference still promises plenty of opportunities for Networking, Education, Commerce, and Business Meetings before, during, and after the official schedule". It begins on Wednesday evening with a reception held in the exhibit area. Continuing all day Thursday and a half day on Friday, the conference will feature essential education programs for wholesalers and suppliers and plenty of networking time.

There will be an opportunity for attendees to see the table top displays at meal functions and break times. For schedule, fee structure, registration, and more details visit www.wffsa.org and click "Floral Distribution Conference" under the "Events" tab.

During the show Barbara Montes, Territory Manager for Chrysal Americas had samples of product, news items, and research reports to for her visitors to see. Chrysal takes pride in creating excellence in care for cut flowers — from harvest to the moment they bloom in a vase.

For each stop in the life of a cut flower — grower, wholesaler or bouquet maker, super market or florist, and even the consumer — Chrysal offers just the right product for long lasting beauty. Studies have shown time and time again that using commercial flower food is the absolute best way to keep your flowers fresher longer.

You can find extensive information about Chrysal products, cut flower care, and results of their research on their website www.Chrysal.com and a home-study course on their site www.chrysalacademy.com. When it comes to flower care products there is something for everyone from Chrysal.

It's the end of the show and Patricia has finally had time to sit! Here she's sharing stories with Marcela Garzon Henao, Relationship Manager and Adriana Hernandez, Sales & Marketing Manager of Liberty Blooms an American importer and exclusive distributor of Uniflor flowers (poms, disbuds, chrysanthemums, hydrangeas) from Colombia.

WFE is a great show for suppliers to see what growers are producing, to meet new vendors, and reinforce existing relationships. This up-close-and-personal experience is a not to be missed annual gathering of leading the edge floral professionals who have the best interest of the industry at heart.

More pictures from the World Floral Expo can be seen on their website: www.WorldfloralExpo.com and on the Flower Godmother blog: www.FlowerGodmother.com (Jessica Keats Designs, Full Pot Farms, Floreco Inc., Floraustral Chile, Premier Floral Corporation, Florana Farms, Bellaflor Group, Flower of the World, and De Ruiter Innovations) along with my consumer commentary for each picture.