Time to wake up and smell — or sell — the roses
Time to wake up and smell — or sell — the roses
The recently published Prince & Prince Market Report (http://www.floralmarketresearch.com/market_report-5.htm) describes a surprising “wake-up call for the industry with a historical downward trend in consumer floral purchasing for Valentine’s Day.” So what do you think? I’m curious to hear your feedback on this report that florists are losing holiday market penetration to other gift choices, because I imagine it doesn’t feel that way to you during the intensity of this month.
When the dust settles from the Valentine’s Day holiday rush, hopefully you will grab your preferred beverage and sit back and read about our coverage of life after Valentine’s Day. And you know what that means — after you briefly exhale, it’s time to gear up and prepare for the spring holidays and prom season.
I had the pleasure of attending the Tropical Plant Industry Expo in Fort Lauderdale, FL, in January and in this issue I share some highlights and photographs from that annual Sunshine State event. It is a very well-run and comprehensive trade show and I thoroughly enjoyed meeting so many knowledgeable industry professionals and seeing the wide diversity of beautiful plant products.
Also in this issue, Bill Prescott reminds us of the floral potential of International Women’s Day, Kelvin Frye shares his insights on container trends, Steve Rose expounds on prom bling and Jacque Sir Louis writes about the importance of sustainability. Additionally, we cover recent business acquisitions as well as upcoming industry shows, conventions, trade fairs and educational programs. World Floral Expo and SAF Congressional Action Days are right around the corner and I do hope that spring is also.
Richard Lutes is the floral editor and floral sales manager of The Produce News. He can be contacted at 763/595-9559 or [email protected].