Koehler & Dramm’s Fall & Winter Classic Design Showcase kicks off the holidays
MINNEAPOLIS — Koehler & Dramm Wholesale Florist held its 2015 Fall & Winter Classic Design Showcase & Trade Fair Oct. 10-11, here.
SAF brings events to more cities
A new partnership between the Society of American Florists and some of its wholesaler members is making education more affordable and bringing it closer to home for many retail florists, according to a news release.
On Nov. 14, SAF will host its 1-Day Profit Blast in Des Moines, IA.
The program will include insight on business, technology, trends and design, along with a supplier showcase.
To offset costs and keep the registration rate low, the Bill Doran Co. is underwriting the program.
SAF launched its 1-Day Profit Blast two years ago.
Martin Meskers new president of Society of American Florists
Martin W. Meskers, president at Oregon Flowers Inc., a wholesale cut flower nursery in Aurora, OR, became president of the Society of American Florists during the association’s annual convention in September, according to a news release.
The SAF board of directors elects the president and president-elect and each position serves a three-year term.
Jack Van Namen retires after a lifetime of service to the floral industry
Jack Van Namen was recently honored with a lifetime achievement award and thanked for his 48 years of service to the industry at a luncheon in honor of his retirement at Kennicott/Vans in Alsip, IL, according to a news release.
Robert Kitayama named president at Greenleaf, Rob Spikol new COO
Greenleaf Wholesale Florist, headquartered in Brighton, CO, announced the appointment of Robert Kitayama as president. He succeeds Scott Kitayama, who has led Greenleaf for the past 13 years but is now stepping down to pursue other interests inside and outside of Greenleaf.
He is also the current president at Kitayama Bros. in Watsonville, CA, and previously spent 14 years at Greenleaf in various management positions. The Kitayama group of companies has been growing and distributing flowers in the United States for over 67 years.
Optimize Valentine’s Day sales with advance planning and professionalism
Valentine’s Day 2016 falls on a Sunday for the first time since 1999. History teaches us that sales fall within a three-day period. When the holiday falls on a Sunday, consumers’ purchasing patterns may change, yet chances are you will see your strongest sales on Saturday, Feb. 13.
Since Valentine’s Day purchases are usually impulsive, coming out on top takes advance planning and professionalism. You need the right amount of quality products and selection to set yourself apart from your competition.
Continental Flowers celebrates grand opening of new Florida facility
Continental Flowers, a grower, importer and distributor of cut flowers, celebrated the grand opening of its new distribution center Oct. 21 in Doral, FL, coinciding with the Wholesale Florist & Florist Supplier Association’s Floral Distribution Conference Oct. 21-23.
We made it this far but ‘it ain’t over till it’s over’
We’ve made it through several fall shows and a couple of holidays — PMA Fresh Summit; the WF&FSA Floral Distribution Conference; ProFlora; Dia de los Muertos and Halloween — and now October is in the history books. However, in remembrance of baseball great Yogi Berra, who died Sept. 22, we all know that “it ain’t over till it’s over.” November in the floral industry is merely the gateway to the upcoming holidays and pre-planning is essential for your holiday success.
Quaker City Produce closing doors by week’s end
Seventeen days after the death of company patriarch Jimmy Storey, his family business, Quaker City Produce, will close its doors on the Philadelphia Wholesale Produce Market.
Storey died Oct. 13 after several years of health issues. His son, Peter Storey, told The Produce News Oct. 28 that the firm would be closing its doors Oct. 30.
Peter Storey and his stepmother, Megan Storey, have been running the business through the years of Jimmy Storey’s illness.