Survey shows 2010 floral spending recovering slowly
MIAMI BEACH, FL — Average annual floral spending, an estimated $184 in 2010 for all U.S. households, is recovering from the Great Recession, when it bottomed out at $180 in 2007 at the beginning of the downturn. But with the slow recovery it still lags behind the robust pre-recession level of $191 in 2000, according to a study by Prince & Prince, a market research firm in Columbus, OH.
IFE closes out Miami Beach run with uptick in exhibits, buyers
MIAMI BEACH, FL — The International Floriculture Expo closed out a five-year run at the Miami Beach Convention Center here with an uptick in exhibitors — 211 booths, 30 more than last year — and buyers, with nine out of the top 10 supermarket chains and “key buyer” attendance up 11 percent over 2012. Next year’s IFE show will be held June 10-13 at the Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, it was announced at the show.
How can supermarkets sell more Christmas trees?
Hello and happy Christmas in July to everyone. How can supermarkets sell more Christmas trees? First we must ask what the customer is looking for. Most people today move at a fast pace and don’t have a lot of extra time to shop for a Christmas tree. So we need to try to make their shopping experience as convenient and enjoyable as possible.
Fraser fir moves from ‘no respect’ to stardom in three decades
The North Carolina Fraser fir was the Rodney Dangerfield of the forest in the 1970s — it got no respect. Today, it has reached stardom, accounting for upwards of $75 million in sales and chosen by more than 20 percent of consumers who buy farm-grown Christmas trees.
The Fraser fir is a 12-time winner of the national tree competition, displayed at the White House more than any other variety of Christmas tree. It is native to the Western Appalachian Mountains and now makes up 90 percent of all Christmas trees grown and harvested in North Carolina.
Market Street stores offer Texas-grown floral in Best of Texas Expo
Market Street stores offered floral items — a Texas-grown greenery bouquet and basil and assorted herbs — in its annual Best of Texas Expo that took place weekends in July at all 11 Market Street stores in north and west Texas.
Bradley Gaines, director of floral for United/Market Street, said the heat and drought had limited floral offerings for the Best of Texas events that ended the last weekend in July. During the expo, stores featured top products from the Lone Star State, and had sample appetizers, entrees and desserts made from products grown in Texas.
Reflections on a floral career: Supermarkets have strategic advantage
After 17 years in the floral business, I will be retiring from Price Chopper Supermarkets Aug. 1. Here is a brief reflection on my career in floral.
I began in sales and marketing at a traditional regional wholesaler. In nearly every industry, the wholesale segment is getting squeezed out or eliminated, and floral is no exception. I would say the biggest learning I gained in wholesale floral was about the conventional florist. If you look at the absolute number of florists, there has been a precipitous decline over the past two decades.
O’Hare center gets Chicago city council approval
The lease agreement for a $2 million perishables center at O’Hare International Airport in Chicago was approved by the city council there in a unanimous voice vote on June 26, two days after approval by the council’s committee on aviation. The ordinance calls for city officials to execute the lease within 30 days, according to Karen E. Pride, director of media relations for the Chicago Department of Aviation.
Billion-dollar U.S. Christmas tree industry expected to see sales rise
The farm-grown Christmas tree industry in this country is a billion-dollar industry that sold 24.5 million trees last year, and 2013 should see an increase, according to Rick Dungey, public relations director of the National Christmas Tree Association in Chesterfield, MO.
NORCAL Sun ’N Fun expands tours, ed sessions, draws 400-plus
SANTA BARBARA, CA — Expanded grower tours, more education sessions, a golf tournament on a championship course, awards, a floral fashion show with wearable floral craftsmanship, a flower fair with 42 exhibitors, convention grounds decorated by a team of seven floral designers — all were on hand, along with a record crowd of more than 400 for the NORCAL Sun ‘N Fun Weekend here July 17-20.
It’s show time; trade pacts in spotlight
It’s show time. NORCAL held its biennial Fun ‘N Sun Weekend earlier this month, and we have a report filed at press time from the show.
Also in this issue are photos from the International Floriculture Expo in Miami Beach, FL, which will move to New Orleans next summer. The Southern California Expo of the Fresh Produce & Floral Council was also held this month in Anaheim, CA.