Haslett, MI – Plans are underway for the Midwest's premier floral event, the Great Lakes Floral Expo. Industry members from across the country will attend the 2015 meeting, scheduled for March 6-8, at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel/ DeVos Place in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
The three-day "Floral Fantasy" Expo will feature design spectaculars, award winning business sessions, hands-on workshops and the opportunity to network with industry professionals.
Design show sessions on the main stage will cover party planning, sympathy trends, improving your everyday designs, and wedding work. Also on the agenda are a variety of sessions aimed at creating a successful and profitable business using selling techniques, Internet presence and marketing strategies. Hands-on workshops are always a popular and well attended part of the Expo. This year, topics include weddings, parties, and sympathy designing.
Many of the industry's top educators will be on the main stage sharing their knowledge with Expo attendees. Among them are Michigan Designer of the Year Derek Woodruff, AIFD, CF, CFD, PFCI; Loann Burke, AIFD, CFD, PFCI; Gerard Toh AIFD, CCF, CFD; Jeff Corbin AAF, AIFD, CFD, PFCI; Jackie Lacey IFD, CFD, PFCI; Jody McLeod AIFD, CFD, NCCPF; Derrick Myers, CPA, CFP, PFCI; Tim Huckabee, AIFSE; and Doug Bates, CF, CFD, to name but a few.
One of the highlights each year is the MFA design contest on Friday, March 6. Designers can earn cash prizes, certificates, and recognition in The Professional Florist magazine. The 2015 "Floral Fantasy" design contest will have divisions for high school and college students, professionals, and Academy designers.
On Saturday evening, March 7, attendees will take part in the president's reception, recognition banquet and awards ceremony. Industry professionals will be honored by their peers and new inductees into the Certified Florist program will be recognized. New this year is a tablescape design contest "A Night of Fantasy". The tablescapes will decorate the Pantlind Ballroom.
The GLFE schedule is full of special events. The tradeshow marketplace will showcase the latest in products and services. There is a book fair full of all things floral, the AIFD Showcase presented by the North Central AIFD chapter, and a display created by Certified Florists.
In addition, the Michigan Floral Association will hold its annual breakfast meeting on Sunday, March 8. This is an opportunity for members to learn what the association has done in the past year and plans for the future.
Expo registration fees remain affordable thanks in part to these fine sponsors: BloomNet, CCFC, Chrysal, Crockett Myers, DWF, Gypzy Dezigns, FloraCraft, FloristWare, Flower Shop Network, FTD, Kennicott/Nordlie/Vans, Mayesh, MHI Fund, MI Floral Foundation, Smithers Oasis, Syndicate Sales and Teleflora.
To save even more Florists are urged to register before 1/31/15. For information visit www.michiganfloral.org (Great Lakes Floral Expo tab), contact the MFA office at (517) 575-0110, or email rod@michiganfloral.org.
The Michigan Floral Association is a full-service trade organization representing more than 500 florists, growers, and wholesalers statewide. Located in Haslett, MI, MFA offers group savings on insurance, financial services, retail bank card processing & supplies, office supplies, and fleet fueling; is the sponsor of the Certified Florist (CF) program; creates and hosts a statewide annual conferences and trade shows; conducts educational seminars though out the year at the association headquarters; publishes the Professional Florist magazine; hosts the MFA web site, and interacts with state / federal government agencies. For more information on MFA, visit their web site at www.michiganfloral.org.
Source: The Michigan Floral Association
