ALEXANDRIA, VA — More than 100 floral industry members from seven states — and supplier exhibitors from the United States and South America — gathered in the Lone Star State for the Society of American Florists (SAF) 1-Day Profit Blast in Austin on Feb. 27. It was a packed day of targeted programs, plus plenty of time to meet new contacts and share ideas.
"This was a great shot in the arm for my business," said Rakini Chinery, AAF, AzMF, of Allan's Flowers in Prescott, Arizona. "I have pages of notes from just a single day of presentations and feel armed with new ideas to jump start the new year."
The event, sponsored by The Bill Doran Company, is part of an ongoing series created by SAF to bring the kind of high-quality educational programming members have enjoyed for years at its annual convention to more florists in more locations, at an affordable price. (Helping to further offset costs, The Elite Flower sponsored the day's continental breakfast and Hortica Insurance & Employee Benefits sponsored lunch.)
That outreach seems to be resonating with florists, according to a post-event SAF survey. In fact, 57 percent of participating retailers rated the event as an "outstanding value" for the money; another 38 percent called it a "good value." Perhaps most important, 100 percent of respondents said they learned a new process during Profit Blast that they plan to implement in their business.
See photos from the event at Flickr.com/SocietyOfAmericanFlorists.
SAF is bringing its 1-Day Profit Blast to Cincinnati on Saturday, April 16 and Denver on Sunday, Oct. 23. Both events will be sponsored by DWF Wholesale Florist. For more information, visit safnow.org/1-day-profit-blast.
The Society of American Florists is the leading organization representing all segments of the floral industry. SAF is proud to provide marketing, business and government services to its members, including growers, wholesalers, retailers, suppliers, importers, educators, designers and allied organizations. The association was chartered by an act of Congress in 1884.
Source: Society of American Florists