Industry Members Bullish On First, Second Quarters Of 2017

How’s business? Pretty good! That was the generally cheery picture that emerged from a recent Society of American Florists survey on first and second quarter returns. Forty-eight percent of all respondents — including growers, wholesalers and retailers — reported business is “good.” Another 9 percent called it “excellent.”

About 33 percent classified business as “OK,” and roughly 9 percent classified it as “poor” or “terrible.” Overall, nearly half of all respondents said they were “optimistic” about 2017 sales, compared to 2016 results, and an additional 14 percent said they were “very optimistic.” (Twenty-eight percent said they were “neutral.” About 8 percent classified themselves as “pessimistic” or “very pessimistic.”)

Forty-nine percent of all respondents said first and second quarter gross sales were higher this year, compared to the same period last year. About 26 percent said they were roughly the same. Twenty-two percent said sales were down comparatively. (Two percent weren’t sure.

To read the rest of the story, please go to: Society of American Florists