ALEXANDRIA, VA — Watch out "Iron Chef." Move aside "Design Star." This September, some of the floral industry's top designers will go head to head, and flower to flower, in a highly anticipated live competition that's sure to put their best skills to the test.
Among the 18 floral designers competing in the 48th Annual Sylvia Cup Design Competition, cosponsored by Smithers-Oasis and the California Cut Flower Commission, are 13 members of the American Institute of Floral Designers, three contestants sponsored by state floral associations for winning recent contests, and six past Sylvia Cup contestants including 2014 First Runner-Up Derek Woodruff, AIFD, PFCI, CF.
"What an awesome, high caliber panel of competitors," said Sylvia Cup coordinator D Damon Samuel, AAF, AIFD, PFCI, NAFD, NMF, of the Bill Doran Company in Omaha, Nebraska. "I'm looking forward to their amazing designs and the unveiling of the theme." He coordinated the last two competitions and surprised contestants and the audience with challenge themes of Steampunk in 2013 and Studio 54 Revisited in 2014.
Samuel and co-coordinators J. Robbin Yelverton, AAF, AIFD, PFCI, of Blumz by…JRDesigns in metro Detroit and Marlin Hargrove, AIFD, PFCI, of the Pete Garcia Company in Atlanta unveil this year's challenge theme on Sept. 12 at SAF Amelia Island 2015, the Society of American Florists' 131st Annual Convention in Amelia Island, Florida.
Contestants will then race for two hours to complete the challenge using products from the California Cut Flower Commission and Smithers-Oasis. Commentary by Julie Poeltler, AIFD, CAFA, PFCI, of Fountain of Flowers & Gifts in Lone Tree, Iowa, and Lisa Weddel, AAF, AIFD, PFCI, of L. Weddel Design in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, tracks the progress of the designs — and the ticking of the clocks.
A panel of three design experts appointed by the Professional Floral Communicators-International Board of Trustees will evaluate the contestants' work based on several factors. The highest combined score determines the winner. The top three scores will be honored on stage at the convention's Stars of the Industry Awards Dinner. The grand prize winner takes home the Sylvia Cup trophy, $3,000 and free registration to SAF Maui 2016, SAF's next convention; First Runner-Up receives $500 and Second Runner-Up $250.
Wish the contestants good luck by posting messages in the Sylvia Cup photo album on Facebook at Facebook.com/SocietyofAmericanFlorists. For details and to register for SAF Amelia Island 2015, visit safnow.org/annual-convention.
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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: The Society of American Florists
