Press Releases

Below you will find two important press releases from both Great Lakes Floral Association and Family Flowers:

For Immediate Release:  
Contact: Rodney P. Crittenden
[email protected]
(517) 575-0110 Office
(517) 881-5107 Cell 

2024 Great Lakes Floral & Event Expo!

Haslett, MI (March 7, 2024)- “A World of Flowers'' was bursting at the seams with excitement, design talent and attendees.  The conference brought over 370 attendees this year, representing 16 different states as well as Ontario, Canada. With a full agenda including business seminars, design classes, main stage shows, the trade show floor as well as networking with fellow industry professionals, visitors stayed extremely busy.

Attendees left filled with new product ideas from the 34 trade show vendors, new design ideas from the design contest and main stage shows, and new business strategies shared by our industry experts!

Back by popular demand was the Friday night Mix & Mingle which provided attendees the opportunity to meet new people, network with fellow industry professionals all while playing BINGO for prizes that included the grand prize of a Certified Florist (CF) manual with one round of testing.

Saturday was a day filled with Hands-On design classes featuring Sympathy, Weddings, Photography and Social media tips. Kate Penn, Derrick Myers, Tim Huckabee, Shirley Lyons, Bob Negen, Renato Sogueco, Jackie Lacey, and ladies from Flower Clique all shared cutting edge business tips with the attendees.  

One of Saturday’s Highlights was the Main Stage live Designer of the Year contest sponsored by FloraCraft and CalFlowers. This year’s winner,Kate Holton CF, Kennedy’s Flowers & Gifts, Grand Rapids MI (Pictured Right) will have her designs featured in The Professional Florist magazine.  

Amber Kirkland CF, CFD, (Pictured Left) The Velvet Touch Events, Detroit, MI won the Chuck Bannow “Best of Show” for her first place in the Tribal Floral Spirit themed entry.  Visit www.glfee.com to view all design contest winning designs. 

Saturday evening's Recognition Banquet featured floral design using flowers from around the world. New Certified Florists (CF) were celebrated, and the 2024 Design Contest winners were announced.  GLFA Industry awards presented at the banquet included:

 

Lifetime Achievement:
Tim Galea, Norton’s Flowers & Gifts,
Ypsilanti, MI

 

 

National Service:
Derrick Myers,
Crockett Myers & Associates,

Glen Burnie, MD

 

 

Retailer of the Year:
Beautiful Blooms by Jen,

Sylvania, OH

 

 

Retail Employee of the Year:
Carol Simmermeyer,
Four Seasons Florist,
Brookville, IN

 

 

Wholesale Employee of the Year:
Jessica Regentin,
Kennicott Brothers Company,
Warren, MI

 

 

Young Person of the Year:
Kymbra Tucker CF,
Banner Flower House,
Kokomo, IN

 

 

Special Recognition:
Tony Vear,
Mains Importing,
Hillsdale, MI

 

Special Recognition: (Not Pictured) Ron Chludil, Denver Wholesale Florist, Flint, MI

 

GLFA Past Presidents Award:
Sponsored by: Floriology powered by BloomNet
Samantha Belonga,
St. Ignace In Bloom,
St. Ignace, Michigan.


Sunday arrived quickly with another day packed with hands-on workshops, Business sessions and main stage shows. The weekend had something for everyone! The Sunday Luncheon and Annual meeting brought everyone together to review the Associations past year and share a hot plated lunch.   Attendees were inspired by Dr. Breigh Jones-Coplin Keynote address: Soil to Self: Nurturing, Growth, Empowerment, and Blossoming our Roots. After our Keynote, Jerome Raska AAF, AIFD, CF, PFCI asked everyone to place a flower into a large urn along with a pledge to donate to the Great Lakes Floral Foundation.  Together we raised over $4000 to support the education of future florists and guarantee the future of our industry.

Samantha Belonga CF of St. Ignace in Bloom, St. Ignace, Michigan, and Chairman of 2025 GLFEE would like to invite you to attend the 2025 GLFEE “Ignite & Inspire” February 28 - March 2, 2025, at the Amway Grand Plaza and Devos Place, Grand Rapids, Michigan.  “I am very excited to start planning for 2025 GLFEE.  We’ll have cutting edge design shows and business sessions that will be not only “Ignite” but “Inspire” your passion for the floral industry, whether you’re a designer or vendor I promise you won’t be disappointed!”  Full details coming soon at www.glfee.com. Visit our Facebook page to view all 2024 GLFEE photos. 

The Great Lakes Floral Association is a full-service trade organization representing more than 400 florists, growers, and wholesalers. Located in Haslett, Michigan, GLFA offers group savings on insurance, and credit card processing; is the sponsor of the Certified Florist (CF) program; creates and hosts the annual Great Lakes Floral & Event Expo; conducts educational seminars throughout the year at the association headquarters and various other facilities; publishes The Professional Florist magazine; hosts the GLFA and GLFEE websites and interacts with state/federal government agencies. For more information on GLFA, visit their web site at www.greatlakesfloralassociation.org.


 

For Immediate Release:  
Contact: 
Family Flowers
[email protected]

Family Flowers Continues to Deliver Love with the Purchase of
Palmer Flowers and Paul Wood Florist

Family Flowers, a leading name in the floral industry, is proud to announce the acquisition of two award-winning flower brands in Colorado: Palmer Flowers and Paul Wood Florist. This strategic expansion signifies Family Flowers' commitment to growing its floral family while preserving the rich heritage and personal touch that these local favorites bring to their communities.

Palmer Flowers, with three locations in Northern Colorado - Fort Collins, Loveland, and Greeley, has been a cornerstone of the floral community since 1983. Paul Wood Florist, a Fort Collins staple since 1933, holds the honor of being one of the oldest retailers in the city. Together, Palmer Flowers and Paul Wood Florist are known for their unbeatable customer service, exceptional floral designs, and deep-rooted connections in the community.

With this acquisition, Family Flowers is not only expanding its geographical footprint but also enriching its portfolio with businesses that share its values of quality, service, and community engagement. Both Palmer Flowers and Paul Wood Florist will continue to operate under their existing brand names, preserving the legacy and unique offerings that have endeared them to their customers. The local leadership and teams will remain in place, ensuring a seamless transition and the continuation of the exceptional service that clients have come to expect.

Kevin R. McCarthy, Family Owner and President of Family Flowers, expressed his enthusiasm about the new additions to the Family Flowers network, saying, "I am truly thrilled to welcome the Palmer Flowers and Paul Wood Florist teams into our floral family. We’re bringing together expert team members with access to the best flowers from around the globe and our shared commitment to excellence. We look forward to continuing to serve Northern Colorado with the same dedication and quality our clients have come to know and love from these iconic brands."

About Family Flowers - McCarthy Group Florists Family owned since 1952, Family Flowers has grown to become a leader in the floral industry, providing an unmatched dedication to quality, creativity, and customer happiness. Family Flowers acquires beloved local flower shops in the United States and operates iconic floral brands across the country, with 30 locations in 10 states and growing. The company’s mission is to Deliver Love® through the art of flowers.

For more information about Family Flowers, Palmer Flowers, and Paul Wood Florist, please visit: www.FamilyFlowers.com.

 

 

The Bloom Show Covers WFFSA 2022

The Bloom Show dedicated three episodes to covering the Wholesale Florist & Florist Supplier Association (WFFSA)’s 2022 Floral Distribution Conference.

Miami, FL, March 15th, 2022 – The Bloom Show & Flowers & Cents has covered the WFFSA event in detail in three episodes. The Wholesale Florist & Florist Supplier Association’s 2022 Floral Distribution Conference (FDC) was held in Miami, FL, from March 7th to 9th. The theme was “Breaking Boundaries, Bridging Divides” and brought floral industry leaders together for three days of networking and education.

Whether it was Sahid Nahim and Williee Armellini speaking to the Executive Vice President of the WFFSA, interviewing five extraordinary women in the floral industry, or interviewing industry leaders about marketing, there was a lot to unfold and many great insights into the industry as a whole. Overall, The Bloom Show with Flowers & Cents WFFSA Live edition succeeded in doing what it does best – bringing people in the floral industry together to have interesting conversations.

WFFSA Show 2022 with Guest Molly Mullins

The WFFSA LIVE Show interviewed Molly Mullins, the Executive Vice President of the WFFSA. Sahid Nahim of New Bloom Solutions and Williee Armellini of Flowers and Cents spoke to the six-year VP about WFFSA’s collaborative Floral Distribution Conference.

One of the most important things discussed was that the 2022 conference was bursting at the seams. While the last FDC had fewer attendees, the 2022 conference saw pre-pandemic numbers. Mullins also spoke about embracing novelty and trying new concepts, which included wholesaler discussion groups tackling margins, logistics, supply chain, and more. There was also a speed networking event, which Nahim was a part of. The event was comfortable yet full of energy and allowed industry talent to connect and strengthen their ties.

Mullins also elaborated on the theme, “Breaking Boundaries, Bridging Divides,” and how WFFSA wanted to get those in the floral industry out of their supply chain silos. Instead of focusing on just retailers or wholesalers, they encouraged participants to share information, connect, and bridge gaps. The wholesaler-florist connection and cooperation between the two parties has been integral during the pandemic and continues to be the driving force behind businesses and their success.

Next year’s WFFSA FDC will be also be held at The Doral in Miami and will focus on finding even more ways to help the floral industry collaborate and join forces for the better.

WFFSA Women's Day Roundtable

The Women’s Day Roundtable consisted of interviews with five female leaders in the floral industry, namely Jeanne Boes (the General Manager and CEO of the San Francisco Flower Market, and the Incoming VP on the CalFlowers Board), Corrine Heck (CEO and Founder of Details Flowers software), Juana de la Torre (in sales and marketing for Ball SB LLC), Jena Gizerskiy (Sales Manager for North America at Rosaprima), and Laura Shinall (Founder and Managing Partner of FreshPath Marketing). These individuals have different areas of expertise and come from different segments of the floral industry but have a few things in common – their love and passion for the floral industry and being successful women in the field.

From talking about their skills and how they got into the floral industry to what motivates them to keep working on difficult days, the discussion touched upon each woman’s individual journey and their unique perspective on the floral industry and what makes it special. Something all women touched on is the people in the floral industry and how remarkable they are. From Jeanne Boes fighting to keep businesses’ doors open during the COVID-19 pandemic to Juana de la Torre talking about the passion growers and breeders have for the industry, this episode delved into the challenges within the industry, the grit of the people involved, and how mentorship and collaboration are an essential part of the industry moving in the right direction.

Although floristry has plenty of female faces, floral industry wholesale, growing, and marketing is a male-dominated industry. These powerful women speak out about their experiences, making their way into rooms full of men, making their voices heard, and how women can empower themselves and other women to succeed and pave the way for future women in the industry. WFFSA has also started an official Women’s Group, which will consist of a Facebook group and opportunities for women in the floral industry. A group focused on collaboration, mentorship, and women supporting other women in the floral industry; it’s definitely a group that women should keep an eye on.

WFFSA Marketing Roundtable

Yet another incredible roundtable was held with some of the brilliant marketers in the floral industry. Nahim and Armellini spoke to Steve Dionne (Executive Director of CalFlowers), Eric Fernandez (General Manager of Continental Flowers), and Oscar Fernandez (Sales Manager at Equiflor Corporation). The group spoke about marketing initiatives they’re starting and digital marketing in the floral industry as a whole.

Continental Flowers’ Floral Board

Eric Fernandez from Continental Flowers spoke about FloralBoard, an initiative focused on investing in the floral industry. Despite having a great year since the pandemic and increased consumption, there’s a need to drive consumer demand. That’s where FloralBoard comes in – it’s a vehicle to drive awareness and bring in new consumers. Fernandez was very passionate about emphasizing that this wasn’t about retail channels, mass market, or e-commerce, but an omnichannel venture that sought to benefit all segments within the floral industry. Instead of being country-specific or even origin-specific, the initiative focuses on promoting all cut greens and cut flowers.

CalFlowers’ That Flower Feeling

That Flower Feeling is an initiative that markets flowers. Like FloralBoard, it’s not country-specific but pertains to the entire industry. Despite the two initiatives being started by different companies and people, they work towards the same goal. This highlights the floral industry’s commitment to growth across all channels.

The campaign, “Flowers: Self-Care Made Easy,” has taken off, and the brand is dedicated to marketing flowers and increasing the reach of the floral industry. As of early March, the campaign had already hit 20 million consumers regarding engagement on social media. CalFlowers has used its budget to target everything from social media platforms like Instagram and Pinterest to popular podcasts such as the “Call Her Daddy” podcast.

It’s especially incredible to see the collaborative effort of different companies and industry leaders coming through because of the floral industry’s reputation of being fragmented. The past few years have highlighted the potential of players within the industry to communicate and work together. Whether it’s growers, wholesalers, or retailers, the entire industry can work towards continuing the trajectory of growth.

Watch All the Individual Shows Here

About The Bloom Show & WFFSA LIVE Collab with Flowers & Cents

The Bloom Show & Flowers and Cents show WFFSA LIVE is a collaboration by Sahid Nahim of New Bloom Solutions & Above All Flowers and Williee Armellini of Flowers and Cents. Flowers & Cents is one of the original industry blogs with great insight and up to date floral industry news. The Bloom Show covers floral industry topics, including marketing, e-commerce, innovation, conferences and offers insight into the different segments of the floral industry. Subscribe to “ The Bloom Show”  here  and do not miss out  on any episodes.

For more information or questions, you can contact Sahid Nahim at (305) 975-2725 or email him here.

 

CalFlowers, the leading floral trade association in California serving growers and the entire supply chain in 48 states, is pleased to announce the hiring of Steve Dionne as executive director.

Dionne, who starts the new position November 2, says he is thrilled to be appointed and looks forward to serving in such a meaningful leadership role within the floral industry. “Contributing to the vision established by CalFlowers – including the elected board and association members is an honor and a golden opportunity to share my insights and lead with dedication,” says Dionne. His familiarity with CalFlowers is strong since he has served on the Board of Directors for more than 16 years, and has twice served as president of the association.

For more than 26 years Dionne has been involved in the floral industry and has been a feet-on-the-ground evaluator and participant. “Developing Wafex USA’s supply chain facilitated my visits to farms and distributors in 19 countries across five continents in the past seven years. I learned that even despite international differences, the flower business is just about the same everywhere you go and challenges are mostly universal.”

Industry achievements for Dionne include being named Floral Marketer of the Year in 1998 by the Society of American Florists, and induction into The American Academy of Floriculture in 2010. He holds a B.A. from University of San Diego. 

While maintaining focus on CalFlowers transportation initiatives, Dionne will also place great emphasis on collaboration with current CalFlowers affiliates and other industry associations. He says CalFlowers members especially deserve guidance and support now as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to hurl new burdens into the flower business playbook. “As the industry propels through this period, CalFlowers will be doing everything we can to help our stakeholders harness the opportunities that exist,” explains Dionne.

Frank Biddle, president and owner of Francis Biddle International, Inc. and president of CalFlowers, indicates Dionne is exactly the leader the association has been seeking. “We are an optimistic industry with wonderful products and services that make a difference in consumers’ lives, but challenges are plentiful right now. With his many years of experiencing relevant leadership roles and having so many levels of responsibility in the industry, we see Steve as the ideal person for the executive director,” says Biddle.

Dionne adds, “CalFlowers aspirational goal is clear – More Americans enjoying more flowers more often. I couldn’t be more excited to work with our great staff, members, and directors to help make this vision a reality.”

 

                  

CalFlowers Strengthens Scholarship Fund with AFE Donation

January 5, 2021 Fallbrook, CA  CalFlowers, the leading floral trade association in California serving growers and the entire supply chain in 48 states, announces the donation of $50,000 to the American Floral Endowment (AFE) in Alexandria, VA. The monetary gift is directed to fund the CalFlowers Scholarship administered by AFE.

“Supporting the efforts of the American Floral Endowment by continuing to fund the CalFlowers Scholarship is a worthy investment and a genuine measure of our commitment to nurture and sustain the floral industry,” says Steve Dionne, executive director of the Fallbrook, CA-based association. “With longevity in mind, this substantial gift is a recognized way to fuel one of our many endeavors -- to assure Floral has a sound future with top talent coming into the industry.”

Created for undergraduate students attending an accredited California college or university, or for California residents attending a U.S. university or accredited college, the CalFlowers Scholarship was initiated in 2018. To date, the donation amount from CalFlowers to AFE for the designated scholarship fund has reached $200,000.

“Receiving this kind of financial support garners immeasurable attention to the on-going AFE scholarship program. We’re especially pleased to administer the CalFlowers Scholarship along with 30 others because it means so much to the students, their families and the floral industry,” says Debi Chedester, AFE executive director. “The $50,000 donation should result in an annual yield of $8,000 – a rousing amount sure to be appreciated by future scholarship recipients.”

A primary function of AFE, awarding scholarships for floriculture and horticulture students occurs annually. Interested candidates can read scholarship descriptions and application deadline information at www.endowment.org/scholarships.

On board as executive director since November 2, but a long-time member of CalFlowers, Dionne adds, “Deciding and acting to donate to the scholarship fund at this level represents a way for the current board of directors to implement a mechanism to power the perpetual quality of the fund.” The board, which is comprised of 13 CalFlowers members, is dedicated to addressing current industry issues while planning for the future. Dionne indicates the board members of CalFlowers have great vision and the association is planning many ventures to bolster and augment current campaigns endorsing the aspirational goal of -- More Americans enjoying more flowers more often.

To learn more about American Floral Endowment, please visit www.afeendowment.org.
Photo Courtesy of AFE

 

 

SAVE THE DATE - YOU’RE INVITED!
We’re excited to give you… ‘That Flower Feeling’!

Thursday, January 13
11:00 a.m. PST (2:00 p.m. EST)

CalFlowers will share, for your viewing pleasure, our exciting new consumer-direct brand and marketing campaign launch.  Everyone is invited to join!

CalFlowers is on a mission to ensure more Americans enjoying more flowers more often.  We have partnered with marketing agency 180 Amsterdam and media agency Designory to produce and execute a professional, funny, edgy, and very shareable marketing campaign that will launch nationally across numerous social media platforms, podcasts, and music streaming channels in January. 

Our goal in this ‘viewing party’ is not only to introduce you to our concept and marketing assets, but also to encourage you – and give you the tools – to leverage this campaign for the benefit of your own business and the industry at large.  We need all segments of the floriculture industry to help amplify the campaign through your own established marketing channels, and we will provide you the access to do so! 

We will walk you through the range of marketing assets and explain the full depth of the campaign which will include films and stills for social media platforms, host-read and voiceover ads on selected podcasts, a roster of social influencers, and point-of-sale items such as posters and truck wraps.  CalFlowers is proud to offer this full range to all industry participants, regardless of whether you are a CalFlowers member.

Give us 45 minutes of your time on January 13th, and help us bring this transformative, national marketing campaign to flower consumers across the country.  We look forward to seeing you!

Register in advance for this meeting:

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUrduGorT8uG9IXzu7vOxoxtKfjgHX8gZzR

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

To learn more about That Flower Feeling - connect with Steve Dionne by phone: (760) 213-3996 or email [email protected].  

 
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