Newsletter December 2023

Join us in celebrating the unwavering dedication and impactful legacies of our esteemed past presidents, Frank Biddle and Ivor Van Wingerden (Pictured left with Jeanne Boes). Their invaluable contributions have paved the way for CalFlowers' continued success.

We are thrilled to extend a warm welcome to our newly appointed leaders, President Jeanne Boes and Vice President Robin van der Schaaf (Pictured right). Their vision, passion, and commitment to the floral industry make them ideal torchbearers to carry forward the mission and vision of CalFlowers.

CalFlowers would also like to welcome our newest Board Director, Cagney Miller, (Pictured left). She is the Sales and Operations Specialist for Mobi’s Nursery in Carpinteria, CA. Her primary roles include managing their wholesale accounts, overseeing mass market production, and designing for their mass market sales and marketing division, B-Fresh Floral.

In addition to being an integral part of the Mobi’s production team, she is also very involved on the farm side of the business, participating in crop selection based on both production needs and trends of the mass market industry.

Cagney has 10+ years of floral industry experience, starting at Mobi’s sister company, Ocean Breeze Farms, where she held administrative roles and worked the company’s farmers markets. Over the years she has participated in both California Cut Flower Commission and Certified American Grown committees and been featured in Florists Review’s 35 Under 35.

Cagney lives in Ventura with her husband, their two rambunctious sons, and two lazy cats.

Click Here to view our entire Board of Directors.

Some thirty two years ago, in 1991, a young woman, well versed in

finance and serving as Manager of the TSFA Credit Union, accepted the promotion as Executive Director of the Texas State Florists’ Association. Over three decades, she has celebrated the peaks and addressed the valleys that have contributed to an association that is known today as one of the strongest floral associations in the country with achievements on multiple platforms. At the dawn of her retirement, we highlight a few of the accomplishments that will define the legacy of TSFA Executive Director Dianna Nordman AAF, (Pictured above).

Her thorough understanding, that an association is centered around member representation, underlies each advancement. She has long directed projects to completion while always giving the credit to others. She has long understood that her purpose was focused on the greater good, illustrated best by her work with the Texas Department of Agriculture at the onset of Covid. Her dedicated work, on behalf of TSFA, resulted in listing Texas florists and their suppliers as essential businesses, keeping doors open throughout the pandemic. While this work addressed a vital member need, it also provided an opportunity for the Texas floral industry to excel during this most challenging time.

Click Here to read the press release.
Click Here to see the e-blast announcement.

Nestled in the heart of Arizona, the Arizona Flower Market draws inspiration from the vibrant flower markets of major cities like Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco. As a unique and innovative concept, they bring wholesale flowers to the public.

"At the Arizona Flower Market, we cater to anyone with a passion for floristry and a desire to create stunning arrangements. Whether our customers are planning an event, a special occasion, or simply want to brighten their living space with beautiful blooms, our market is their one-stop shop for all floral DIY needs.

What sets us apart is our commitment to providing a shopping

experience like that of a professional florist. Our market is a treasure of exquisite flowers, foliage, and floral supplies, allowing our customers to choose and design like an expert. You'll find an extensive array of fresh, high-quality flowers from around the world, ensuring that your creations will be nothing short of spectacular.

Beyond the remarkable selection, our unwavering focus is on delivering the best customer service. Our friendly and knowledgeable staff is ready to assist our customers in selecting the perfect florals, offering expert advice, and helping you bring your floral visions to life. We are dedicated to making their visit to the Arizona Flower Market not just a shopping trip but a memorable and enjoyable experience."

If you are a CalFlowers member and would like to be featured in a future member spotlight, please fill out this form and send it to [email protected].

The Christmas Holiday busy shipping period is here, and as we all know, the overnight carriers are extremely busy during this time. With that said, members should expect possible delivery delays and even extended pick-up times. FedEx is working hard to make this time of year like any other time of year but just be cognoscente that shipping volumes are up, and our carriers are operating in a stressed environment.

January is the month that we will see general rate increases (GRI’s) from our D2D carriers. At this time, we cannot confirm what our percentage rate increase is going to be from FedEx in 2024. As soon as we know, we will pass it on.

For those members looking for good general information on Surcharges and Claims, the following information can be helpful.

This first resource offers information regarding surcharges and fees. Keep in mind that the CalFlowers program offers members MANY surcharge and fee reductions that are significantly lower than these standard surcharges, however it’s still a good reference point and has some clear definitions on what each fee/surcharge is. If you would like a summary of your program surcharge / fee discounts and waivers, please check our website or email Chris Johnson ([email protected]) for a copy.

The second resource is very helpful when you need to file a claim for damaged or lost product. Keep in mind, a product claim is different from our Money Back Guarantee, which applies to shipping charges and is handled differently. Product claims are more involved and can be confusing, but this resource helps navigate the process.

To all our new members who are just starting with FedEx shipping, they have a helpful “Customer Training” service that is available upon request. This service offers shippers direct one-on-one assistance from FedEx covering many of the questions new shippers may have. If you are interested in signing up, please contact Chris Johnson via email: [email protected]. FedEx also has some excellent information for new shippers on their website. Visit: https://www.fedex.com/en-us/get-started.html for a good summary of what FedEx offers.

For members needing FedEx Tech Support, this phone number takes your right into the department (877) 339-2774. They can help with many tech-related issues including guidance regarding on-line shipping platforms.

We would also like to remind members to stay current with their FedEx Express shipping invoices. FedEx payment terms are 15 days. All members shipping on FedEx Express are expected to stay within the FedEx payment terms. To obtain your invoice details and payment options, please contact FedEx Customer Service.

For members shipping on GLS, please note that from Oct 30^th to Jan 7^th, shipments will incur a “Peak Season Surcharge” of $1.25 flat fee per shipment. This is discounted from their current $1.50 fee. Keep in mind this only applies to Residential deliveries.

The CalFlowers GLS program is one of our popular, most value-priced offerings, with discounts well over 70% off standard rates. GLS offers later pick-ups and earlier deliveries while providing express door-to-door services covering CA, AZ, NV, OR, WA, NM, UT, and ID. Members who want to ship on GLS must sign up in advance. It’s easy and just takes a few minutes. Please contact Chris Johnson for more details at (760) 533-5580 or [email protected].

GLS has been very receptive to our requests for program improvements. They have added the following features to our program for members to utilize.

As an update to the Alaska Air Cargo iCargo system update, I’m told booking is back online and most website features are functioning. If you find you need help with shipping on Alaska, please contact their Cargo Call Center for assistance with bookings (800) 225-2752 from 5AM to 9PM PST daily or for tracking/tracing our Cargo Call Center (877) 815-8254 (24/7/365).

For issues outside of booking, tracking and tracing you can reach [email protected] for assistance.

For our members shipping cargo on airlines, we’d like to remind you that just we had a significant update to our Alaska Air Cargo program. We are pleased to add the state of Alaska to our discounts! Now members in Alaska can ship OUTBOUND nationwide, from any major airport in Alaska (serviced by Alaska Airlines), for super discounted Express rates. Member shippers just need a CID number and to sign up with us.

Additionally, we added SEA and PDX to our program. Now the Pacific Northwest can ship to California at our highly discounted Express rates. Again, members just need a CID number and to sign-up.

Did you know Alaska Airlines is the largest airline operator out of San Diego. They have 67 daily flights to 33 non-stop destinations.

For members wanting to get in touch with our Alaska Air Cargo Regional Sales Manager, California, Mike Narowski can be reached at [email protected].

If you have been taking advantage of our new CalFlowers/Alaska Airlines shipping program, you know this offering really delivers when it comes to value. Our program offers EXCELLENT pricing to many areas of the country from California, Portland, Seattle and now Alaska. Check out all the program details on our website. To sign-up, contact Chris Johnson at [email protected].

NOTE: Transportation Rate information and documents are viewable/downloadable as PDFs on the CalFlowers Members Only site. Please note that these documents are considered sensitive material and are available to the primary contacts for Ag Buddy, Associate Floral, Associate Grower, and Floral members.

We are pleased to welcome the following new CalFlowers members from November 3 - December 7, 2023:

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