More Americans, enjoying more flowers, more often...

Volume VI, Issue 1

January 2020

In This Issue ...

  1. 2021 Fun 'N Sun @ Hotel Del Coronado!
  2. CalFlowers Has A New Mailing Address
  3. Mike Suyeyasu Passing
  4. Featured New Member - The Picket Fence
  5. Transportation
  6. New Members 

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UPCOMING EVENTS: 
2020
World Floral Expo (WFE)
March 25 - 27, 2020
New York, NY 

 Flowers Of The Month:

THE CARNATION

The charismatic carnation comes in several different colors, which convey different meanings, much like roses.

For example, a pink carnation can mean simple affection, while a dark red carnation means deeper love.

 According to Christian lore, pink carnations sprouted from the tears of the Virgin Mary as she wept for Jesus. Therefore, a pink carnation often symbolizes a mother’s unyielding love.  

THE SNOWDROP

The solemn snowdrop used to be considered bad luck because it always seemed to grow in graveyards. Nowadays, this delicate flower—often one of the first to poke through the snow in late winter—signifies hope and beauty. 


For Members Only Access

Click Here for a quick reference guide on how to log into the members only site.

Past CalFlowers Newsletters

Click Here to view past CalFlowers Newsletters, now available on our website.


CalFlowers News

Our goal is to communicate with our members and interested parties on a monthly basis about recent, past, and upcoming events, program updates, and general information about CalFlowers' engagement in the industry on behalf of the membership.

 

2021 Fun ‘N Sun @ Hotel Del Coronado!

CalFlowers is excited to announce the dates and location for Fun ‘N Sun 2021!  Spend the end of your summer in San Diego, enjoying the #FunNSun Convention at San Diego’s iconic Hotel Del Coronado, August 25 - 28, 2021

Come Celebrate CalFlowers 80th Anniversary 

Click Here to watch a short video and get excited for 2021.

We will have more information available soon and look forward to seeing you on the beach in beautiful Coronado!


CalFlowers Has A New Mailing Address 

Our mailing address has changed, but our phone and fax remain the same.  Please update your records to reflect the new mailing address: 

538 W. Trimble Rd.
San Jose, CA 95131

Phone (831) 479-4912
Fax (831) 479-4914
[email protected]


Mike Suyeyasu Passing

We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of Mike Suyeyasu.  CalFlowers Board and Staff extend their heartfelt condolences to the Suyeyasu family during this difficult time.

Makoto “Mike” Suyeyasu September 13,1934 - January 1, 2020

Mike Suyeyasu, AAF, former President of Bill Suyeyasu Wholesale Florist in Fremont, California, passed away on Wednesday, January 1, from complications of West Nile Virus. He was 85. 

Mike worked in the family flower business for 47 years. He was honored as Wholesaler of the Year from Michigan State Florist Association, California State Florist Association, and CalFlowers (NorCal). 

In addition, Mike served in many flower organizations such as Consolidated Flower Shippers as an officer; CalFlowers (NorCal) on the board of directors; WFFSA as a regional director; SAF as part of the Wholesaler’s Council, Transportation Committee, and Quality Control Committee; American Floral Endowment as a Trustee; and with Promoflor as a council member. 

After the flower industry, Mike moved to Las Vegas, Nevada and became a realtor for 10 years. Mike enjoyed golfing, traveling, entertaining friends and family, actively helping out at the Las Vegas Buddhist Sangha Center, and getting together with his cigar loving buddies. 

Mike will be fondly remembered as being friendly, generous and a caring person who loved to help others. 

Mike leaves behind Becky, his wife of 35 years, daughters Robin Thomas (Don), Traci Conner (Skip); stepchildren Kimberly Foulks, and Wendy Furthmiller (Jay); grandchild Kevin; step  grandchildren Ashley, Lindsey, Madison, and Mason; great grandson Cameron; brother Ted (Ann); and sisters Shinako (Nob) and Mamie.  He is preceded in death by his brother Bill (Aiko),  his sister Molly (Min) and his parents George and Toshiko. 

Memorial Services will be held at Las Vegas Buddhist Sangha Center in North Las Vegas, Nevada on January 22, and at Buddhist Church of San Francisco in San Francisco, California on February 1, 2020. 

For questions please contact Sharon (408) 410-1370 or via email at [email protected].

Featured New Member

The Picket Fence in Chamberlain is known for its lush romantic designs, home décor and accents.  Chamberlain is a picturesque town nestled on the Missouri River, and for that reason The Picket Fence happily designs many destination weddings every year.  The 5,000 sq. ft. store also is a popular destination shopping spot for ladies all over the state. Home décor and home accents are a huge part of the yearly sales. Patience and her staff are proud to be a go-to store for floral and home décor trends.  

The Picket Fence Floral and Décor has an educational spin off called Inspired Design.  Its a collaboration between two AIFD designers, Patience Pickner, AIFD, PFCI, SDCF and Ace Berry, AIFD, PFCI, TMF, who believe strongly that education is the key to long term success in the floral industry! 

This design duo travels the country presenting stage shows, bootcamps and floral retreats.  Their popularity as floral educators stems from many factors, including their diversity, design aesthetics, strong business and marketing knowledge and their passion for all things floral. 

Patience and Ace are currently in the final planning stages of their Texas retreat at the end of March.  CalFlowers is a much appreciated sponsor of their retreats, and a huge part of their success, as the retreats feature local and American grown flowers as much as possible.  Find out more at www.inspireddesign.info, or follow Inspired Design on Facebook. 


Transportation

As a reminder, current shipping rates and program information is on the CalFlowers Members' Only website.  Members using their log-ins can access this information anytime.  Rates on FedEx, GLS, OnTrac, and airlines can all be found, as well as other handy information.  For questions or comments on any of our programs, please contact Chris Johnson for assistance at (760) 533-5580 or [email protected].

Our new rates for 2020 are available now.  FedEx implemented a 4.9% General Rate Increase (GRI) for 2020 but we have negotiated a reduced 3.5% rate increase for our membership.  These new rates are posted on our website as well as our Program Summary for 2020.

We also want to remind members that FedEx SameDay is also available to members who require SameDay delivery options.  For more information, please contact Chris Johnson at [email protected]

In other Money Back Guarantee news, new guidelines have been issued by FedEx regarding the MBG.  Beginning immediately, shippers requesting a MBG on a shipment must make the request no longer than 15 days from the invoice date.  Requests after the 15-day time period will not be honored.

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 who wish to move PALLETIZED freight on FedEx, CalFlowers can help direct you to customized solutions and pricing.  FedEx Freight is an excellent option when your shipments call for pallets. Interested members should contact Chris Johnson at [email protected] for more information.

What’s in a name?  Well GSO is now officially GLS!  The latest in the GSO / GLS merger is that the new corporate name and logo has now officially been released as “GLS”.

The GLS Group is excited to combine their decades of experience and expertise as a top-rated European parcel delivery provider. You will see the new GLS name and logo on its website, supplies, vehicles, communications, uniforms, and facilities.  Click Here to learn more about GLS.

Our 2020 GLS rates are now in effect.  Members can find a complete updated program summary posted up on our website.  Members can expect only a 3% average increase this year vs. a 4.9 normal increase for other customers. 

The CalFlowers GLS program is one of our most value-priced offerings. GLS provides door-to-door services to CA, AZ, NV, OR, WA, NM, and ID. Click here for the latest GLS promo flyer.

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].    

Our 2020 OnTrac Program update is also in effect.  This year members will only see a 1% increase in an effort to hold down prices.  OnTrac regular Yearly increase is 4.9%.  Look for our updated program on our website, www.cafgs.org.

We know that OnTrac got their start in California and services every ZIP code in California, but did you know OnTrac also services seven other Western States?  OnTrac has 2-day service into WA, OR, ID, NV, UT, AZ, and CO.  And to help understand the service parameters, OnTrac has a very nice “Time and Transit Map” under Zip Tools on their website.  This handy map loaded from YOUR zip code helps you understand OnTrac’s overnight commitment areas.  To download your map, please visit: https://www.ontrac.com/servicesareas.asp.


Airlines:

If you haven’t yet heard about the new CalFlowers/Alaska Airlines shipping program, this exclusive offer is now available for CalFlowers members.  The new Priority Rates are the best we have seen in years and with the Virgin merger completed, Alaska Airlines has an extensive network servicing major popular destinations all across the U.S. Our program works outbound and inbound out of SAN, LAX, and SFO.  Click Here to download the handy link outlining Alaska Airlines INBOUND service to the west coast.  To take advantage of this exceptional program, interested members must sign up.  Please contact Chris Johnson to get started at (760) 533-5580 or [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.


New Members

We are pleased to welcome the following new CalFlowers members:

Associate Floral

Hawk and Sparrow Flowers
Stanley, NC

Kern Park Flower Shoppe
Portland, OR

The Picket Fence
Chamberlain, SD

 

 

 

538 W. Trimble Rd.
San Jose, CA 95131
www.cafgs.org 

Ph. 831-479-4912 | Fax 831-479-4914