At the Supplier Expo, attendees meet exhibitors and learn about new products and services
A tropical paradise, professional camaraderie, and high-caliber education are luring industry members to SAF Maui 2016, the association’s 132nd Annual Convention, Sept. 21-24, at the Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua. Among the hallmarks of every SAF convention are these five exhibits and networking events:
1. Supplier Expo: Take a three-hour tour of hard goods, supplies, fresh products, and services. As a bonus, everyone who visits the Supplier Expo has a chance to win a free registration to SAF Palm Beach 2017, SAF’s 133rd Annual Convention in Florida. Early-bird exhibitor deadline is July 1. To exhibit, visit safnow.org/expo or contact Laura Weaver at lweaver@safnow.org.
The Outstanding Varieties Exhibit provides an idyllic opportunity to see, touch, smell and take photos of new flowers and plants.
2. Outstanding Varieties Competition: This exhibit is one of the largest flower and plant competitions in the industry, and features more than 5,000 stems of the finest products from the world’s top growers. Dozens of breeders and growers enter their best flowers, foliage and plant varieties in hopes of capturing the Best in Show honor, a Best in Class ranking, a Blue or Red Ribbon recognition, or People’s Choice accolade. To compete, visitsafnow.tempurl.host/outstanding-varieties-competition or contact Laura Weaver at lweaver@safnow.org.
Attendees got to clown around at the 2015 Premier Product Showcase.
3. Premier Products Showcase: Get ready for a crash course in the art of “show and sell” as the wacky professors from Professional Floral Communicators – International take you to the University of PPS. Laugh and learn as they demonstrate countless cool tools, trendy hard goods and fun fresh products and postulate on their practical possibilities. Take notes — you’ll want to remember all the items and ideas floating around this wild and crazy class. To exhibit, visit safnow.org/pps or contact Jenny Scala at jscala@safnow.org.
D Damon Samuel, AAF, AIFD, PFCI, NAFD, NMF, of the Bill Doran Company in Omaha, Nebraska, donned costume and makeup to welcome attendees to last year’s “Cirque du Fleur” themed Sylvia Cup.
4. Sylvia Cup Design Competition: Each contestant receives the same assortment of fresh products and supplies, a surprise theme and two hours to work their design magic as the audience watches. During the last hour, costumed PFCI commentators highlight the products used. The winners are announced during the Stars of the Industry Awards Dinner. The top honoree takes home $3,000 and free registration to SAF Palm Beach 2017. Prizes of $500 and $250 go to the first and second runners-up. The California Cut Flower Commission and Smithers-Oasis sponsor the competition. To compete, visit safnow.org/sylvia-cup.org or contact Jenny Scala at jscala@safnow.org.
Steal floral design ideas for banquets, hotel lobby pieces, and more from the convention’s decorations.
5. Floral Displays: It would not be the floral industry convention without flowers and floral designs everywhere. The SAF Convention Floral Design Team comprised of members of the American Institute of Floral Designers, creates floral displays seen throughout the convention’s hotel and for each of the SAF convention events. Steal design ideas for hotel lobby pieces, centerpieces, stage décor and more.
For SAF Maui 2016 details, visit safnow.org/annual-convention.