Taylor Priest of Cleveland Plant & Flower Company

The Society of American Florists’ membership includes all segments of the industry — and that community is the heart of SAF. This bi-weekly feature spotlights SAF members sharing inspirational stories, professional insights, and the opportunity to form new industry connections.

Cleveland Plant & Flower Company, which started in 1913 as a small storefront in Cleveland, Ohio, has six full-service wholesale operations in three states, and a brokerage office to service international customers.

The business is run by the families of founder Walter Priest and his business partner, Charles Macuga, Sr. One of the most recent family members to join the business represents the fifth generation, Taylor Priest, grew up in the industry in several different roles. His first: in 2013, helping out with old jobs for the store manager while he was attending Kent State University.  During that time, he helped out with odd jobs for the store manager. He started learning more about the business and during his final year at college when a new manager joined the team and taught him even more about flowers. By the time Priest graduated, he was ready to take on a sales role.

Taylor is now in his fifth year of sales, which he says have increased each year.

“I have all of it thanks to my father, Kevin, our store manager Andy, my coworkers who have encouraged me at every step, as well as my wife and 9-month-old daughter to keep me motivated and keep doing the best job that I can for our customers every day,” Priest says.

Biggest Challenges

As a young salesperson, Priest’s biggest challenge has been developing his own customer base. When he started at Cleveland Plant & Flower, he didn’t inherit any existing accounts, he says, and wasn’t able to depend on commission until he had a strong customer base.

He also has unique challenges being in his family’s business. “Because I am family, I always have all eyes on me,” he says. “There was and always has been higher expectations, but that comes with the territory of it being a family business.”

What’s Trending

The biggest trend Priest is seeing right now is the desire for customers to access things online, via email or text message.

“I always keep all methods on the table whether that is calling, texting, or emailing,” Priest says. “While I firmly believe that while there will always be a market for the old fashion way of doing business over the phone as well as walking in, the future is online.”

Why SAF? 

While Cleveland Plant & Flower Company has been a member of SAF for more than 40 years, Priest, as a relative newcomer, has focused primarily on SAF’s Next Gen group. He’s enjoyed joining SAF’s monthly virtual Next Gen happy hours, which gives him the opportunity to reconnect with friends and learn about what is going on in the industry.

“SAF has many resources and always has many opportunities to get more involved,” Priest says. “I am super excited for the Nex Gen LIVE! conference coming up in Miami.”

Priest was recently featured on SAF’s Facebook and Instagram accounts.

Do you know a member who should have a chance in the spotlight? Email Stephanie Brady, project manager for SAF.

Stephanie Brady is the project manager for the Society of American Florists.

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