Mimi Pacheco of Jet Fresh Flower Distributors (second from right) and Lirio Suarez (right) of Continental Floral Greens participated in an educational session about hosting events at this year’s Next Gen LIVE! conference.
Like many other leaders at floral companies, Mike Black is concerned about getting the next generation of floral professionals to commit to the business.
“There are much easier ways to make a living nowadays, so it’s so important to nurture the younger people, hopefully into leadership positions in the future,” says Black, the founder of Jet Fresh Flower Distributors in Miami and Jet Fresh Flower Growers in Cotopaxi, Ecuador.
That’s why when the Society of American Florists held its second annual Next Gen LIVE! conference this year for young professionals in Miami, Black registered 10 of his younger employees.
“They need to be around like-minded people of their age,” he says. “It’s encouraging when you walk into a room of 200 other people who in the same situation you’re in.”
SAF’s third annual Next Gen LIVE! conference, slated for Feb. 25 to 27 in San Diego, gives floral pros ages 45 and younger a unique opportunity to connect and learn new skills they can carry with them back to their jobs. The 2024 Next Gen conference features education sessions that focus on leadership skills, technology, and industry trends, as well as networking opportunities, behind-the-scenes tours of growing operations, and a supplier showcase.
But it’s not just the attendees who have something to gain from the event. Employers of past Next Gen LIVE! attendees attest that the experience benefitted their businesses.
Preparing Successors
To ensure that her business legacy is passed on, Barbara Wood of Wood’s Flowers and Gifts in College Park, Maryland, sent her grandson, Sage Richards, to Next Gen LIVE! this past June to prepare him for the future.
“I felt the exposure to many aspects of our industry would be beneficial for Sage,” she says. “He is the fourth generation for our shop and will be the future of our shop.”
Wood says Richards’ experience was well worth the investment.
“He gained knowledge of our industry and products, including new varieties of fresh and hard goods, to aid in communication with customers and wholesalers,” says Wood. “Also, the networking with other florists has helped him understand the many facets of this business. He gained knowledge from other people and got different points of view.”
Making Employees Feel Appreciated
Black has prided himself on the culture of appreciation he instilled in his business, and as a result, he enjoys a low turnover rate. Part of that culture includes giving his employees the opportunity to participate in events so they not only learn important skills, but they know that the business values them and their success.
“They’re gaining more knowledge and they just come back feeling rewarded and fulfilled,” he says. “They think, ‘Hey, my company went out of the way to spend money so I can go and enjoy that, learn, and meet people. I’m not being left on the shelf and only the bosses get to go.’”
Providing Education
Brian Wheat, AAF, PFCI, of Lafayette Florist, Gift Shop & Garden Center in Lafayette, Colorado, saw sending three people to the event earlier this year as an investment in those employees, his business and the future of the floral industry.
“It’s letting our young professionals know how much they mean to us and putting our money where our mouth is, so they get the best information, education and networking in our industry,” says Wheat. “Those are the three keys that make you successful.”
Click here for more about the event and to register.
Kenya McCullum is a contributing writer for the Society of American Florists.
