By Anne Holub
The countdown is on. In just two weeks, 74 speakers and expert panelists will share strategies and tactics drawn from both the floral industry and outside areas during SAF Palm Springs 2018, the Society of American Florists’ 134th annual convention. The event kicks off Sept. 12 at the Westin Mission Hills in Rancho Mirage, California with a total of 51 educational sessions and exciting events over the course of four days — and more than 400 industry members are gearing up to soak in all the profit-boosting tools that an SAF convention has to offer.
“This year’s program brings educational sessions filled with leading-edge ideas and proven success strategies for every floral business,” said SAF President Bill LaFever, PFCI, of the Bill Doran Company in Rockford, Illinois.
“Several sessions are geared to addressing the issues of finding and keeping top-notch employees and working with Millennials,” Doran added. “These two issues affect every segment of the industry.
Ready, Set, Learn
Charles Ingrum of Dr. Delphinium Designs & Events in Dallas, Texas reminds convention-goers that you’ll be taking home more than happy memories. You’ll be helping your business the second you get there.
“I am always able to bring home real solutions to real problems,” Ingrum said Ingrum, who has attended nine conventions so far. “Either through a seminar or a peer, the answer is at this conference.”
Perhaps one of the longest-running SAF convention attendees is Karen Fountain, AAF of Flowers n’ Ferns in Burke, Virginia. She attended her first event as a child alongside her mother and father.
Every year, longtime attendee Karen Fountain, AAF of Flowers n’ Ferns in Burke, Virginia said she looks forward to “networking, catching up with friends and getting a pulse of what is happening within the industry.”
“This is the only place where you can ask others (as a retailer) about what/why/how things are going so you know how best to educate my staff and customers,” she said.
And for those newbies, Fountain has some great tips:
- Pace yourself. There is a lot to do, see and learn at SAF conventions. Check out the schedule ahead of time and plan out your strategy in advance. Look for the sessions that you think will deliver the most benefit to your business.
- Take a risk. That said. don’t avoid classes you aren’t familiar with, as those tend to be the ones you usually learn the most from.
- Say hello. One of the most important and rewarding aspects of an SAF convention: the relationships. Don’t be afraid to introduce yourself to different people and don’t be shy about asking
There’s still time to register SAF Palm Springs 2018. For details, go tosafnow.tempurl.host/annual-convention.
SAF Palm Springs 2018 features 73 speakers and panelists from inside the industry and outside experts who will lead 51 educational sessions and exciting events. From top left:
Joe Aldeguer, SAF
Mark Anderson, FloristWare
David Armellini, Armellini Express Lines, Inc.
Anna Ball, Ball Horticultural
Jenny Behlings, AAF, AIFD, PFCI, SDCF, Jenny’s Floral
Lacee Bilke, Madeline’s Flowers
Lenzee Bilke, Madeline’s Flowers
Sam Bowles, FloralStrategies
Tom Bowling, AIFD, PFCI, Syndicate Sales, Inc.
Loann Burke, AIFD, AAF, CFD, PFCI, Furst The Florist
Jo Buttram, AAF, AMF, PCF, Shirley’s Flowers & Gifts, Inc.
Rakini Chinery, AAF, AzMF, Allan’s Flowers
Theresa Colucci, AAF, AIFD, PFCI, Meadowscent
Dana Cook, AAF, Julia’s Florist
Pat Dahlson, Mayesh Wholesale Florist
Steve Daum, Floralife
Deborah De La Flor, AIFD, PFCI, CFD, De La Flor Gardens
Kate Delaney, AAF, Matlack Florist, Inc.
Brad Denham, Arizona Family Florist
Tim Dewey, DVFlora
Christopher Drummond, AAF, PFCI, Plaza Flowers
Max Duchaine, SAF
Reece Nakamoto Farinas, Beretania Florist
Oscar Fernandez, Equiflor/RioRoses
Tom Figueroa, AIFD, MCF, Nordlie, Inc.
Paul Fowle, DVFlora
Nick Fronduto, Jacobson Floral Supply, Inc.
Tim Galea, Norton’s Flowers & Gifts
Kyle Garrison, Bill Doran Company
Joshua Glass, AAF, Peoples Flower Shops
Barry Gottlieb, Coaching the Winner’s Edge
Charlie Hall, Ph.D., Texas A&M University
Marlin Hargrove, AAF, AIFD, PFCI, Pete Garcia Company
Glenna Hecht, Humanistic Consulting, LLC
Tim Huckabee, AIFSE, FloralStrategies
Zsuzsana Hutchinson, Flowers
Scott Isensee, Frank Adams Wholesale
Jim Kaplan, Chrysal Americas
Kim Kashman, Syndicate Sales
Jackie Lacey, AAF, AIFD, PFCI, Floriology
Bill LaFever, PFCI, Bill Doran Company
Vonda LaFever, AIFD, PFCI, TeamFloral
Dwight Larimer, AAF, PFCI, Design Master color tool, Inc.
Erin Largo-Wight, Ph.D., University of North Florida
Jackie Levine, Central Square Florist
Shirley Lyons, AAF, PFCI, Dandelions Flowers & Gifts, LLC
Remington Mathis, Suzann’s Flowers Remington Mathis
Klair McDermott, AIFD, PFCI, Sunshine Bouquet Company
Jodi McShan, AAF, TMF McShan Florist Inc.
Martin Meskers, AAF, Oregon Flowers, Inc.
Mike Mooney, Dramm & Echter, Inc.
Derrick Myers, CPA, CFP, PFCI, Crockett, Myers and Associates
Jamie Notter, Human Workplaces
Skip Paal, AAF, Rutland Beard Floral Group
Cameron Pappas, CPA, Norton’s Florist, Events & Gift Baskets
Kate F. Penn, SAF
Julie Poeltler, AIFD, CAFA, PFCI, Fountain of Flowers & Gifts
Ben Powell, Mayesh Wholesale Florist
Michael Pugh, AAF, Pugh’s Flowers
Kaitlin Radebaugh, AAF, Radebaugh Florist & Greenhouses
D Damon Samuel, AAF, AIFD, NAFD, NMF, PFCI, Bill Doran Company
Danny Sanchez, South Florals Group
Laura D. Shinall, Syndicate Sales, Inc.
Renato Sogueco, AAF, PFCI, BloomNet
Jennifer Sparks, SAF
Diane Thielfoldt, The Learning Café
Dominic Vercelote, Tagawa Greenhouses, Inc.
Crystal Vilkaitis, Social Edge
Mary Westbrook, SAF
Derek C Woodruff, AIFD, CF, CFD, PFCI, Floral Underground
J. Robbin Yelverton, AAF, AIFD, PFCI, CF, MCF, Blumz by…JRDesigns
Kevin Ylvisaker, AIFD, PFCI, CAFA, Smithers-Oasis
Susan E. Yoder, Seed Your Future
JUST ADDED: Charles Ingrum, Dr. Delphinium Designs & Events
Anne Holub is a contributing writer for the Society of American Florists.
