Chris and Jonny Palliser of Scotts Flowers in New York City are among the participants headed to SAF’s 1-Day Profit Blast in Boston, sponsored by Jacobson. Register by March 8 to receive the early-bird discount. Bring your coworkers and save even more, with special $99 tickets for each additional team member you register.
Chris and Jonny Palliser, second-generation managers of Scotts Flowers in New York City, will soon head north to Cambridge, Massachusetts, for the latest round of the Society of American Florists’ popular 1-Day Profit Blast series at the end of March.
The brothers, always keen to learn ways to stand out from the competition, operate more efficiently and increase profitability, are attracted by the program’s promise of targeted business advice, delivered in a compact, eight-hour format for easy digestion, along with networking opportunities with their peers and a Supplier Showcase.
A veteran of SAF’s annual convention, Chris Palliser was excited when he saw the first advertisement for SAF 1-Day Profit Blast in Boston, sponsored by Jacobson, on Sunday, March 31.
“We had an amazing time at SAF Palm Springs 2018. It was great to get away and just talk with so many other smart people in the industry,” Chris Palliser said. “I think it is really healthy for people to step back from their businesses, learn how others are doing it and absorb as much as they can.”
Palliser has read his fellow florists’ praise of the four expert speakers from past events and anticipates taking plenty of notes from the specialized presentations on money-saving design techniques, effective social media marketing, customer engagement tips and smart accounting practices. The family wants to learn “anything we can do to improve our profit and losses,” he said.
In between sessions, Palliser intends to engage in some very productive mingling with other participants. “I’m interested to see how others are increasing revenue, controlling margins and cutting expenses,” he said. “We are going into this very open minded.”
Here’s a brief rundown of the event’s highlights:
- Decorated designer Jody McLeod, AIFD, CFD, NCCPF, owner of Annie V’s Floral Design Studio in Clayton, North Carolina, will headline with “Design Hacks and Smart Services to Delight Consumers,” sponsored by Syndicate Sales
- Floral accounting expert Derrick Myers, CPA, CFP, PFCI, president of Crockett, Myers & Associates will present “Lost in Space: Where Are Your Profits?”
- Customer engagement expert Sam Bowles, FSC, a director of FloralStrategies and manager of Allen’s Flowers in San Diego, will present “Extraordinary Service in Your Shop Every Day,” sponsored by FloristWare
- Social selling specialist Crystal Vilkaitis, owner of Crystal Media, will present “Six Steps to a Profitable Social Media Strategy.”
If you need lodging, you can save on hotel rooms at the Boston Marriot Cambridge when you book before the early bird pricing deadline this Friday, March 8. Details online. If you have any questions about hotel rooms for SAF events, contact SAF’s Laura Weaver at (703) 838-5221.
Register today for the SAF 1-Day Profit Blast online by Friday, March 8 to receive the early bird discount. SAF members are just $139 (non-members $189). Bring your coworkers and save even more, with special $99 tickets for each additional team member you register. Profit Blast tickets include breakfast, lunch, educational sessions and a popular supplier showcase.
Anne Holub is a contributing writer for the Society of American Florists.
