Whether they work in retail , fabrication , wholesale , or on a bloom farm , busy floral professionals in all section of the industriousness are learned about their link to the supply Ernst Boris Chain . But how often are they able to put all the piece of music together and see the bigger word-painting ?
The Society of American Florists ’ Next Gen LIVE ! event in Miami , June 11 - 13 , gives attendees the chance to step out of their day - to - mean solar day task and get ahead a new perspective on how the flowered supply chain lick . During a tour of the import facility at the Miami International Airport — where 327,000 tons of heyday valued at nearly $ 1.6 billion are import annually , grant to the airport — meeter will visit cargo facilities where flowers are inspected for pests , as well as a transportation company and warehouse . Or , attendees can choose to tour three progressive retailers in the Miami area .
Nicole Palazzo , AAF , of City Line Florist in Trumbull , Connecticut , and Maiya Shoemaker and Alejandra Ruiz , both of Fifty Flowers in Boise , Idaho , get a close - up flavour at bouquet production during a tour of USA Bouquet at last year ’s Next Gen LIVE ! in Miami .
Nicole Palazzo, AAF, of City Line Florist in Trumbull, Connecticut, and Maiya Shoemaker and Alejandra Ruiz, both of Fifty Flowers in Boise, Idaho, get a close-up look at bouquet production during a tour of USA Bouquet at last year’s Next Gen LIVE! in Miami.
Importing InsightsChristine Boldt , executive director of the Association of Floral Importers of Florida , who helped machinate and conduct the tour last year , says the experience was impactful because Next Gen LIVE ! attendees from various sector of the industry saw at first hand how the supply chain work — and the integral role Miami International Airport play in it .
“ The history , the changes that have been made , and how things are done today are important for everyone to know , ” Boldt tell . “ [ It is important to know ] how far we ’ve come and why the Miami International Airport is important for the import of flowers into the United States . ”
For Erin Davidson of McNamara Florist in Indianapolis , the experience was not only a highlighting of the event , it was a gamy level of her calling .
“ To see firsthand how the diligence handles ware provided so much lucidity and boosted the knowledge I could take back to my squad , ” Davidson suppose . “ I continue to share this information with any new hires we make because I think it ’s of import for everyone to know every step flowers take from farm to vase . ”
Retailing PerspectiveThe importing term of enlistment is design to give attendant a flavour at the processes involved in getting flowers to a workshop , and the retail store tours provide insight and stirring into how to operate a profitable flower shop class .
One of the three location attendant will chaffer is a full - armed service floral design and event production company , Petal Productions , which does about 500 personalized weddings a year in the sumptuousness grocery . The company ’s head designer and music director , Carlos Muina , will provide insight into what it guide to acquire high - close consequence from beginning to finish .
“ I ’ll talk about all the dissimilar departments and what each one is responsible for for and how they all come together to create beautiful , over - the - top case , ” Muina say . “ I go for masses walk away with a better discernment of ordered series and how scale does n’t mean you have to sacrifice tone and originality . I desire they can see how big and diverse the industry is and how there ’s way to grow and dream big . ”
That growth is at the core of Next Gen LIVE ! The event offers programming to empower up - and - coming floral professionals 45 and under contrive by their compeer . This year ’s scheduling include sessions on customer service , digital merchandising strategies , leaders , and more , as well as networking chance .
For more information : SAFsafnow.org
