August 2025 - safnow.org
SAF Phoenix 2025 Education and Connections ‘Resonated Deeply’ | safnow.org
Chad Freytag of Freytag’s Florist in Austin, Texas had already been dabbling with artificial intelligence before he went to SAF Phoenix 2025. But what he learned during two AI sessions at the Society of American Florists’ 140th annual convention opened his eyes to all the possibilities the technology has to offer. “You hear so much […] The post SAF Phoenix 2025 Education and Connections ‘Resonated Deeply’ appeared first on safnow.org.| safnow.org
Sylvia Cup Design Competition contestant Judy Janzen, AIFD, CCF, refused to be deterred by the contest’s surprise theme and twists. Instead, she approached the theme – Outer Space or Extraterrestrial Floral Designs — like a tricky word problem. She ignored irrelevant details, circling a few key words in the instructions as she aimed to cut […] The post California Florist Claims Sylvia Cup appeared first on safnow.org.| safnow.org
‘Moderna Dolce’, a medium pink butterfly ranunculus presented by Rosaprima, stunned judges with its high bloom count, sturdy stems and graceful aesthetic to win the Society of American Florists’ Outstanding Varieties Competition, held in conjunction with the organization’s 140th annual convention in Scottsdale Aug. 11-14. Rosaprima only began selling the variety earlier this year, which made […] The post Ranunculus ‘Moderna Dolce’ Wins Best in Show appeared first on sa...| safnow.org
A marketing campaign built on generosity, customer connection, and operational savvy earned Kennedy’s Flowers & Gifts in Grand Rapids, Michigan the floral industry’s top marketing honor. The shop’s refillable vase program was named the winner of the 31st annual Society of American Florists’ Marketer of the Year award, presented at SAF’s 140th annual convention in […] The post Refillable Vase Program Wins SAF’s Marketer of the Year Award appeared first on safnow.org.| safnow.org
The Society of American Florists in early August welcomed new volunteer leaders to its board of directors and councils, following elections held in July. The announcements were made during SAF’s 140th annual convention, SAF Phoenix 2025, where several leadership transitions also took place. “Volunteer leaders play a vital role in guiding every part of SAF’s […] The post SAF Welcomes New Leaders to Board and Councils appeared first on safnow.org.| safnow.org
Perseverance in the face of crisis, groundbreaking plant breeding, visionary leadership, and a passion for mentoring defined the floral professionals recognized at the Society of American Florists’ 2025 Stars of the Industry Awards Aug. 14. The annual celebration of the industry’s highest honors spotlighted trailblazers whose dedication has shaped education, research, design, sustainability, and community. […]| safnow.org
From tracking deliveries in real time to streamlining social media posts, today’s florists are using business apps to save hours each week — and scale smarter. At WildFlower Stem + Sundry in Maryland, owner Christine Guenther, AAF, has made Slack a condition of employment, using more than 60 active channels to coordinate events, manage pricing, […] The post Power Your Growth With Apps appeared first on safnow.org.| safnow.org
J Schwanke’s Life in Bloom, the award-winning lifestyle show about flowers, isn’t expected to be negatively impacted by recent funding cuts to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, its creator says. The Corporation for Public Broadcasting announced last week that it will shut down by January 2026 after Congress eliminated $1.1 billion in federal funding, ending more […] The post ‘Life in Bloom’ May Get Boost in Wake of CPB Shutdown appeared first on safnow.org.| safnow.org
On Oct. 15, floral businesses across the U.S. — and around the world — will hand out free flowers to unsuspecting strangers as part of the Society of American Florists’ 11th annual Petal It Forward event. The goodwill initiative delivers two bouquets to each recipient: one to keep, and one to give away, encouraging the […] The post Spread Joy on Oct. 15 During Petal It Forward appeared first on safnow.org.| safnow.org
The Bill Doran Company has acquired Denver Wholesale Florist (DWF), one of the nation’s oldest floral wholesalers. The sale, announced Aug. 5, marks a major shift in the floral wholesale landscape — combining two powerhouse companies with deep roots in the industry. “Through early conversations, it became clear that our two organizations share closely aligned […] The post Floral Titans Merge: Bill Doran Company Acquires DWF appeared first on safnow.org.| safnow.org
Emily Betler has owned McCandless Floral in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania for less than nine months, but she’s determined to build on founder Janet Woloszyk’s 48-year legacy, which included tapping into the Society of American Florists’ resources and events for continuing education. “I wanted to go to the Next Gen conference earlier this year, but the timing […]| safnow.org
Discover the exciting career opportunities in horticulture with Seed Your Future's new webinar series. Learn from industry professionals and network with peers.| safnow.org
Seed Your Future is launching a program to train high school science teachers nationwide about the horticulture and floriculture industries and give them resources to talk about career opportunities in the classroom. The educator professional development program was created by a third party for the beef and dairy industry, where it has had great success. […]| safnow.org
The beginning of the school year is a great time to make connections with teachers and students to bring awareness to career opportunities in your business and cultivate a pipeline of workers in your community. Seed Your Future has resources to help. The resources include: Creating a Pipeline of Talent Through Schools: Did you know […]| safnow.org
Did you experience another chaotic Valentine’s Day with too few hands on deck? Has hiring been an ongoing struggle that keeps you up at night? You’re not alone! Fortunately, the industry has several initiatives to combat the labor shortage and develop the next generation of floral professionals. Learn more about these efforts — and how […]| safnow.org
At Cultivate’25, the horticulture industry’s largest trade show, a group of high school and college students walked away with more than swag bags — they left with a clearer picture of what a career in the green industry could look like. Through a special guided tour hosted by Seed Your Future, students from Ohio high […]| safnow.org
The Society of American Florists recently submitted a letter to the United States Department of Agriculture, suggesting changes to improve the process and outcomes of the Floriculture Crops Summary. In a letter to Kevin L. Barnes, associate administrator of USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, SAF COO Drew Gruenburg asked the agency to expand the summary […]| safnow.org
Kevin Keser has a message for florists who write off Administrative Professionals Week as a non-event: Don’t give up — there are plenty of sales to be won.| safnow.org
Think floral design workshops only hold appeal around the holidays? Think again. Design workshops can be a great way to drive foot traffic, generate extra revenue, and connect with new customers during slower summer months. “I do workshops all year-round,” says Debra Bazile, owner of Flowers by Elonne in Miami. She’s built her business on […]| safnow.org
Mother’s Day is quickly approaching on May 14 and it’s not too early to start planning for deliveries. The Society of American Florists has a variety of resources to help you make your deliveries productive and profitable. The resources on SAF’s Floral Education Hub include: March Idea Exchange: Is Third-Party Delivery for You?: SAF’s March […]| safnow.org
The Society of American Florists and its members were instrumental in promoting favorable media messaging around Mother’s Day flowers, and SAF’s advocacy work even prompted two organizations to take action to correct their negative focus on flowers. A greeting card company removed their Facebook ad bashing flowers and a New York lifestyle magazine said it […]| safnow.org
The National Retail Federation has good news for the floral industry. Flowers ranked second on a list of top gifts for Mother’s Day, just behind greeting cards, with 72 percent of those surveyed saying they would purchase flowers for the mothers in their lives, up from 68 percent last year. The same survey, which polled […]| safnow.org
The number of Americans purchasing flowers and plants for Mother’s Day grew over last year, as did florists’ sales, despite economic uncertainty and increased costs due to tariffs. This year, 38% of Americans bought flowers or plants for mom, according to an Ipsos consumer poll conducted earlier this month on behalf of the Society of […]| safnow.org
Learn how The Society of American Florists connects and cultivates a thriving floral industry. Join SAF's community of florists.| safnow.org
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