editorial
My fi rst editorial since I took a necessary break is probably the hardest I’ve had to do. Not because I’ve lost the art of speech… that will never happen!… but because there is just so much I want to say having had a chance to see the world from a slight remove. However one thing that can’t
go past line eleven is a heartfelt and very personal thank you to everyone in the fl ower industry for supporting me during a very tough time both personally and professionally. I confess I have been constantly amazed at just how much kindness has been shown to me... not just from people I know but complete strangers who took the time to send messages of support and optimism. Coming back is strange but also
very wonderful… after all I have lived eaten and breathed this industry all my life so to leave it completely was never really an option. To return to such a warm welcome was something I couldn’t have dreamt possible so to everyone thank you… it’s good to be back.
One of the big things my Mum believed in was making sure that young talent was given a chance to make their mark. In the early days it was by featuring them in editorial, when she started Spring Florist Event she would make sure the design team was a mix of old hands and new blood. Hence the appearance of names like David Denyer, Ian Lloyd and Neil Whittaker long before they were world famous. And whilst we don’t have SfE
anymore it’s a rule I have followed, with one of my most successful protégés being Heidi Lawley. Now I am on the lookout for more young blood (not that Heidi is old
or a ‘has been’ – simply that she is more in the David Denyer/Ian Lloyd league!) and that’s where I need your help. Because while I always keep an
eye out for talent (that’s why Fleur van Heij ningen will be joining us at Southeast Flowers next month – see page 65) I need more leads on where the next bright thing is lurking. If you have a wowser, young (under 30) person in your team let me know. There may not be the same number of openings but there are still opportunities for the right peeps.
At the risk of losing all my wonderful reader support I am going to fess up and say I like Rainbow Roses. And, even though you are possibly/probably spluttering over the page at this stage, I am not going to apologise for it. Because although I adore a stunning Esperance or an amazing Norma Jean, fact is there are days when I would love a vase of Rainbow roses in the house simply because they make me
smile.They are, as the main breeder calls them, Happy Roses, and I would happily spend hard cash buying them. So why is it so hard to fi nd them out in fl oristland? Probably because so many fl orists have decided they don’t like them and therefore no-one can have them. Ooooh that is scary. Because if you only sell what you like and what you think is tasteful then not only are you denying people like me our ‘Happy’ moments but you’re doing yourself out of a sale and a potential customer. Yes I may have naff taste in some areas but that doesn’t preclude me from spending on the things you think are acceptable as well! At the end of the day it’s your
choice as to what you sell and how you sell it. However don’t
run the risk of alienating perfectly nice customers just because they may occasionally want a mad moment or slip below your own taste barometer!
The F&PA has just one remaining director and me. She wants to shut it down and call it a day, I don’t. Whilst I can understand and in some ways would be glad to see the back of the responsibility I struggle because that would leave the BFA as the only body and that worries me. Because having watched how they have been and are performing I think industry deserves better and therefore I cannot, with any consciousness, walk away without trying to fi nd a better solution. The BFA claim they represent the industry and are the only trade association recognised by government. Hmmm, there are over 6,500 shops and businesses in the sector discounting any of the wholesalers, importers and heaven help us non-traditional outlets. Therefore the estimated 500 membership hardly represents industry. Add in the fact that I am told they couldn’t even get a quorum for their last AGM and I know the last one I attended when I was a member didn’t have one and I’m not entirely sure the membership
F&wb Spring 2013 5
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