INTERVIEW By Sabina Reiner


Q & A FOR MORE:www.mayesh.com 3 4 FloralNews www.SelectaCutFlowers.com


with Ben Powell Mayesh Wholesale Florist Managing Director discusses new trends in the floral industry.


Mayesh Wholesale Florist is the preeminent wedding and event supplier in the United States. Founded in 1938 by Jack Mayesh, the Dahlson family acquired the business in 1978. Mayesh has remained family-owned and operated ever since. Headquartered in Los Angeles, Mayesh sup- plies a large variety of fresh floral products sourced from premier growers around the world. The company has de- veloped world-class expertise in sourcing, logistics, and fulfillment. Mayesh operates 15 branches in 7 states, has an interna- tional shipping department, and offers online shopping. In addition, the company has an ownership stake in a cargo agency and handling facility in Quito, Ecuador.


Q: There are different lifestyle and economic trends that affect the floriculture industry. Which of them has the biggest impact on the retail flo- rist business?


A: It is not surprising that many retail florists feel be- leaguered in today’s competitive environment. The debt-fueled consumer spending binge of the 1990s and 2000s ended with a thud.


Internet order gather-


ers have become dominant in the lucrative origina- tion segment of floral orders. Supermarkets contin- ue their relentless drive to market flowers, leveraging scale economies and millions of customer relation- ships to dominate the cash and carry business. The number of retail florists in the U.S. has been halved in the past 15 years.


Q: So where does the retail florist look for its fu- ture? A: There is no silver bullet, of course. But at Mayesh


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