Around The Globe

AUSTRALIA

The 7th Australian Native Flower Conference will convene in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia on May 25th to 28th in 2005. WFC members are invited, along with flower lovers of the world.

INDONESIA

Els Tiwar reports from Indonesia: Els has just returned from Shenzhen, China, where she and her committee were doing a Floral Exhibition for the Government Department of Tourism. Her working group of WFC members included Berlian, Samuel and Flora. Els has just completed a demonstration of Floral Design for the Bali Tourism Development Corporation. This is the 8th anniversary of Nusa Dua Bali. The theme of her presentation “Promoting Tourism Industry through Development of Flower Industry in Bali”. Ells is well connected with the Government and the Department of Tourism. This is a nod in preparation of WFC Indonesia, 2005. Els asks us to start preparing now for Jakarta and Bali in September of 2005, for a fabulous WFC Summit.

MACAU

DANMIEN KOH REPORTS FROM MACAU; AIFD in New York was very special this year. His demonstration was received very well and he was asked to return for another performance in 2005. He also reported that J. Schwanke, AIFD did a great program of former AIFD members, who had contributed greatly to our industry. One of his tributes was given to Joyce White, Charter Member of AIFD and a strong advocate of WFC.

Damien also reports that the flower industry is increasing in strength around the world. He is busy doing shows Ikebana demonstrations and exhibitions in China, Indonesia and Singapore.

NETHERLANDS

AAD VAN UFFELEN FROM THE NETHERLANDS REQUESTS: will any WFC members with musea for flower art in the world please share with him. Floral art roots have been explored in some countries of the world. I’m sure there is data that can be shared, from personal research, with Aad. Please contact Aad directly at his email address <aadvanuffelen@dutchflowerlink.nl> or at home office. Aad was Country Designer at the Riga Summit this year. Els Hazenberg designed for " Flower Sculpture" at Riga, and served as commentator for the Day of "Country Designers".

NORWAY

Oystein Petterson reports: This is the first time Norway and the Scandinavian Countries are represented in a WFC Summit.

I’m new in this WFC game and it was my first participation. I used it to learn some great persons and good colleagues in the flower business to know. I learned a lot and I would like to take the opportunity to tell something about our country and the flower business here in the cold north of the world.

My daily work is in the EuroFlorist group, where I run the Norwegian operations. EuroFlorist are running “flower by wire service” in Sweden, Denmark, Holland, Germany, Austria, Norway and France. Our main task is to provide our 7800 shops with an easy and profitable way to send flowers domestic and abroad. We are a part of Teleflor International and send our international orders thru that system.

Flowers are a good product in Norway and the Norwegians are one of the most flower buying people in the world. Even if the prices are high (Norway are importing more than 60% of their cut flowers) the business is good.

There are more than 1400 flower shops in this country (4,5 mill inhabitants) but the country is long, more than 3000 km from the south to the north.

If you travel south in Europe from Oslo, you reach Rome in Italy with the same miles that you use for traveling north to Kirkenes.

The domestic market has been protected for some decades with import restrictions and toll barriers. The Norwegian production has been enough to serve the domestic market and Import flowers from Holland have been the supplement for many years.

In the last 10 years flowers from the African countries take over the market due to lower toll and cheap prices. (Longer transport gives poorer quality)

There are a few chains taking over a part of the market, Mester Grønn, Plantasjen and Floriss is the biggest.

The little “man and wife” shop is having a hard time to survive, especially in the streets, more and more of the trade take place in malls and shopping centers.

To our business, the large number of internet companies selling flowers, is a problem.

Many of them don’t have filling florist to do the final delivery and orders are “flying” around the world to finally find a filling florist to deliver. In this “flying time“, the order stops in several companies and money are deducted from the value that the customer paid in the first place. Customers are being cheated and they loose confident with our product.

We must work hard to make the industry honest and give the customer the “value for money” feeling back.

EuroFlorist group will continue to work in the interest of our member florists and try to save the reputations and good service that florist are known for.

All the best from Øystein Pettersen, CEO, EuroFlorist Norway
oystein@euroflorist.no

PHILIPPINES

EFREN CHATTO OF THE PHILIPPINES REPORTS; Davao City of Southern Philippines held its week-long Kadayawan Festival last August 15-22, 2004. It is an annual celebration of thanksgiving for bountiful harvests. The event has become a big tourist attraction drawing visitors from all over the country. Among the highlights of the affair include the Float Parade, Floral Demonstrations, and Floral Arrangement Competiton. WfFC member Kim Luenberger was the lead organizer of the Floral Demo featuring Dutch Designer, Peter Daemen. John Ong, Oasis products distributor for the Philippines, and other WFC members were among the event sponsors.

THAILAND

POO FROM THAILAND REPORTS; Great news from our Membership Chairman. He is planning a Regional WFC meeting in March of 2005 in Chiang Mai, Thailand. He expects attendees from 14 Asian Countries and many from other countries as well. This meeting will be for three days, and the dates are March 17,18 and 19. Mark your calendar now. Many of you marvel at how charming Chiang Mai is. The queen may even grace our presence. Els Hazenberg and Malcolm Angus will serve as judges during the competition that Poo is planning.

USA

Great News. Mr. Herman Meinders, WFC Chairman Emeritus, while in the Delegates Meeting in Riga, Latvia, offered to match contributions, donations and memorials, in any denomination, up to $5000.00 total. This is a tremendous offer, and contributions are already coming in. Presently we have collected $1450.00. Since WFC operates each year with a deficit this is especially good news.

Several changes are being implemented as well. Dues collections have been slow. Now members and Chapter Presidents are being re-billed to bring the member list up to date. In the future, if your dues are not current, there will be no mailings, newsletters or communications from Home Office.

Mailing and printing costs are quite large, so the Delegates voted to begin placing the newsletter on the internet. All member forms will be available on the internet. You will be able to sign up as a new member, request Student Exchange information, check member status, Chapter Presidents, committee members and review upcoming Summits of WFC.

Home Office of WFC is relocating to 10476 East Cannon Drive, Scottsdale, Arizona, 85258,USA. Please direct any mailings to the attention of Mr. Dean White. The new phone is 480-860-0906. The fax is 480-860-0907. The email is deanwfc@goimi.com. The web site remains the same, www.goimi.com/wfc.

World Flower Council continues to grow around the world. Presently we have members in 32 countries and expect to add another 6 countries next year. Thanks to our very dedicated Membership Chairman, Mr. Poo Chesdmethee of Thailand. Keep up the good work, Poo.

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