ALEXANDRIA, VA — It's been more than two years since Rhonda Bullington attended SAF's 1-Day Profit Blast in Des Moines, an experience that expanded her skill-set and provided a boost in business. When the owner of Loess Hills Floral Studio in Council Bluffs, Iowa, saw the educational program is next headed to Omaha, Nebraska — a mere six miles away — she pounced on the opportunity.
"I got a lot out of the program the first time, both during the sessions and the networking opportunities in between," she said.
On Sunday, January 14, Bullington will be sitting front row and center with another employee in tow. SAF's first event of 2018 combines a blend of favorites and new presentations. Bullington said she's especially interested to hear headliner Laura Daluga, AIFD, discuss ways to connect with millennials.
"My business is largely weddings, so millennials are my clients," she explained.
First-time Profit Blast attendee Jack Fabbrini is ready to "soak it all in." A recent college grad, he joined his family's 52-year-old shop, Fabbrini's Flowers in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, a year ago and appreciates the chance to get up-to-speed during the compact program.
"I can't tell employees how to do something if I can't do it myself," he said. "This hits pretty everything I need — financial issues, sales tips, digital strategies and design trends — in just one day. Plus the name is pretty catchy! Who wouldn't want a profit 'blast'?"
Daluga, a fourth-generation florist and owner of Department of Floristry in Ann Arbor, returns with "Exceeding the Demands of Today's Gift Givers." Paul Goodman, MBA, CPA, PFCI, president of Floral Finance Business Services and a Floral Management columnist, will present "A Roadmap for Profitable Deliveries" — just in time for Valentine's Day.
Veteran speaker Tim Huckabee, president of FloralStrategies is revamping his Profit Blast presentation to align with his new Floral Management column, "Smart Selling," which includes digital supplements. "This presentation, structured like a workshop, will take the conversation a step further with interactive exercises to start turning owners into better managers," Huckabee said.
New to the Profit Blast stage is Rakini Chinery, AAF, AzMF. The owner of Allan's Flowers in Prescott, Arizona, has shared some of her secrets to success in Floral Management and will now go into more detail with "Driving Local Orders to Your Shop." Participants will learn how to flag local customers in their wire-in orders and then convert them to direct buyers, improve their search engine optimization and break through creative plateaus with social media.
SAF's popular 1-Day Profit Blast is gearing up for three other dates in 2018. Check safnow.org/1-day-profit-blast to see if the can't miss event — packed with design, sales, technology and management education along with a Supplier Showcase — is coming to a city near you!
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About SAF
The Society of American Florists is the leading organization representing all segments of the floral industry. SAF is proud to provide marketing, business and government services to its members, including growers, wholesalers, retailers, suppliers, importers, educators, designers and allied organizations. The association was chartered by an act of Congress in 1884. To learn more about SAF or to join, visitsafnow.org.
Source: The Society of American Florists