It’s a Sell-O-Bration at the Michigan Floral Association’s 2012 Great Lakes Floral Expo, March 2-4, at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel in Grand Rapids, MI. Every year at the Expo; MFA offers attendees invaluable Business and Hands-On Sessions and awe-inducing Main Stage Shows. The Retail Shop Dinner Tour always sells out, and the floor is always crowded at the Designer of the Year Run-Off. The latest and greatest products line the aisles on the Tradeshow Floor, and your floral friends toast the industry’s finest and induct the newest class of Certified Florist at the President’s Reception and Recognition Banquet. MFA is offering all that in 2012, and giving you so much more to Sell-O-Brate, where you’ll learn how to outperform, outmaneuver and outsell. www.greatlakesfloralexpo.com
Industry experts will share their knowledge all weekend with programs on wedding, prom and sympathy designs, Internet and social media marketing, and much more, starting off with the ALL NEW Friday night Main Stage Show: Move, Shake, Drop: The Kinetic Show! Presented by Derek Woodruff, AIFD, CF, MFA’s 2011 Designer of the Year, this performance-style event showcases flowers in ways you’ve never thought of, presented in an unheard of way. Let’s just say the performers aren’t the only things in this show that can Move, Shake and Drop! And open for the FIRST TIME on a Friday night, hit the Tradeshow Floor and enjoy the cash bar, and throughout the weekend, take part in the Scavenger Hunt on the Floor! Get your game card filled at each vendor, and once you have visited all participating booths, simply return your game card to the registration desk and you will be entered for a chance to win cold hard CA$H! And for a chance to win a pass to the 2013 Expo, bring some canned goods, non-perishable items or cash for the Grand Rapids Food Bank Basket at the registration desk.
The Design Contest is ALL NEW in 2012: new categories, new themes and new prizes! Sponsors Teleflora and Smithers-Oasis are bestowing $5,000 in awards and prizes! The MFA Designer of the Year will travel to represent the MFA at the National Alliance of Floral Associations Design Contest and the 1st place Academy winner will advance to represent the MFA in the SAF Sylvia Cup competition. In the Student Division, high school students will create a fresh flower arrangement to say ‘Happy Birthday,’ while college/professional novice entrants will design a tribute ‘In Loving Memory.’ Professional Division designers create a bridal bouquet to walk ‘Down the Aisle’ or use flowers to say ‘I Remember You’ while depicting the career of the deceased. The third professional theme will be announced Friday night near the Expo registration desk: it’s the ALL NEW first-ever Surprise Package theme! It will be just like filling an order at the shop! All contestants will be given identical flowers and hardgoods to create their design. And don’t miss the “Iron Chef” of floral competitions, the Designer of the Year Run Off, presented by Jerome Raska, AAF, AIFD, CF, PFCI, where the top five floral designers from the professional design contest will go head-to-head, flower-to-flower to win the prestigious title of MFA Designer of the Year.
In honor of our fearless Expo Chairwoman, Bobbi Ecker-Blatchford, AIFD, PFCI, AAF, the Academy Division will give a ‘Hats of to Bobbi,’ by creating a floral head piece/hat to be displayed on an equally creative and appropriate hat stand. Ecker-Blatchford and Norma Chapman, along with five featured panelists, will host an ALL NEW Idea Swap Breakfast Sunday morning, where attendees will learn the strategies this group uses for success in today’s economy.
And don’t miss the Retail Shop Dinner Tour, where Kathy Petz, AAF, CF, PFCI, will serve as host one last time. A deluxe motor coach will take you to visit Grand Haven Garden House, Picket Fence Floral & Design, Eastern Floral & Gift and Don’s Flowers & Gifts, where you will wined, dined and have a great time.
Pre-register to the Expo by February 24 for a chance to win an overnight stay at the beautiful Amway Grand Plaza Hotel and a gourmet gift put together by Russo’s. Call the MFA office at (517) 575-0110 or visit www.greatlakesfloralexpo.com to register today! See you at the Sell-O-Bration!
The Michigan Floral Association is a full-service trade organization representing more than 400 florists, growers,
and wholesalers. Located in Haslett, MI, MFA offers group savings on insurance, financial services, retail bank card processing & supplies, office supplies, and fleet fueling; is the sponsor of the Certified Florist (CF) program; creates and hosts the annual Great Lakes Floral Expo; conducts educational seminars though out the year at the association headquarters and various other facilities; publishes the Professional Florist magazine; hosts the MFA web site, and interacts with state / federal government agencies. For more information on MFA, visit their web site at www.michiganfloral.org.
Source: The Michigan Floral Association