Let your customers know about products such as Silica Gel Reusable Flower Drying Kit. (Item #VSG100) With three simple steps, fresh flowers are transformed into beautiful, natural looking dried flowers.

Drying kits are faster than air drying and maintain the flower's original color. The kit is great for preserving memories of special occasions like proms and weddings. Corsages, boutonnieres wedding bouquets and other special flowers can all be easily preserved.

For under $50 you can order a wholesale case of six 18 oz. Silica Gel Flower Drying Kits which each includes a four oz. flower sealant. The kit is display-ready making a great counter-top sales display. The kit can be used over and over again to preserve hundreds of flowers.

Fresh flower preservatives are not the only "floral accessories" available to up-sell your customers. Silks Alive^® (Item #SA777 and #SA705) is a great addition to any silk flower arrangement purchase. The aerosol or pump spray clean all silk flowers without wiping and keeps silk arrangements looking beautiful. This can be easily demonstrated to your customers, providing yet another opportunity for an add-on sale.

Pearlescent Plastic Vases

The new luminous pearlescent colors from Syndicate Sales are sure to be a hit not only this Valentine's Day, but throughout spring. The collection made out of break-resistant affordable, water-proof plastic comes in a three color assortment; red, pink, white or solid packs of red that coordinate wonderfully with popular Valentine's floral or other great spring floral. Additionally, the three sizes (No. 20, 24, 89) mean there is shape and size for every budget. Add some sparkle to your floral designs today!

Call your wholesaler to order for more information or Syndicate Sales at customerservice@SyndicateSales.com or (800) 428-0515.

RETAIL SPOTLIGHT

Syndicate Sales Wants to Hear from You!

Send us an article about what is going on in your store. Anything goes– how you market for special events, how customer service relations are handled, special promotions, or any other area you feel your shop excels at.

Syndicate Sales feels it is important to hear from floral industry users and intends to use this section as a way to share success stories and tips with the floral industry.

The winning shop will have their article printed and receive a free case of product courtesy of Syndicate Sales.
Send your stories to modell@syndicatesales.com.

AS SEEN IN AIFD FOCAL POINTS NEWSLETTER
Trend Tracking Outside the Floral Industry
By: Marla O’Dell
Director of Products and Purchasing

Trends are socio-cultural shifts that influence consumer behavior. Consciously or not, we are all influenced by these shifts or changes. Trend tracking is an area of study that affects the product development process, and ultimately, the product selection you have to offer your customers.

Trend tracking in the Floral Industry involves many areas such as color, sizes, shapes, textures, demographics, and so on. All trends are created from today's rapidly changing environment. To be successful at tracking these trends, it is important to also look outside the Floral Industry.

Over the past two years there has been a surge in consumer spending on home décor. Floral containers fall into the home décor category. Consumers want the latest home trends, but also value, so why not provide floral containers that can be used over and over again?

There are many ways to track trends outside the floral industry. Some of the earliest trends are spotted at tradeshows in Europe such as Maison & Objet show in Paris and Ambiente and Tendence in Frankfurt. Usually trends start in Europe and make their way to the United States. Attending these shows can give floral designers a good six months to two years head start on planning the direction of the latest trend.

Since international travel can be expensive, an alternative is attending tradeshows in the U.S. The High Point Furniture Market in Atlanta, GA is a great example of an event where future home décor trends are displayed.

Keep in mind that trends shown in European shows could be spotted in customer's homes anywhere from six months to two years. However, the trends seen at U.S. shows will spring up more quickly; within six months to one year. Even more current trends can be observed right now in stores and magazines. Being cognizant of the most current trends allows you to react immediately to your customer's existing trend desires.

Keeping track of domestic trends can be easy to do and accomplished on a low budget. Take advantage of home décor magazines by reading publications like Elle Décor, Architectural Digest, House and Garden, House Beautiful, and Southern Living. Browse through home and furniture stores. Mainstream, mass-market stores like Target and Crate and Barrel, are excellent places to look because it is important to know what average consumers buy. Designers like Michael Graves and Martha Stewart, who are employed by mainstream stores, are highly influential and set the standard for the average consumer's ideas of trendiness. For instance, Syndicate Sales has noticed the impact these designers have had on plastic as a medium. Thanks in part to Stewart, Graves and other designers, plastic containers are now considered chic!

Mainstream design is a good indication of U.S. trends, but be cautious- trends are not all the same across the country. Just because something is hot in New York City doesn't mean the same trend will be favored in St Louis. Know the demographics of the region being targeted. Even if the trend is subtle, there can be a different style from the Midwest to the East Coast.

If you see a trend in your area that you would like us to take into consideration, please contact me directly at modell@syndicatesales.com

All the products shown in this newsletter and much, much more can be found in the Syndicate Sales online catalog. Click here to browse.
COPY EDITING Danielle Messersmith PHOTOGRAPHY Tony Frederick, CS Kern