Making a living in the floral industry means giving back to that industry.
Mark was the first independent (non wire-service) technology vendor to be invited to join the Technology Committee of the Society of American Florists (SAF) and participates in various SAF events.
This is part of an ongoing commitment to supporting industry-specific associations. In addition to SAF FloristWare is a member of the Michigan Floral Association (MFA), American Institute of Floral Designers (AIFD) and several other regional associations including the Florida State Florists Association (FSFA) and Michigan Floral Association (MFA). FloristWare is also one of the original six vendor members of Florists For Change (FFC).
The association work takes a lot of time and energy but it’s very rewarding. Too many vendors are only concerned with selling to florists. Vendors have a responsibility to support the industry and I enjoy working with the dedicated volunteers behind organizations like FFC, SAF, MFA and AIFD. I also learn a lot about how to make FloristWare better.
Mark also maintains close relationships with noted industry experts, educators, speakers and trainers - people like Tim Huckabee, Ryan Freeman, Rick Rivers and Jon McClory.
It is a privilege - and an education! - to work with these people. I can’t tell you how many times a quick phone call with one of them led to something that made FloristWare better for our clients.
Through FloristWare Mark also supports and sponsors educational content at many industry trade shows, conventions and events. This content usually focusses on the less popular (but very important) business side of the industry (as opposed to design) with a focus on helping florists be more successful.
Through Beyond Cost Plus Mark also works to provide important information on pricing and how retail florists can benefit from new approaches. This is done through the Beyond Cost Plus website, sessions at various industry events, webinars, and contributions to other websites and discussion groups.