When the North American Plant Protection Organization (NAPPO) held its
33rd annual meeting in Chicago this month, flowers were top of mind —
and at the center of the group’s banquet tables.
Disease diagnosis. Water molds. Alternative insect control. Plant-growth regulators. Substrate Components. Are we speaking your language? You're in good company. Top-notch green industry experts will be discussing these issues and more at the 26th Annual Pest and Production Management Conference, Feb 25-27, 2010 in Orlando.
While businesses in every segment of the industry ramped up their
marketing efforts in the last quarter of 2009, retailers remained the
most cautious group.
Traditional funerals are dying out. You can point to the increasing
popularity of cremation, a proliferation of online memorial sites, Baby
Boomers' pre-planning, the economy, caskets at Costco or just the dog
headstones for sale at your local pet store, if you need anecdotal
proof.
Partner with
FedEx and save up to 21 percent on select FedEx Express shipments and up to 15
percent on select FedEx Ground shipments. Take advantage of this special offer
by enrolling in the FedEx savings program for SAF members.
The Federal Trade Commission'sIdentity Theft Rule, also called the Red Flags Rule, was scheduled to take effect Nov. 1, 2009 but compliance has now been extended until June 1, 2010. If you accept credit cards or bill customers, you will need to have a written identity theft prevention program in place by then. But before you call your lawyer, check out SAF's sample policy. It just might save you time, and money.
Growers...the green industry is changing fast, and attendees at the 26th Annual
Pest and Production Management Conference will be up to speed fast. On
the agenda are sessions focused on:
new plant growth regulators,
new
bio control options,
new and less-costly substrate materials,
water
quality testing and treatment,
faster disease diagnosis and
containment, and lots more.
Mark you calendars and plan to be in
Orlando, Fla., at the Hyatt Regency Orland0 Airport February 25-27,
2010. The Pest and Production Management Conference is presented by SAF
in partnership with Greenhouse Grower magazine. For more information
please contact SAF's Laura Weaver, (800) 336-4743, l
.
The next several issues of E-Brief will feature some of the wisdom shared during the seminars at SAF Phoenix 2009, so be sure to readE-Brief, or just visit the Web site regularly, where the stories will be posted. We'll archive all of our coverage here,so it's easy for you to access. (Not getting E-Brief? EmailKrissy Doyleso you can be added to the list).
Tis
the season to get to the point — well, at least when it comes to
promoting poinsettias. Poinsettias account for up to 83 percent of
flowering plant purchases at Christmas. Keep that chunk of the
purchasing pie large (and make your slice even heftier) by reminding
customers that university research proves poinsettias are as safe as
they are beautiful with SAF's free, member-only Poinsettia Brochure.
Earn WorldPoints with the SAF Business MasterCard
Swipe your card, hype your
product, wipe out your expenses and fill up on reward points with the SAF
Business MasterCard. Earn points on all your business expenses — inventory,
payroll, daily costs — and redeem them whenever you choose. There is no annual
limit on the points, which can be redeemed for rewards such as airline travel,
hotel stays and gift certificates. For more information click here
or call SAF Member Services at (800) 336-4743. Or call Bank of America at (800)
570-1601 and mention priority code UAATCU to apply for the SAF Business Card
with WorldPoints Rewards.
As an SAF member you have access to an exclusive health insurance program from a national insurer. The program covers employees and their eligible family members with medical, prescription drug coverage, dental and life insurance in one convenient plan — that fits your budget. Smart, flexible plan choices, including traditional PPO and consumer-directed plans, allow you to achieve the right balance of cost and benefits.
Cost-saving, consumer-directed options, such as health savings accounts, are easy to set up and administer.
Employees have the freedom to choose hospital and physician care from premier national networks and more than 50 regional PPOs, depending on your location. Employees get service discounts when using in-network providers.
Pharmacy benefits through Wellpoint, a premier provider of pharmacy benefit management services with more than 61,000 network pharmacies nationwide.
Outstanding customer service for you and your employees makes managing your SAF health plan easy.
Exclusive SAF member benefits offer a customized, affordable solution through a trusted source.
A larger risk pool that may help lower overall costs.
For more information, contact Hortica Insurance & Employee Benefits:
26th Annual Pest and Production Management Conference Feb. 25-27Orlando, Fla. Presented by SAF and Greenhouse Grower Magazine
SAF Congressional Action Days March 8-9 Washington, D.C.
Tis
the season to get to the point — well, at least when it comes to
promoting poinsettias. Poinsettias account for up to 83 percent of
flowering plant purchases at Christmas. Keep that chunk of the
purchasing pie large (and make your slice even heftier) by reminding
customers that university research proves poinsettias are as safe as
they are beautiful with SAF's free, member-only 