The Connecticut Florist Association hosted the Northeast Floral Expo on February 27, 28 and March 1^st at the Crowne Plaza in Cromwell, Connecticut. Over seven hundred florists, wholesalers and students from nine different states attended the three-day event.

With popcorn and drinks in hand, the events started on Friday night with 50 people whom came out to see the independent film “Making Arrangements” by Melissa Scaramucci. Throughout the weekend attendees were able to participate in eight hands-on workshops and six business clinics. Topics ranged from In Step with AIFD, care and handling of flowers so that you Speak Like the Expert You Are and marketing designed through education with Flowers for Kids. Art Conforti of Beneva Flowers, Sarasota, FL, led the Florist-to-Florist roundtable discussion on Sunday morning and kept the audience captive with his outside-the-box marketing ideas. The weekend’s highlights were featured Design Workshops by John Klingle’s Creating Composite Flowers, Susan Ayala’s Weddings, What Comes Around Goes Around and Sharon McGukin’s Design Show on Floral Trends. Jacobson’s and Seagroatt Wholesale Florist sponsored Jennifer Ford-Chatfield’s design workshop The Ever-Changing Styles of Events. Jennifer demonstrated techniques and ideas applied at her own shop Fleur de Lys Floral in New Haven, Connecticut. Participants were able to create and take home a centerpiece of two rectangle vases filled with artichokes, lilies, callas, hydrangea, and pheasant feathers and tied together with curly willow.

The three design competitions are another highlight of the exposition. The NFFE hosts an annual design competition for high school students within the state studying Agricultural Science with a focus in floral design and shop management. Fifty-seven students entered the competition. The State Competition is open to any owner or employee of a paid CFA member shop. The challenge for the designers in the State Competition was to create a $40 everyday design that was both profitable and deliverable. The winning design, created by Lisa Fede of Fruits and Flowers in Bridgeport, CT, will be used as a CFA signature design to endorse Real Florists which provides materials for independent and local florists to utilize. Designers whom have previously won or placed second in the annual state design competition are eligible to participate in the Masters Competition. Robin Weir of Langone's Florist in Springfield, MA, won this years Master’s division and will be sponsored by CFA to compete for the National Designer of the Year Finals taking place in Colorado in the fall.

Winners of the Masters Competition pose with the show's sponsors and organizers.

Masters Competition

Winners of the State Competition with show sponsors and organizers.

State Competition

The Jacobson’s booth “Back to Basics” featured our own import Holiday Design products in a flower shop setting.

Plans are already being made for the 2010 North East Floral Expo. Visit the website www.northeastfloralexpo.com for information. If you would like to get involved in the planning of the expo contact the CFA office at 800-352-6946. To find out more information about the Connecticut Florist Association visit www.flowersandplants.com.