The state of the industry: A LOOK AT THE CHALLENGES OF THE PAST YEAR AND THOSE THAT LIE AHEAD, AS WELL AS A PLAN FOR SURVIVING AND THRIVING IN 2007

摘要

2006 wasn't exactly grim for the overall floral industry; it just wasn't good. But for the traditional retail florist and wholesaler channel, it's getting grimmer. Here are my analyses of the factors that shaped the past year for our industry as wellas those that will challenge us in the year ahead. supply increases, but not demand Overall cut flower units available for sale were up significantly, but the retail sales dollars generated were, at best, flat compared to 2005 numbers. This increased supply coupled with no increased demand led to lower prices at wholesale and, worse, lower profits. The future holds even more peril for the supply side, with some African growers looking to ship flowers into the U.S. market and test shipments of flowers arriving from China.