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WORLD FLORAL EXPO LIVING UP TO ITS NAME!Miami, FL - The Sheraton Convention Center was the center of global attention for the world fresh flower industry during the 4th World Floral Expo in Miami, Florida held last week (March 4-6) in the heart of Miami's flower import & distribution area. The 3 day trade show attracted over 500 highly qualified buyers this year, up 40% compared to last years' show. The 500 buyers represented 267 floral companies, up 25% compared to 2007. 157 companies from 19 countries exhibited, with newcomer Vietnam joining Ecuador, Colombia, Costa Rica and Africa among others in this 4th edition of World Floral Expo. The Show is designed especially for US floral wholesalers and high volume retailers to enable them to select the wide range of products from companies of their choice. Displaying flowers from Miami importers, growers from all over the world and not to forget from breeders, showing their newest varieties available for production, is the main exhibitor profile of World Floral Expo. A big name, but more and more doing what it promised from the beginning: becoming the Number One event for the U.S. Floral Industry in the Number One Floral City in the U.S., Miami! And the success of this years' edition certainly proves to live up to the name it established 4 years ago. Several companies said that the first day only already gave them more business than all 3 show days of last year. Stephen Armellini of Armellini Industries spoke about getting very close to the critical mass the show needs to have: "being in the 4th year of its existence, the show is going to achieve its set goals easily in our 5 year plan, looking at the yearly growth the show has shown in the past 4 years and we're there already, which is great". A Miami importer that exhibited wrote: "It was our most successful Show ever. We were able to write orders at the show and solidify accounts that we had been working on. The organization and professionalism was greatly appreciated by everyone". Another first time exhibitor, Mercy Seron of Pacific Gardens said she wrote standing orders for over 300 cases per week to new customers which never would have happened if she had not made the last minute decision to exhibit with her new company. "This was the best marketing decision I could have made." For the first time this year several prizes were given to exhibiting companies running in the Best Stand Design Award Competition. In the category National Pavilions Gold went to Ecuador, Silver to the East and Central African Trade Hub (ECA Hub) and Bronze went to Costa Rica. In the category of Individual booths, Gold went to Premier Floral Corporation, Silver to Transflora and Bronze to Galleria Farms, all 3 renowned Miami based flower importers & distributors. Qualified Buyers that visited were also very happy with the show's policy that all events in and around the trade show were free for them to attend. "A big difference with other trade shows" which is really appreciated", was a much heard comment. Two morning conferences were available to those wishing to attend, as well as a tour to 5 Miami importers. Opening night cocktails were held outside at the Sheraton Pool side, and the official Buyers/Vendors party this year took place at Nikki Beach Club on South Beach and was a great success and everybody enjoyed the ambiance of being on the beach and networking at the same time.
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