Presenting

64 August | 2021 I n this new column, we discuss topics that have the fl oral industry talking. Right now, nothing is buzzing more loudly than the talk of supply-chain challenges such as the semiconductor microchip shortage, which is causing delays in the production of new fl ower delivery vehicles, and the numerous quarantined cargo ships carrying much- needed shipments of hard goods that are stuck in port. Florists and wholesalers are most certainly on the front lines of today's supply-chain crunch. Challenges that are usually absorbed by top-level suppliers have trickled down to Main Street, causing us all to adjust in ways we had not planned on. For many fl orists, these extra burdens could not have come at a less convenient time. Across the country, fl orists are reporting fully booked schedules, often creating a backlog as orders for fl oral décor for events and special occasions come streaming in. Along with this, fl ower-business owners are facing not only new challenges in hiring to meet the new demand but also unexpected hurdles in securing new and used business vehicles to service the increased demand. According to a recent press release on whitehouse.gov, "New vehicle sales have increased to their highest levels in 14 years," which is one cause of the global semiconductor chip shortage. is shortage has led top automakers to focus on recovering luxury SUV and premium pickup-truck sales over no-frill fl eet vehicles, which have much lower profi t margins. With the backlog for new delivery vans stretching well into next year, small-business owners have two choices: turn work away, or pay infl ated prices for used commercial vehicles. Unfortunately, the supply issues do not end there. Even more challenging for fl orists have been the delays in the manufacture of hard goods such as fl ower buckets and arrangement containers. A quite literal "perfect storm" of challenges, including extreme weather in the Western U.S., where many fl ower farms are located; worker shortages; rising gas prices; and political unrest in South America's fl ower growing regions, has meant that today's challenges extends to the very blooms we rely on to bring our arrangements to life. Across the globe, fl ower farms are having a harder time growing blooms and fi nding skilled labor to process fl owers. Transporters are struggling to secure qualifi ed truckers capable of keeping deliveries on schedule. For raw fl oral supplies imported into the U.S., getting through customs, with COVID protocols, before fl owers begin to show signs of stress has also been a moving target, of sorts. Lighter-hued fl owers popular for wedding and sympathy work, such as white Hydrangea, roses and Dahlia, for instance, especially show discoloration when handled in less-than- optimal time frames or conditions. Hot Topic By Tonneli Grüetter Supply-chain Challenges S O L U T I O N S Consider signing up with delivery services; even popular "driver" apps like DoorDash now allow fl orists to sign up. Choosing such services for smaller and one-off fl oral deliveries can ensure you will have the dedicated company vehicles needed to personally service top-paying, long- term and event customers. When layered wraps for ready-made bouquets are in short supply, work with your wholesaler to fi nd an alternative to your usual brand. Be open to change, and if alternatives do not exist, consider reverting to hand-wrapping with trendy sheet paper, such as kraft paper or butcher paper, at check out. Taking the time to custom wrap bouquets with raw paper can not only result in a distinctive-looking fi nished product for a lower cost but also provide an excellent opportunity to chat and get to know your customer better—and even capture a last-minute up-sale with a card, premium ribbon or a balloon. When dealing with bruised or unexpectedly out-of-stock fl owers, your profi t margins can quickly shrink. To avoid losing profi ts, prepare for the unexpected during client consultations. Focus on promising color palettes rather than specifi c fl owers, and never frame shortages as lost value to your customer. If the stakes are high, consider splitting your order between two fl oral wholesalers that source from diff erent supply streams. For example, if you have a bride needing 200 stems of 'Cafe au Lait' Dahlia, consider sourcing 100 from a local farm and 100 from a wholesaler. is will diversify your supply stream while protecting you and the customer from disappointment. Much like the toilet-paper shortage of 2020, it is important to remember these challenges are temporary, and we must stay agile, as fl oral professionals, in the face of fatigue. Supply-chain bottlenecks are fl uctuating day by day, and with the dedicated help of our wholesalers, farms, brokers and transporters, who are working tirelessly to restore the industry to full capacity, this, too, will pass—and sooner than we may believe. Until that happens, we must remember to be kind and collaborative; we are all in this together.

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