Deadline for hotel preference rates 25th February - SATURDAY!! So book them straight away. A couple of reminders:
With BFA preferential rates & promo code you have a flexi-booking which can be cancelled up to 12 noon on the day of arrival! So you're safe in the knowledge that even if you’re not 100% sure you can attend, you can book now with confidence! Use promo code 'BFA CREWE' Call 0845 0740060
Stay at the venue - Crewe Hall, Cheshire & take advantage of the BFA Hotel package including the Informal Cocktail Party & Dinner. (Excludes conference or Saturday business workshop tickets)
The hotel is stunning and an entirely tax deductable business expense, along with the conference tickets!
Bank of England to give us an 'Off the record talk'!
If you haven't read the news we have secured the Bank of England agent John Young to talk to us about the very latest information on financial matters that are crucial to your business in an ‘off the record speech’. As if that wasn’t enough - he’ll be taking your questions too!..... and note the timing!! With BFA Vision 17 taking place shortly after article 50 is triggered the timing couldn’t be synchronistic, nor the information shared more important!
BFA Vision conference is a day of speakers, debate and business inspiration and is open to all trade florists, growers and suppliers whether BFA members or not!
It really will be an exciting weekend as we can offer the exciting opportunity of Florist business Guru Tim Huckabee, who'll be jetting in from the states to join us! Attend his workshop from 3pm on Saturday and leave equipped to implement ideas to boost business and increase profits in your business from Monday Morning!
What's more... book the workshop & conference package & save up to £17.
Valentine's survey information you give, we will collate and share with you. You hold vital information - it takes less than 5 minutes to complete. Thank you!
The results of the Christmas survey made fasinating reading Click Here to read that if you missed it.
Fancy Showcasing Your British Flower Designs to Millions?
New Covent Garden Market are searching for five florists to feature in the national campaign promoting British flowers and floristry. This is a fabulous opportunity to be involved in this great campaign, have professional images of your work taken, OH, and the little added extra of having your work viewed by millions!!
One heck of a mouthful, but staff appraisels are an important excercise that often gets overlooked. Is it time you and your staff did this? It doesn't have to be too heavy! As can be seen from this document, its an ideal opportunity to start discussions.Please always feel free to chop, change and personalise this & other documents to meet your requirements.
CALLING ALL FLORISTS IN THE SOUTH WEST!!
Our next two florist get togethers are being held in:
Barnstaple - 7th March
Truro - 8th March
We've had floods of compliments and thanks from florists that attend these evenings. They leave with their mind buzzing with new ideas and points to consider, so do come along & feel free to bring the whole team.
All professional florists welcome! Oh, we'll also be having a flower showcase for you on the night... but we'll reveal more on that later!
No doubt about the good food, wine and great company though - they're at every meeting! Come & chat to fellow florists just like you and gain more great ideas to make the last peak period for a while a really successful one for your business!
Business rates review may well change before the chancellor's budget on April the 1st with reports that ministers are expected to soften impact and Chancellor Philip Hammond telling Conservative MPs he is "listening" to their concerns.
However, we at the BFA - as the only trade association in the florist industry that is recognised by Government both in the UK and EU - felt compelled to act on behalf of florists and make our feeling on the subject known. This is why Brian Wills-Pope the British Florist Association Chairman has acted on behalf of UK florists, Click on the link below to read his letter to Philip Hammond Chancellor of the Exchequer.
We're pretty confident that you'll be selling the 3 flowers that our friends at the Flower Council of Holland are promoting in the Flower Agenda in March - Ranunculus, Hyacinth and Daffodils however with the additional great information on offer from them you can use it to sell, sell, sell along with your Mother's Day Promotional Material??
DID YOU KNOW? That its time to review your profile page in the consumer website!! This free listing to all BFA business members is is used by consumers around the UK and beyond to find the local BFA Professional Florist to suit their needs. Do it now before Mother's day is upon you... make sure that you have uploaded all your details: opening times, products, web & social media links, along with your images to showcase your business in the best way to reflect you.
Did you know that with BFA membership you can 20% discount off of Direct 2 Florist membership fees - with the added bonus that this isn't just a first year offer - it's on every year you remain a BFA member! CLICK HERE to go to their page. CLICK HERE to see more member offers.
We've had membership shoot up in the last 12 months, but all good things must come to an end - so we have good and bad news!!
THE BAD NEWS - Half price New Florist Business Membership will be finishing soon (so join now if you haven't already!)
THE GOOD NEWS - Country Baskets have kindly offered to extend the subidy offer to the end of the BFA Vision conference on Sunday 9th April - regardless of the quota they previously agreed - Thank you CB!
Last but certainly not least.....We're delighted to announce that the BFA have formed a great relationship and will be working with the Wedding Flowers & Accessories Magazine on their forthcoming projects!
Whilst we have lots to tell you, at the moment we're delighted to reveal that they have asked us to create their seasonal guide pages. These go into each issue and are a very popular section of the magazine. The next issue in May - June will feature our first work.
Find parts of our Newsletter useful? - pass it on!!
We hope you find parts of our weekly newsletters useful! Do you think your florist & Industry friends or Colleagues might - we're really happy for you to pass it on..
If you join Use Promo Code CB50 to join as a first time BFA Florist Business member, and you'll receive your membership at a 50% discount! Just £40 plus VAT
Thanks to the generosity of Country Baskets who help subsidise it.
We hope you've enjoyed this week's Newsletter. If you've missed previous ones and would like to see them CLICK HERE
Remember you can find lots more information on our websites.
