Welcome to the 2021 Virtual Great Lakes Floral & Events Exposition! Allison & Jerome will serve as your Emcees throughout the day, guiding you through this unique GLFEE experience. You’ll learn from some of our industries best and be able to interact with our virtual tradeshow booths.

  • SUNDAY, MARCH 7 – ALL EASTERN TIME ZONE

  • 9:00 – 9:05 AM  Welcome & Overview of the Day
    Allison & Jerome will serve as your Emcees throughout the day, guiding you through this unique GLFEE experience. You will be able to interact with the virtual trade show booths during the day. Some of the other cool functions of the virtual expo will be detailed for you.

    Speakers:
    Allison Ludema
    Jerome Raska

  • 9:05 – 9:54 PM Techniques To Trends
    Sponsored by: BloomNet/Floriology

    Everyday design can separate you from your competitors with techniques that add perceived value, help you sell space and show you are top of your game. Trends come and go with today’s market changes but will always give your work style and create a memorable floral experience for your client. In this time of growing virtual connections, see the difference as we look at designs of today with a virtual array of techniques to take “Everyday” to “Trending Today”.

    Speakers:
    ALEJANDRO FIGUEIRA FERNANDES, AIFD,
    JACKIE LACEY AAF, AIFD, PFCI

  • 9:55 – 10:44 AM How Your Habits Affect the Industry at Large
    Sponsored by: Details Flowers Software

    The floral industry is a deeply connected ecosystem. From florists to wholesalers to growers and breeders, we all count on each other to keep our system thriving and growing. Join Details Flowers Software CEO and Founder, Corrine Heck, to learn how to create life habits in your wedding and event business to keep the whole floral community strong. Planning ahead, communicating to suppliers, and understanding our roles will help to keep ourselves and our floral partners in tip-top shape.

    Speaker:
    Corrine Heck

  • 10:45 11:34 AM Sophisticated Sympathy… The Final Tribute
    Sponsored by: FTD

    Sophisticated Sympathy…The Final Tribute says it all. Flowers are the last expression of love to be conveyed. The style or choice of flowers made should be indicative of the individual’s personality, thus making the flowers play a very important part in the memorial process. These days, funerals certainly veer from the path of tradition. In this program, we look at the different ways someone’s life may be celebrated through flowers, from traditional to unique and everything in between.

    Speaker:
    Ian Prosser

  • 11:35 12:24 PM COVID: Lessons Learned
    Sponsored by: Crockett & Myers and Associates

    When COVID first hit home in early March of 2020 most Florist braced for the worst, but it turned out that will some planning, some strategic marketing, and some costs cutting, many florists have made 2020 one of their most profitable years. During this session we will look at many of the strategic steps that were taken and how we can apply them going forward to make the future even brighter.

    Speaker:
    DERRICK P. MYERS, CPA, CFP

  • 12:25 12:34 PM GLFA Annual Meeting
    Join GLFA President Teresa Cytlak as she reviews where the Association has been and where it is going!

    Speakers:
    Teresa Cytlak (President)
    Tim Galea (Treasurer)

  • 12:45 1:34 PM Keep Calm – Weddings Will Go On!
    Sponsored by: Teleflora

    Whether it is a micro wedding or a big celebration, love is love and the wedding planning wheels are in motion. Be prepared with new products, techniques, and trends to amp up your wedding florals.

    Helen will explore bridal work, reception décor, and share her thoughts on trends for the upcoming wedding season!

    Speaker:
    HELEN MILLER AIFD, CAFA, CF

  • 1:35 2:24 PM Take your Social Feed Viral
    Sponsored by: BloomNet/Floriology

    In our current world of virtual everything – you have to step up your game with great photography and video. You have about three seconds to grab the attention of your target market before they move on to another option – which is always waiting on the next page or the next feed. Join us to take a look at increasing your understanding of what tools can help you make quality photographs and better video to take your social feed viral and your visual presence to the next level.

    Speaker:
    RENATO CRUZ SOGUECO AAF, PFCI

  • 2:25 3:14 PM Be a Productivity Pro
    Sponsored by: Syndicate Sales

    Do you ever get overwhelmed with wedding, event or even day-to-day floral work? When a heavy event season or holiday rolls around, it can quickly become overwhelming if you or your team aren’t working at maximum efficiency. In this main stage program, learn how to pair best practices with the best tools and mechanics to sharpen your own skills or to help optimize your team’s productivity and efficiency. You’ll also be introduced to some of the latest solutions for creating one of the industry’s growing trends: Foam-Free Floral Installations.

    Speaker:
    DEREK WOODRUFF AAF, AIFD, CF, PFCI

  • 3:15 4:04 PM Digital Business Tools to Take your Marketing Up a Notch
    Sponsored by: Flower Shop Network

    Elevate your Marketing with these three digital business tools: Canva, Email Campaigns, and Google My Business. Canva will help you look good, Email will help you get in front of your customers, and Google My Business will help you get found online. We’re going to dive into each of these tools to help you get in front of your customers and potential customers and look good doing it.

    Speaker:
    Erica Sluder

  • 4:05 4:30 PM How Color, Style and Elements of Floral Design Help Sell
    Sponsored by: Floral Marketing Research Fund

    We know from experience that people tend to “buy with the eye” when purchasing flowers (or produce). AFE and PMA are using eye-tracking technology to obtain the “eye view” of consumers when viewing the elements of a floral design when contemplating a floral purchase.

    Which visual elements are noticed first?
    What is the optimal mix of flowers?
    What floral substitutions impact satisfaction?
    Which “Form” do consumers prefer or does it matter?

    True consumer preferences are reveled versus the stated preferences from surveys and questionnaires. How can you use this to market to target audiences and increase your opportunities to sell?

    Speakers:
    JACKIE LACEY AAF, AIFD, PFCI
    RENATO CRUZ SOGUECO AAF, PFCI

  • 4:30 5:00 PM Closing Thank You & Announcements for 2022 GLFEE
    Allison and Jerome will wrap up the days events. 2022 Great Lakes Floral & Event Expo Chair Teresa Cytlak will announce the theme and dates for the 2022 event.

    Speakers:
    Allison Ludema
    Jerome Raska
    Teresa Cytlak