Business Improvement Tools

 

Improving YOUR business is what WF&FSA is all about. 

WF&FSA’s Business Improvement site is where you’ll find valuable guidance and support for your company, easily accessible from the navigation items listed on the right. 

From educational events and training sessions to floral care guidelines, technology insights, business service discounts and tools to help you run your business more efficiently, you’ll find it all here. 

Have a need that’s not listed? Send us your ideas, needs or suggestions and we’ll be sure to have one of the WF&FSA committees look into it. Perhaps your idea will spark the newest addition to this site!

WF&FSA Recommended Best Practices for the Floral Wholesale Distribution Channel

The Wholesale Florist and Florist Supplier Association, (WF&FSA) developed a short list of best practices for the movement of cut flowers in the wholesale distribution channel. “The idea is to identify procedures and actions that will add value to and/or take costs out of the wholesale distribution channel”, said Clay Sieck, former Chairman of the WF&FSA Logistics Committee and partner in Claymore C. Sieck, a floral wholesaler headquartered in Baltimore, Md.

The recommendations are broken down into three groups:

• Growers/Shippers/Brokers
• Transportation Companies
• Wholesale Florists

Best Practices for Growers/Shippers/Brokers:

1. Only produce cut flower varieties that have a long shelf life and perform well during the rigors of shipment into and throughout the U.S.

2. Reduce the number of box sizes used for shipping flowers.

3. Increase the number of palletized shipments.

4. Invest in and use pre-cooling equipment that achieves temperatures of 35 degrees for all cut flower shipments. Allow adequate time for pre-cooling prior to shipment.

5. Utilize containers that allow continuous hydration throughout the distribution channel to add measurably longer shelf life to the cut flowers.

6. Insert time/temperature indicators or data loggers in all shipments.

7. Utilize anti-ethylene, anti-yellowing and anti-transpirant products for all shipments.

8. Participate in an industry-wide barcode and labeling standard that will reduce cost by making it possible to track the box during shipment, identify the content and value of the box and make it possible to receive by scan at the wholesale location.

Best Practices for Transport Companies:

1. Maintain temperatures under 40 degrees throughout the transportation process.

2. Increase the number of palletized shipments in order to reduce handling costs.

3. Economically reward cut flower receivers who have docks, pallet equipment and dock plates/load levelers in order to encourage a reduction in handling costs.

4. Participate in an industry-wide barcode and labeling standard that will reduce cost by making it possible to track the box during shipment, identify the content and value of the box and make it possible to receive by scan at the wholesale location.

Best Practices for Wholesale Florist Companies:

1. Have truck-height sealed docks and refrigerated storage with palletized receiving doors.

2. Have pallet jacks, dock plates/load levelers available.

3. Participate with suppliers in working toward pallet-sized shipments.

4. Maintain refrigerated storage space that achieves temperatures under 40 degrees and humidity above 90%.

5. Utilize refrigerated trucks set for temperatures of 40 degrees for all shipments from the wholesale facility.

6. Utilize temperature/time indicators in all shipments. Analyze data on arrival to determine if proper cold chain management was achieved during transport.

7. Process all cut flowers using properly treated water, clean buckets and proper flower food.

8. Participate in an industry-wide barcode and labeling standard that will reduce cost by making it possible to track the box during shipment, identify the content and value of the box and make it possible to receive by scan at the wholesale location.

WF&FSA extends its thanks and appreciation to the following committee members who helped develop these best practices: David Armellini, Armellini Industries, Inc., Palm City, FL; Lane Devries, The Sun Valley Group, Arcata, CA; Gary Doran, Kennicott Brothers Company, Chicago, IL; Tom Figueroa, Nordlie, Inc., Warren, MI; and Colleen Taber, Gardens America, Inc., Miami, FL.