HortiTrends Weekly Comment & News Digest 30th September

Trade Show season is in full swing which is why we had to take a break form the weekly newsletter. We have been to Four Oaks, Saltex, Glee & Pet Index so far. In the next month we will be visiting and exhibiting at the new Creating Landscapes Show which looks like being a great exhibiting opportunity for export orientated Irish company's to the UK. It's then on to International HortiFair Week.

Today I attended the Internet Retailing Summit in Dublin and this Sunday we will be exhibiting and delivering a seminar on Social Media 4 Business at the Irish Florist Guild annual trade show for florists. Why visit all these shows and suffer the stress that goes with flying Ryanair, you may well ask? Research for clients, networking and to find the next big trend so that you don't have to.

I have come to the conclusion all on my own that the next big trend apart from the one that everyone is telling you about i.e. 'Products around Growing Your Own Cut Flower's is......YOU. Yes that's it! YOU and whatever product or service you can deliver well is the next Big Trend. So its back to the knitting and sticking to the knitting for the foreseeable future. Consumers are becoming 'Snow Blind' to the branding clutter that is being thrown at them online and offline. They are interested in, what is inside the packaging and who is behind it. They will engage with you online if you are passionate and authentic about what product or service you stand for but no hard sales please. After Social Media comes.......

'Social Marketing.' In short it's doing business for the good of your fellow man/woman. By taking this approach to engage more with the community you serve, profits and sales will just happen to go upupup. It doesn't make sense does it? That, by being yourself and being good to the community you serve, your business will thrive. They have figures to back it up so get on the train before it leaves the station.

Come see us at the Irish Florist Guild Annual Show this week. Over 20 exhibitors there including Aquaflor Cut Flowers www.aquaflordirect.com and Dorans Nurseries http://www.irishplants.ie among others.

Thank you,

Joseph (Editor at HortiTrends)

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