Welcome to the website of Metz USA
with recent information about Metz and the Flower Market
May Results
Reasonably satisfied we can look back to the various Mother’s Day’s of May 2008. Canada was the only country which had an amazing Mother’s Day. The French Mother’s Day for the second year in a row was very good. The German market showed a light growth, whereas Spain, Italy, and the US were moderate at best. June is short in terms of working days, but promises to be a good month. Our customers are sitting on a lot of wedding orders, while the party season is shifting into gear. |
| 19-05-08 Newest members team Metz USA | |
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The most recent transplants from Metz Holland to Metz USA are Bonnie Verbeek and Ludo Pols. Bonnie will help with administration and set-up a marketing program for Metz USA, whereas Ludo will be responsible for sourcing the best possible products for Metz customers.
Alberto Arana - our new Transportation Manager - will be in charge of the flowers from the moment they leave the dock until the they arrive at the flower shop. Read more about them in the coming Scala Verde Magazine!
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| 14-05-08 Party time! So join our picture contest and win… | ||||||
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If by any reason you have not received your magazine by post or with the delivery, please contact us! |
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April Results
The product groups sundries and plants did especially well this month. Monday, April 28th was a special day in the history of Metz. Both the plant revenue as well as the total volume in trucks hit a new all-time high. The most important drivers of this being Mother’s Day in Space (first Sunday in May), and Worker’s Day (May 1st) in France and Italy. The group realized a revenue growth of 18% in April. As is historically the case, May should be a very good month. Due to the fact that most Mother’s Day’s (America, Canada, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Italia) fall on May 11th, we expect the first part of the month to start relatively quietly. The absolute peak will be achieved in weak 21: as we approach French Mother’s Day on May 25th. |
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March Results
Of course we miss the revenue of English and Irish Mother’s Day this month. Even when we correct for this, however, March 2008 will go down in history as a mediocre month. It’s been a while but the group revenue compared to last year slightly decreased (-2%). Meager sales for International Woman’s Day and Easter contributed to this. The first quarter of 2008 can be summarized by a few trends: healthy revenue growth (+14%), a continuing devaluation of the British pound, strong and profitable growth in North America, rising transport costs, large flight import volumes thru the Metz-Fleura Purchasing Joint Venture, slow floral sales in South Europe, better development in smaller markets within Europe. A unique mix of ingredients when combined give us a cautiously optimistic feeling regarding the second quarter. However, a continuation of the slide of the pound would only make matters worse. This not only puts pressure on exports to the United Kingdom, but also indirectly affects the pricing structure of the entire Dutch flower packet. |
| 12-03-08 Northeast Floral Expo | |
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Metz was a major hit at the Northeast Floral Expo... The weekend event sponsored by the Connecticut Florist Association was held in Hartford Connecticut at the convention center on Saturday March 1st and Sunday March 2nd. Despite the snowy conditions just under 1000 people with some type of floral ties attended the event. With education always being one of our goals, Metz again this year sponsored a design show and two hands on workshops. The design show and workshops (which were sold out) focused on weddings. Both design show and workshop attendees were wowed with the winning combination of Metz premium flowers and the talent of guest designer Miranda ter Voorde. Miranda's passion for the flower industry oozed like a water fall once she took to the stage and class room.
Thanks to all the folks that stopped by our booth to check out the flowers and chat. The lucky winner of the GPS system is Jennifer Ford-Chatfield from Floral de Lys Floral & Gifts New Haven, Connecticut. Congratulations Jennifer from your friends at Metz!
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| 10-03-08 Design show at the royal Netherlands embassy | |
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The floral artistry of Miranda ter Voorde and Metz premium flowers drew over 200 florists to the Royal Netherlands Embassy in Washington, D.C. on a rainy Tuesday March 4th. “Great show…sheer inspiration…beautiful…” were just a few of the comments from an appreciative audience. Miranda’s loveable personality and wry wit had the crowd laughing and her beautiful designs inspired the frequent applause. Metz flowers were show stoppers in the dramatically elegant black themed table with ‘Black Magic’ Vanda orchids, ‘Schwarzwalder’ calla lilies, and a rich medley of pink, red and lavender roses. A fun and funky display of floral cakes in green and white showcased fragrant freesias, lisianthus, ranuncula, guelda rose viburnum and green mini cymbidium.
The show was the culmination of the joint efforts of Metz, the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, the Flower Council of Holland and the Make-A-Wish Foundation. We at Metz USA are so very proud to have presented this program at the Embassy of our company’s homeland. It was a rare and wonderful privilege.
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Valentine’s at Metz |
| As most people know who work at Metz, love can’t be planned. Fortunately the Valentine’s campaign can be. The planning for “V-day” has in the last few years at Metz developed into a complex operation, where literally all the companies and departments are involved. | |
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The results were certainly there to prove it. In North America, the sales were 20% higher than last year, despite the fact that the previous year a blizzard blanketed the east coast, resulting in poor sales. With this memory still fresh in their mind, our clients purchased more conservatively this year. Fortunately, February 14th this year was a picture perfect day (despite worrisome snow flurries the previous day). More than enough reason for our customers to be happy.
In Europe everything also went full throttle. After the production department worked thru the weekend, Monday was a record breaking day for the number of clients processed on a single day (1,150). The packing went late, but according to planning, done by 23:30. At that point, 5,600 crates had already been packed, and the ladies were still in good spirits. The total amount of Dutch roses sold came to a whopping 600,000 stems. This was an increase of 22%, which mirrored the overall growth of the Metz Group. To all colleagues, transporters, and clients in Canada, the US, Ecuador, Miami, Africa, and Europe thanks for a great team effort! |
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January results
January: a winter month without any holidays. In the wholesale, the general rule of thumb is that we begin each year with the worst month. 2008 was no exception. France and Italy had a tough start. In the United Kingdom the growth in revenue in pounds didn’t translate to a growth in euros. The strong euro made the export from Holland to North America difficult; however, this was nicely compensated by our South American sources. As a result, overall sales in North America rose more than 30%. Due to the fact that Germany, Austria, Spain, and Ireland also came out of the gates well, we are not on the whole unhappy with the month. The strategy of diversified market coverage once again proves its value. February is not only about “V-day.” The extreme early English Mother’s Day and Irish Mother’s Day on March 2nd will have a significant impact on the month. In other words, it’s going to be an exciting month for Metz and our partners. |
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Fleura and Metz share the vision that economies of scale and internationalisation (of the production) are the developments on which the flower industry must act upon to strengthen its position.
The boards of Metz and Fleura have therefore decided to merge their strengths and integrate their international sourcing. Both partners will bring their import activities under the Metz-Fleura Purchasing Joint Venture umbrella. The Metz-Fleura Purchasing Joint Venture will be responsible for the purchasing of more than 20,000 florists in the mid- and high segments in Europe and North America. The Purchasing Joint Venture will be led by Sidney Moll (Fleura) and Richard Koenen (Metz). Aalsmeer/Westland, 12 november 2007 |
| 04-10-07 1st Pole for the New Entrance is Laid! | |
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On Wednesday, October 3rd, at exactly 3:15 in the afternoon, construction began on the new Metz entrance of the Head Quarter in Holland as the 1st pole was officially laid. In the ceremony, J.P. Teelen, the General Director of FloraHolland, together with the Directors of Metz, did the honors.
Metz strongly believes in its partnership with the auction FloraHolland and its respective growers. This important investment in the Elsen Building will only serve to emphasize this. The new entrance should be completed by June 2008.
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| 09-08-07 The Metz Perfume Boat | |
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Every year a competition is held in Holland where a prize is awarded to the boat with the most beautiful floral decorations. This year the competition took place during the weekend of the 3rd, 4th and 5th August, and its theme was ‘Perfume.’ After several months of preparation, Florifère Palet created a breathtaking boat. They used pastel colored flowers, delivered directly from our partner growers. With a large perfume bottle on top, and a real test lab with a professor on it, the Metz boat was ready to set sail.
The reactions of the people along the canals was great. Many pictures were taken and many memories were made. We can look back at a time with a beautiful Metz boat, where every square inch was literally covered with flowers.
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04-06-07
 Metz France and Peters & Groenveld join forces
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Scale increases and internationalization in the wholesale flower business is the matter at hand. To be able to now invest and innovate in the future in international sourcing, logistics and marketing, cooperation is essential.
Particularly in the French market, it is essential that the independent florist in the higher segment has a partner who in the area of sourcing and logistics can compete with mass market and franchise chains. The Board of Directors of Peters & Groenveld and Metz France have therefore decided as of May 31st, 2007 to proceed together. Under the name Metz & Peters, this combination will service 1,500 florists in France. A full national coverage network, which will be supported by the marketing program Scala Verde. The company functions purchasing, sales, adminstration, and transport will in the course of 2007 be integrated within the Metz Group. At the Aalsmeer location, the production departments bouquets and decorations, as well as the purchase department of the typical Aalsmeer product line will be concentrated. The Metz Group expects with this to further strengthen its purchasing power. Metz & Peters is part of the Metz Group, which core business is the direct supply from production areas to 3,500 florists in Europe and North America. At Metz there are approximately 300 employees.
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| 03-05-07 metz.nl becomes metz.com | |
After 5 years of negotiations, our branch in the US has finally succeeded in obtaining the metz.com domain name for the entire Metz group. Although metz.nl was functional for our Dutch operation, customers from overseas would sometimes find it difficult to locate the Metz homepage. Therefore we are very pleased to announce our official international website: www.metz.com
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| 01-05-07 Dutch Delights Thru Yankee Eyes | |
"Dutch Delights Thru Yankee Eyes" was a very appropriate tile for the design sponsored by Metz USA. Featuring the talents of local designers Dot Chenevert AIFD of The Green Oak Florist Hyde Park, New York and Craig Hepler of Morgan's Florist Poughkeepsie, New York. Loaded with a plethora of fresh ideas from their resent trips to Holland both Dot and Craig dazzled the crowd of local florists attending The Mid Hudson Florist's Association spring design show. Color, texture, time saving, money making tips and the challenge "dare to be different" were the buzz words of the night. Our very own Martin Vered and Tom Yaiser were present to lend a hand and answer questions. The winning question? How do we become a Metz customer! Thank you Dot and Craig for sharing your Metz experience.
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| 10-04-07 Metz USA and The Mid Hudson Florist Association join forces |
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Metz USA and The Mid Hudson Florist Association join forces to educate other retailers! Dot Chenevert AIFD from The Green Oak Florist, Hyde Park, New York and Craig Hepler from Morgan's Florist, Poughkeepsie, New York inspired by their recent trips to Holland will share the spot light on Tuesday April 17th in Hyde Park, New York. Both Dot and Craig have recently returned from a trip to Holland where they visited the Metz facility, auction and growers as well. Both being flower lovers and designers they want to share this experience with fellow retailers. Metz will provide the flowers, Dot and Craig the design talent. All florists are welcome and encouraged to attend. Metz USA team members Martin Vered and Tom Yaiser will be on hand as well. For more information please call Dot @ 845-229-9111.
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| 06-04-07 Metz baby | |
Greetings to all from Metz USA. Spring has sprung with the arrival of our first Metz baby. We are so excited and happy to welcome her. She arrived Sunday April 01, 2007
weighing in at 8 lbs 8 oz. Mom, dad and baby are all doing great. Her name is Bronwyn Blake Bise. The proud parents are Catherine and Carson Bise. Catherine is our Account Manager to Washington. We wish them all the best and can’t wait to meet our newest member of The Metz Team.
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| 05-04-07 Metz explores Slovenian market |
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From the 15th till the 18th of March, Metz Italy participated in a flower
show in Celje, approximately 60 miles east of the Slovenian capital of
Ljubljana. The flower show itself attracted relatively few florists, but
it turned out to be an excellent way to gain firsthand knowledge of the
market. This small country, which just entered the European Union, has a
population of 2 million inhabitants, 700 florists, and is at this moment
the European country with the highest flower and plant consumption per
capita.
For the most part, the florists are large, well-organized, and professional. The supply is entirely in the hands of the local wholesaler. Because of this, their was interest in the Metz system right away. We'll keep you apprised of any further developments!
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14-03-07
Florist wins trip to Metz in Holland
Once again this year the Connecticut Florist Association held it's silent auction at the Northeast Floral Expo. All dollars raised through the auction goes directly to the CFA Marketing Committee, with the soul purpose of supporting the local independent florist in Connecticut. This year the marketing committee will have an additional $4,200.00 to work with thanks to donations made by both wholesalers and retailers alike. Metz, always thinking of ways to educate it's customers donated an all expense paid trip to Holland. The highest bidder and lucky recipient was Sandra Hendricks from Bruce's Flowers in Norwalk CT. She will visit our facility, tour some farms and of course take in some of the beautiful sights. Congratulations Sandra! |
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14-03-07
Stateside visitors to Flower Experience
The team at Flower Experience had the pleasure of a visit from Sofie Kirk and her colleagues from their shop, Wildflowers in Woodford, Connecticut, USA. They took part in a one day workshop based on display techniques, which also included hands on sessions using the wide range of products available through Metz. They really seemed to enjoy themselves, and hopefully discovered plenty of useful ideas to take back with them over the Atlantic.
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