This week the Fat Guys are 1 Fat Guy down, as Fern attends WFFSA's Dev-X in Niagara Falls.  Luckily we brought in industry legend, Lenny Walker to fill in for the week.  Walker, VP of Sales & Operations and longtime team member of Kennicott Brothers Company.   Mike, Ryan, Mimi, Joel, and Lenny cover a wide range of topics including the similarities of the Chicago and NY flower scene, profit calculator tools, the difference of sauce vs gravy, grinder sandwiches and more!Kennicott is a leading importer and distributor of fresh flowers, plants, and floral design supplies. Our mission is to deliver top-quality floral products to neighborhood florists, event designers, and mass retailers across the country. With 15 local wholesale flower markets spanning the Midwest, Southeast, and East Coast, we have deep roots in the Chicago area and have been serving our customers since 1881.Learn more at: https://www.kennicott.com/As always, send us your questions, comments and guest requests to [email protected]

We're back with another fresh episode of #2FatGuysTalkingFlowers!In this episode, we sit down with Talicia McCall owner of Ambiance By Lovie in Montgomery, Alabama.  Talicia is a self-proclaimed "baby bloomer" and is relatively new to the industry, but is already making a splash as a celebration florist in her area of Alabama.  We first met Talicia when she presented "How I did it, overcoming obstacles and Achieving a dream" at the 2023 Next Gen LIVE! event in Miami, FL.  And in this episode, we got to know her a lot better.  From her journey in Education from Administrator to Principal, how she became a "celebration florist," being a part of #BlackGirlFlorists and so much more!  Lsiten in and enjoy!Learn more about Talicia and her Ambiance By Lovie at https://www.ablxinteriors.com/Submit your questions and comments or request to be a future guest email: [email protected] Chapters:Public Speaking: 1:00Talicia’s Story: 5:00Becoming a Florist: 10:00How Ambiance By Lovie was named: 18:30Black Girl Florists: 26:50Being a Speaker at Next Gen LIVE!: 35:05Speaking to The Youth: 42:40Working with Daughter: 1:03:50Questions: 1:17:10

This week we celebrate a milestone even we're surprised we hit, episode 75!!! And for episode 75, the Fat Guys Gang is joined by Scott Blumenthal.  Scott, who has more than 35 years of expertise in the cut floral industry,  has spent the last few weeks as the newest member of Chrysal Americas as their new General Manager and plans to contribute to the company’s continued success.  The conversation heads in all sorts of directions including Scott's past, Fern's trip up to the cabin, Fresh Fest updates and most importantly, Scott's favorite sandwich...a hot dog!"Throughout his distinguished career, Scott has held key positions that have honed his skills and deepened his industry knowledge. He co-founded Equiflor Corporation, served as Vice-President of Sales and Marketing at HOSA International for 13 years, and held the role of Vice President of Dole Fresh Flowers. Scott’s most recent accomplishment was his invaluable contribution to FTD, where he played a pivotal role in developing their Farm Direct Program and served as Vice President of Strategic Sourcing."   Read Chrysal's full press release announcement here.Learn more about Chrysal and their products at: https://www.chrysal.com/en-usRSVP for Fresh Fest here!  (PW: 420)

The Fat Guys are back with another fresh episode, with another friend and industry legend of a guest.  This week we are joined by Bob Tucker, AIFD, CFD, CFEJ, FSMD (LMNOP) owner of Miss Daisy's Flowers & Gifts, a full-service wedding and event florist that serves Leesburg, FL, and the surrounding areas.  As well as, an accredited member of the American Institute of Floral Design, certified evaluator and floral design judge, executive director of the Florida State Florists Association, editor and publisher of Sunlighting Magazine, and Floral Design educator.As we gear up to attend the annual FSFA convention (being held in Jacksonville, FL July 28) we wanted to sit down and talk about what to expect from the show, what's new and coming for FSFA, what it takes to be a certified judge and so much more.  Listen in and enjoy.  As always, submit your guest requests or questions and comments to [email protected] more about FSFA at: https://floridastatefloristsassociation.com/Learn more about Bob and Miss Daisy's Flowers at: https://www.missdaisysflowers.com/

The Fat Guys have a great guest this week!  Chris Drummond, AAF, PFCI Owner of Penny's by Plaza Flowers is a flower lover of all sorts, who has worked in various roles throughout his lifelong career in the industry.  Drummond is extremely involved and dedicated to both the industry and his family.   He attended his first Society of American Florists' CAD at 19 years old, served on the SAF board including president during the Covid years, and helped create Next Gen and Seed Your Future while helping coach his 4 children's baseball teams.  Listen in as we try and cover it all including the important topics like Chris' favorite cheesesteak spot, that time he was a narrator in a play, and so much more.  We hope you enjoy it!Penny's Flowers opened in Glenside in 1937. Who joined forces with Plaza Flowers to allow a new family to continue as Glenside, Philadelphia’s premier florist, event decorator, and gift shop.  They have partnered with the Drummond family to create Penny's by Plaza Flowers, serving Philadelphia and its suburbs with high-quality flowers, plants, and gift baskets 7 days a week.  Three generations of experience, Penny's by Plaza Flowers has been voted as "Best Florist" by several regional publications, Pennsylvania's "Florist of the Year" and has been ranked as a "Top Florist" by three national wire services. Learn more about Chris and Penny's by Plaza Flowers at: pflorist.comLearn more about Seed Your Future and SAF's initiatives at: safnow.orgSubmit your questions and guest requests to [email protected]

Fatty fans have been eagerly awaiting this week's episode!  A couple of months ago we sent our blossoming Cash & Carry sales rep, Kris aka "Pinky" Yllescas on a 3-week European flower boot-camp.  The goal  of the trip was to educate Kris on the quality, technology, strategies, scale and work-ethic of the European flower industry.  And to see how big of a difference it is from the US market.Also featured on today's episode are Marc Janssen, (Co-owner & Head Purchasing) and Gerard Haazebroek aka "Uncle Gerry" from our social media of EZ Flowers in Holland.  EZ Flower is our partner, located in the heart of the flower industry: Flora Holland Aalsmeer; and the first stop of Pinky's trip.Listen in as they go through his entire trip, including working with Heemskerk Flowers on a Flying Dutchman flower truck in Switzerland, to working at Vianen Flowers, a Dutch Wholesaler and distributor.  We also cover his daysin Amsterdam, what his favorite Dutch eats and much more!Learn more about our partners EZ Flower at https://ezflower.nl/

In this week's episode of #2FatGuysTalkingFlowers we were lucky enough to get a visit from our friend,  Alejandro Pérez!  Alex, the Founder & Chief Innovation Officer of  Komet Sales already graced our podcast with an amazing episode in our early days.  So we jumped at the opportunity to sit down with him and hear all about all the exciting changes coming to Komet Sales and Alex's life!Alejandro has a lot of wisdom to share, and the conversation this week ranged from Ai topics,  his "abundance mindset" viewpoint on life and business, selling majority share in his company, navigating the VC shark tanks and so much more.  Listen in and enjoy!Learn more about Alex, Komet Sales and their amazing team at https://www.kometsales.com/Episode Chapters:The Future of Ai: 2:20 The Value of Change: 5:35Getting on The Radar with Investors: 12:00Having a Great Team: 19:30Working on improving Komet: 26:10Benefits of Ai: 37:35Ideas for Helping the Industry: 50:35

The Fat Guys are all back together in the same room for this special episode with our good friend and Next Gen leader, Cameron Pappas.  Pappas, also known as "2 Plaques," owner and President of Norton's Florist, Inc. is a long-time #Fatty fan and the Vice President of the #2FatGuysTalkingFlowers Fan Club.  And we got the chance to talk with him right after we wrapped up SAF's Next Gen Live 2023 event in Miami.Since 1921, Norton's Florist has been providing quality flowers and unbeatable customer service, making them the "florist of choice" for Birmingham and surrounding areas. What started as a small floral business has evolved into a 21st-century operation capable of meeting its customers' needs and exceeding expectations. A family-owned business from the very beginning, our small-store values coupled with big-store resources equals a winning combination.Listen in as we discuss a wide range of topics from working with your family/father, taking over the business at a young age, being a role model for the Next Gen industry members, and so much more.Learn more about Cameron and his family's business at https://www.nortonsflorist.com/NextGen 2023 Recap: 4:20Being a Good Boss/Leader: 14:40Cameron’s Backstory: 39:40 Staying Positive: 54:20 The Cameron Papas Way: 1:08:00The Future of NextGen: 1:25:55Questions: 1:41:50

In this week's special extended cut episode, we chop it up with our long-time friend Bill Schaffer AIFD, AAF, PFCI of Schaffer Designs.  Bill is a renowned, 3rd generation floral designer who literally grew up in the floral industry.  Together with his wife, Kris Kratt AIFD, PFCI, they run Shaffer Designs out of Philadelphia, PA.   Bill & Kris' work includes multiple Gold Medal & Best0-in-Show award-winning exhibits at the Philly Flower Show, years of industry-leading trend forecasts and seminars, to designing signature bouquet recipes, collections, and marketing for the Gems Group.Listen in as we travel back into Bill's early history, his stories from growing up in his family's flower shop,  his 15+ years creating at the Philly Flower Show, how we got into mass market designs and much more.  This episode is filled with so many gems and fun moments including Bill's infamous Philly Cheesesteak tour, Fern's trip to Carbone, and a few of Bill's secret obsessions.  Be sure to listen all the way through, we know you won't regret it!Learn more about Bill, Kris, and their many accomplishments at schafferdesigns.comSubmit your questions and guest requests to [email protected]

In this week's episode, we sit down AGAIN with F.J. Trzuskowski VP of Sales - Continental Floral Greens.  Fatty fans should remember the Joel memory card mishap. That lost memory card held the original F.J. episode, but as it turns out, this recording came out better!  So good news for Joel.  Listen in as we discuss everything from SAF CAD, massive Christmas greens production, health benefits of Eucalyptus, how many football field equivalent of farms and forests CFG manages, and so much more!CFG started back in the 1950s, when their founder first began selling Comador Fern out of the back of his station wagon. Today, with new ownership and new leadership, Continental Floral Greens grows and operates in California, Oregon, Florida, and Washington. They offer a breadth of high-quality greens you won’t find anywhere else.  Learn more about F.J. and CFG at https://www.cfgreens.com/Episode Chapters:FJ’s Backstory: 2:50 Making Christmas: 14:10Selling Non-Christmas Greens: 28:20The Process Of Growing Christmas Trees: 39:40\Thoughts Of FloriExpo: 55:2028th Street Memories: 1:08:05Questions: 1:26:50