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Why SAF is DANGEROUS for our industry.

Recently SAF's CEO Peter Morgan published his opinion in Floral Management Magazine that he believes that Order Gatherers get it.

Peter has embraced a position that all florists should learn from the gatherers and apply some (if not all of their tactics) into our business models. Surely Peter does not make such comments uninformed. Peter undoubtedly understands the tactics that most of these "Gathering Operations" are utilizing.

They are advertising key words under thousands of local florists names online, they have introduced membership type fees to their check out processes where consumers credit cards are being re-billed automatically to enrolling them into program memberships for future discounts. Surely Peter understands that the gatherers are being PAID and REWARDED by the wire services by clearing MILLIONS of DOLLARS in credit cards at ZERO percent. He must know that these gatherers pay PENNIES in credit card transaction fees while the greater number of florists pay in quarters.

Peter can't be suggesting that retail florists SCAM their local customers to further erode consumer confidence, like the gatherers he so proudly endorses, could he?

SAF was formed and it's role is to be "The Voice of an Industry" This is our industry, growers, importers, wholesalers, florists and the suppliers for our trade.

Is the voice of our industry being heard? Who is he speaking for? Is he speaking for you?

Charles Kremp, who has been employed by Oasis to promote their products, introduce Oasis to florists and help them understand their products, acted as product ambassador for many industry products, former President of SAF, board member and Industry invited speaker for Wire Services told us in an opinion earlier this year that florists need to "STRETCH MARGINS".

Surely this has to be a JOKE. The message can't be this unrealistic, could it? What message is this sending?

What is Charles doing? My god at one point this man was the Poster Child of our industry. Does he really want florists to just casually stretch margins so we can finance order gathering? Does he really think consumers would fall for this?

Why are florists, growers, importers, suppliers and wire services supporting such a destructive path. Why is a company like Oasis standing behind such a suicidal unsustainable strategy?

Why would SAF nominate a company like Flowers Sent Today to be on the board of directors. Why would they nominate Scott Kremp, head of a company utilizing deceptive worded doorway pages proclaiming they may be located in hundreds of cities in which they are without operations?

Are these the best of the best in our industry?

Something is broken in our industry, and the VOICE we thought we had has been HIJACKED.

I suggest YOU ALL take a closer look at what is going on at SAF. Check your wire service statement, you'll see they are billing you for membership.

It's time to cancel that membership, because your funding your business DESTRUCTION!

Do you realize you out number the top senders roughly 150 to 1 ?

It's time the wire services stop rewarding the Order Gatherers who are eating away CONSUMER CONFIDENCE. It's costing our industry CUSTOMERS! Your customers.

It's time for a discussion on SAF

Peter acknowledged in the publication that order gathering is a lightning rod. We'll I suggest that by what Peter says in that article that he has just dumped GASOLINE on a fire raging out of control

It's time for Peter Moran, the Kremps and their locker room buddies to GO! It's time for SAF to take a proactive stance and CLEAN THINGS UP!

It's time you know the companies support their motives, so you can make a better decision on where you spend your dollars!

Hit em in their pocket book, because they've had their hand in yours!


You'll have your opinions, Now you know MINE!