Behind the Scenes at SAF: A Conversation with Amanda Jedlinsky

Episode 287: Lori and Vonda sit down with Amanda Jedlinsky, Senior Director of Content and Communications at the Society of American Florists (SAF), for a fun and insightful conversation about team building, the power of in-person events, and what attendees can expect from this year’s SAF Convention. They also dive into the value of industry networking, staying inspired, and why now is the time to invest in education—not pull back. A must-listen for anyone passionate about growing in the floral industry!

Sponsored by:
Flower Clique
Flower Clique Prep School
Real Life Retail Florist

Transcript

SPEAKER_02 0:01

We knew that there was going to be a lot of uncertainty to navigate, and that's the focus is how to navigate this uncertainty while sustaining your growth.

SPEAKER_00 0:15

Welcome to the Business and Pleasure of Flowers. We're your hosts, Vonda LaFever and Lori Wilson.

SPEAKER_01 0:20

And we believe the business and fun are a perfect combination. Kind of like us, Vonda. Good morning, Vonda. How are you? Hey, I'm great, Lori. How about you today? I'm really excited. We have one of my favorite people here today, an SAFer here, Amanda Dedlinski. Good morning, Amanda. Good morning. It's so nice to be here with you, ladies. I know. I'm very excited you're here. And you and your Society of American Florist team just had a really cool retreat because I saw pictures, and all I know is that number one, there's only one man on your team. That's true. There's one more man than we have. And number two, y'all got to paint.

SPEAKER_02 1:07

Yes, it was awesome. So most of our staff is remote. And whenever we're together, we're at our events and we're working really, really hard for our members and to make sure everything goes off okay. So it was so, so nice to just come together and have a good time. I mean, we laughed hysterically while playing the fishbowl game. We went to a watercolor thing, which was so relaxing. I mean, yeah. We chatted a little and then we all just kind of got quiet and we're like, this is meditative. This is really and we just have such an amazing team. Like the talent on our team is so diverse. I feel like we really have the cream of the crap. Yeah, that's cool.

SPEAKER_01 1:50

You do, you do have a great staff. FlowerClick has been fortunate to get to know a lot of you guys through Profit Blast and Convention and NextGen and your wonderful people.

SPEAKER_00 2:01

I think that kind of plays into what we always talk about, how important team building is. I mean, with you being a virtual company, is the same as Flower Click. It's so important that you have that time together and not just in the office, like asking each other questions and going through things, but actually having that downtime because then you do get to know each other more and build into your, you know, your team, which speaks volume. When you get into a convention and you're like running like chickens with your head cut off, right? And you're like, you know what you could expect of that other person and they're going to come through for you. We don't often talk enough about how important that team building is and that downtime. So that's exciting that you were able to do that. It's very interesting.

SPEAKER_02 2:43

Two things that we do that I think really help our team building in a remote setting is we use Teams and we have a fun chat channel. So that's where you drop pictures of your son going to prom and your new puppy. Yeah. Yeah. You know, and all of that. And I love that. And then every Friday we have a rose thorn bud meeting. And it can be work-related, but it it's also anything personal that's going on. So, you know, I think we kind of keep up with each other that way. And that's just a really nice opportunity too to recognize people on your team who have done something great or been helpful and supportive. And and yeah, Vonda, you know, when we get to our events, like we all have each other's back, and it's the greatest feeling ever.

SPEAKER_00 3:24

Yeah. Absolutely. That's great.

SPEAKER_01 3:26

It is interesting to those of us that have been to a lot of your events to see you guys, your eyes change when you're at the conventions. As if you're in such work mode, uh, like now you're soft, your eyes are different, you're just you know, but then there you're um Amanda. Like you're like a whole different person, not in a bad way. Yeah, like I wonder sometimes, like we're virtual women, you guys are virtual women, you're a mom, we're moms, like we have a lot of roles, we wear a lot of hats in our life, and we're so incredibly appreciative that our company allows us to be virtual and the flexibility. So we want to always do our best in whatever role we're doing. You know, I think there's a lot of power, like we're powerful. Heck yeah, we are when we do those things. Like that's pretty amazing.

SPEAKER_02 4:35

Yeah, it is amazing. I am so thankful I can be virtual. And you're right, because I am, I do show up 100% in what I do. And you know, especially at convention. I mean, I get a little sidetracked at convention talking to people. Well, same. Not fulfilling my assigned roles and duties. But you know, I think that's a very important part is being that host of the event. Of course, making our members feel welcome. I do that very well. I think maybe some people on my staff would say, too well, because they're like, hey, you need to be going over there.

SPEAKER_01 5:06

No, I know. No, I think you do it well because I think like even at next and in Dallas this year, it was next to the last day before you and I even got to sit down and talk. I know, and it's usually the first day I'm at least talking to you, but it just was quick, quick, quick, quick, quick, quick, quick. Yeah, and it's just the way it is. But it's too many people and also now it's like we know so many people on a personal level because we go to so many events.

unknown 5:38

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 5:38

Well, that's why we call those things our flower family because it is just like family. I mean, it's like that when I go to SAF or I go to AIFD, the people you know are there, they're like your second family. Yes. And so you want to get sure people spend some time.

SPEAKER_02 5:53

You know, I felt like that by my second convention with S. Yes. Absolutely. The first time I walked in, I didn't know anybody. A year later, it felt like I had known these people forever. And this is that's what I love about this industry.

SPEAKER_01 6:06

Yeah. Very special. Okay. So speaking of this industry, at the very beginning of this podcast, I was to say, let's start with your role. What's your role, Amanda? Tell us what you do. So starting now.

SPEAKER_02 6:19

Now is the beginning of the podcast. Speaking of wearing many hats, I'm the senior director of content and communication. You know, my primary role is producing SAF's content. So we publish the magazine six times a year. We publish a digital newsletter with original recording. I work with a team of freelancers to do that. And then I'm also part of a team that helps plan, you know, our convention education sessions, which is really big, and our virtual events. And then I also have the pleasure of working with our marketing department and trying to see how we can streamline our content into marketing and just helping our marketing director. And then I also have the pleasure of working with our director of education, who manages our floral education hub, where we have many, many courses and resources. So we're uh we're a tight team.

SPEAKER_01 7:09

We really are. You have your hand in like every little segment, which is cool. One of the things you also do for the Society of American Florist members is you're one of the hosts for the round table. Share with people about that. That's honestly one of my favorite things. And I hate when I have to miss it. Sometimes get my time zones confused because I'm central time and it shows up on my calendar as Eastern time. But go ahead.

SPEAKER_02 7:36

Yeah, so that's what you were talking about in our ultimate round table. Yes. We designed it to be a member benefit for the ultimate level retailers and suppliers, wholesalers, growers. And the beautiful thing about this round table that I think you and everyone else appreciates the most is it brings all the segments together. Yes. Talk about whatever is going on in the industry at the time. Lately, it's been tariffs. Yes. We always have Charlie Hall, our chief economist, on to give us a little economic outlook. Yeah. Which that's hugely popular, especially now when there's so much uncertainty going on. You know, and at times we've brought on our lobbyist, Joe Bischoff, to talk to us what's going on in Washington. I also love it because it gives our members access to these experts that SAF is working closely with.

SPEAKER_01 8:28

Yeah, yeah. I love it. And back to your first point on that, I have learned so much about this industry because not just the roundtable, but attending the meetings, because of meeting wholesalers and growers and hearing their perspective. Vonda, we talk about this all the time. Right. Florists need to understand the other perspectives too. And that's one thing that I think you guys, SAF does incredibly well is bond everyone together and say, hey, yeah, I see your point, but maybe understand where they're coming from too.

SPEAKER_00 9:13

Yeah. Just hearing what they have to say and including them in that round table really does open the eyes of the retailer, like, oh, well, no wonder those carnations are five cents more, because they have to go through all of these channels before they get to me. Not just tariffs, but I think even the whole shipping situation that we've been going through, COVID and beyond, is there's so much that we didn't know before as far as the retail florist. And so that's been very enlightening, I think, to everyone.

SPEAKER_02 9:45

Yeah, it does seem like since COVID, there's just a lot more information coming out about the supply chain. And I think we're a big part of that. We have a column in our magazine called Up the Supply Chain where we talk about these kinds of things. And yeah, and I I think it really has helped the industry to understand that even in South America, you know, their weather has been so extreme. Yes, labor is getting expensive, that's also contributing to rising prices and availability and quality. And so it's really important that the whole industry understands that because obviously we're all in this together.

SPEAKER_01 10:19

If the retailer is not doing well, it affects everybody exactly. So, okay, back to your journey. Side track back to your journey. What brought you to SAF? I think I already know this story, but not everybody does.

SPEAKER_02 10:34

You didn't grow up in the I'm not a flower child by Nicole Palazzo's definition. I'm growing up in the industry like with florist parents. I don't know. I kind of like to think karma brought me into this. Yeah, yeah. I still pinch myself that this is what I get to do. So I have a major in newspaper journalism. I worked as a newspaper reporter in Roanoke, Virginia for eight years. It was a really fun time. But you know, I got married and we had two kids, and we moved back to Ohio. And so I at that point was just staying home. And we moved on to a farm. We have 20 acres here.

SPEAKER_01 11:14

And I thought, yeah, I thought just staying home.

SPEAKER_02 11:18

You were raising and running a business because I'm running. I decided, well, I have a six-month-old. This would be a great time to start growing cut flowers and selling them. And so I did that for five years. And then that's when this job found me, quite literally. I mean, my husband saw the job posting and sent it to me, and I wasn't looking for a job when I saw it. It was kind of like, this is a dream job that I didn't know existed.

SPEAKER_00 11:51

Wow.

SPEAKER_02 11:52

Because they wanted somebody with journalism experience who knew about flowers, and that's crazy. It was just perfect. And I knew the stars were aligning when they asked for a writing sample. And it had been so many years since I'd been at the newspaper. The only thing I could find on Google was actually, well, a lot of murder stories, but then I about florists on Valentine's Day, where I had interviewed somebody at SAF, and I was like, No. I mean, I totally forgot that, of course. But I know, I know. It's crazy. It's crazy. So I feel really fortunate.

SPEAKER_01 12:29

And how many years have you been with SAF now?

SPEAKER_02 12:32

Four.

unknown 12:33

Wow.

SPEAKER_01 12:34

I feel like you've been there a lot longer. I do too. Like 20. Like 10 or 20.

SPEAKER_02 12:40

Yeah, I do too. In some ways, I I wish I had been here longer. I love this industry, and I love what we're doing to help this industry. Well, yeah. Yeah. You're a big part.

SPEAKER_00 12:53

Are you still growing flowers?

SPEAKER_02 12:55

Just for me.

unknown 12:57

Okay.

SPEAKER_02 12:57

Yeah, just for me. I I did plant some dahlias this year and zinnias and cosmos and some fun stuff I can just kind of cut on, but it was just too much to keep going.

SPEAKER_00 13:09

It's a lot of work.

SPEAKER_01 13:11

Yeah. Yes. So let's talk about convention. Oh, the big thing of the year, our big event, our big time of the year. This year, it's back in Phoenix. Our favorite, our favorite hotel Vonda. I know.

SPEAKER_00 13:25

That's such a great love.

SPEAKER_01 13:27

We love because we can walk across to that cool shopping area. And there's some great restaurants there. Great restaurants. If they're still open, I hope they're still there. Remember, there was that French restaurant over there?

SPEAKER_00 13:40

Oh, so good. I thought I chose the Italian one, Lori, over the French restaurant. Well, they were both good.

SPEAKER_01 13:46

Tell us about it this year. What's gonna be going on? I know Vonda, Vonda and Tim Farrell, they're gonna be doing uh one on sympathy design, which I'm super super excited about. What can attendees expect from it?

SPEAKER_02 14:04

Well, like you said, the resort is beautiful, but it's a luxury resort on a golf course with Lazy River. Yep, Lazy River, and it's very nice. I found that the last time we were at this resort in the evenings, everyone kind of like together on that big studio. Yes, we did. We sat outside. It was so lovely, and it's just another opportunity to network. You know, when we were heading into this convention, planning it, you know, what's the content? What content are we gonna focus on here? I mean, this was late last year, and there was so much uncertainty. Are the tariffs gonna happen? What else is gonna change? We knew that there was gonna be a lot of uncertainty to navigate, and that's the focus is how to navigate this uncertainty while sustaining your growth. So, pretty much every session we have developed is around that topic. I think a lot of business owners they feel like they're alone in this, they're trying to figure it out on their own, and you don't have to figure it out on your own. I think that when we have our convention, we really are bringing a huge brain trust together. And there's so many opportunities to exchange information, to talk to people, to ask them, how are you doing this? And florists are so willing to share.

SPEAKER_01 15:29

Oh, so willing.

SPEAKER_02 15:31

It's amazing. So, in addition to our education, there, there are other opportunities to just network and talk to your peers about what you're going through and how they're handling it. We do have two idea exchanges on the schedule, so these are more of like a moderated session, but it's a moderated session where the attendees get a chance to say, I'm doing this and I'm doing this, and exchange ideas.

SPEAKER_01 15:59

So is that thing that Oscar did last year where he was asking the questions and we sat all sat in the big room and oh yeah, so this is smaller, it's not everybody, it's kind of like two other sessions you can choose to attend.

SPEAKER_02 16:14

One is a follow-up to Charlie Hall's keynote. So, Charlie Hall, our economist, is gonna give a keynote on the economic uncertainty and what to expect and how to get through it. So then right after that, what we do have an idea exchange on turning insights into action. Um that'll be a really good one. And then the other one's about perks that work. So just nice perks of that for your employees to help.

SPEAKER_01 16:40

Perks that work is the same time as Bonda and Tim.

SPEAKER_02 16:45

Yeah, Vonda, why don't tell us about tell us about your session with Tim.

SPEAKER_00 16:50

Tim Farrell and I, we're gonna do sympathy because sympathy is one of the things that is sustainable in the industry. We look at as a retail florist, people are trying to take away weddings with the wedding planners, and we welcome wedding planners to come to SAF because there's a lot going on. But as far as the retail florists, sympathy is a place that you can continue to have growth, but you do have to be mindful of the pricing, right? So be sure that we have the pricing correct. So Tim and I are going to cover these areas pricing, how to grow the sympathy business, and then we're doing design. So, you know, who doesn't like to see some new innovative ideas for designing, both traditional funerals and cremations for celebration of life? And we'll talk about kind of the numbers that we're seeing there and some ideas on how to continue to grow your sympathy business. So it's gonna be fun. We have never worked together. Tim and I were talking about that. We have always worked in the industry and supported one another, but we've never truly done a program together.

SPEAKER_01 17:50

We've done a show together.

SPEAKER_00 17:51

We've never done a show together. We've worked together. Yeah, together for 30 years, but never have done a program together. So we're excited about that as well.

SPEAKER_02 18:00

Yeah, you guys are gonna tell it. What a dynamic duo right there. I mean, you have so much business smarts and industry knowledge and like his design and wow, it's gonna be great.

SPEAKER_00 18:14

Yeah, we're excited about that. One thing you did mention was the networking. And what I really like is that there is downtime because what you were saying, Lori and and Amanda both, it's on that patio, you know, people are meeting in small groups, and they're the exchange of ideas outside of all the classes is something that's really never advertised, right? It's like that's where everything happens, that's where you meet with your floral family, but also you're like, oh, so-and-so is doing something like you are doing, you might want to talk to them. And so all of this movement is happening, and you can just see light bulbs going off all the time. It's really cool to see.

SPEAKER_01 18:52

Yeah. The one thing I want to point out, and I know you guys talk about it, is you guys have a first timer's reception at the very beginning. And so anytime I'm talking to someone that's never been, of course, we're always trying to get people to go, I tell them, make sure you go to that. I remember going to that. I remember what I wore to the first time. Oh my gosh, remember exactly what I wore because I'm weird like that. But I remember going and I remember meeting people, and I don't know if you have people planted or not. But so many people came up and introduced themselves. Like I met a lot of people, and it was so nice because even though I was there with Vonda and Ellie, and like I had a couple of people, a lot of people do come by themselves because you know, maybe they can't afford to bring employees or they're just trying to figure out what this whole thing is. And it's so nice that out of the gate to meet people, and then throughout the week, you're gonna be spotting them and for them to actually look at you and say, Hey, how are you doing? Hey, are you enjoying it? It's powerful.

SPEAKER_02 20:12

Yeah, yeah, it is. I mean, I think it it could be very intimidating walking into that convention, not knowing anybody, but what I would say is one, everybody there is so welcoming. I mean it's there's a reason we call this our flower family. And secondly, we do ask our volunteer leaders, so our retail, wholesale, and grower council and our board to go to that reception and talk to people and make them feel welcome and to find them during the week and check in. We take very seriously our hosting duties. We want everybody to get the most out of this convention and come back because they don't want to miss it.

SPEAKER_01 20:51

Yeah. So speaking of that, what kind of takeaways do you think they're gonna bring back to their shops? What's the expectation? You said that when you guys were planning this, you planned it for months and months and months. When Vonda and I plan our podcasts, which believe it or not, we do plan these, we plan topics, but we always do, okay, bottom line, what are they gonna walk away with? Three tips, three boom, boom, boom. So for this convention, what do you want them to walk away with besides that? Was a great lazy river.

SPEAKER_02 21:28

Well, I hope you get it to the lazy river, but you know, overall, I hope they walk away with practical strategies to implement in their business and the confidence that they're gonna make it through whatever is coming because they've equipped themselves with education and tools and surrounded themselves with smart people who they will continue to stay in touch with, which we find often happens. And when we plan these. Sessions, we do bullet point for everyone. What are three things somebody is going to walk away with? We think that is so important that when you leave that convention, you do have a toolkit of strategies and ideas and people to keep you going through the year. And as the person who oversees all of our content, I've made sure that we always follow up with that story. So convention like a few weeks ago, what did you go home and do in your business? And it's incredible to see the impact that these things make in people's business. I will say, I can't remember who it is, but they gave some really good advice. It's before you leave, you need to write down your top three takeaways so that you don't just go back and oh, I forget, I don't know, whatever. That's really helpful too. But I've heard people say they've revamped the way they're organizing wedding flowers in the cooler because of things they learned. They started working with a new supplier who helped cut some costs for exclusive products. I mean, it can really be transformational.

SPEAKER_01 23:07

Yeah. Well, and to touch on that part right there, let's talk about the expo part. Because I don't want people to think the expo is just I gotta walk around, people are gonna try to sell me stuff. That's not what that is. It it is an opportunity to see, wow, this is what's available. Look at all this new stuff. Look at these beautiful, the flowers. Let's just talk about the flowers alone. When we are there at our flower click booth, we take turns. And by we, I mean usually Ellie and me, Vonda gives us the glare. Stay at the booth. No, we're gonna look around. Because we want to go look around at everybody else's stuff. Yeah, it's so inspiring.

SPEAKER_02 23:55

Yeah, and that's the key word, you know, when we talk about supplier expo and market it, I use I use the words inspiration, yes, and finding solutions, right? Yeah. So if you walking through supplier expo, you will be inspired and you will find solutions for your business. Yes. You're not walking through it thinking it's all salesy and people are gonna pressure you that you are so dead wrong.

SPEAKER_01 24:22

Exactly. So wrong.

SPEAKER_02 24:23

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 24:24

Exactly. The other thing is free merch.

SPEAKER_02 24:27

Oh, tons of free merch, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 24:28

Look at this. This is Psalter's Evergreen Supply water bottle.

SPEAKER_02 24:32

So speaking, speaking of free merch, there's two new things with supply, well, maybe three new things with supplier expo this year. The first thing is it's happening on the first day. So we're kicking convention off with a lunch. Yes, and Talmadge McLaurin is giving his flower trends forecast. After that, favorite. Yes, my favorite, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 24:53

That is the reason to go right there. You said it. Yeah, it's it also Talmage's it's fabulous.

SPEAKER_02 25:02

So then the supplier expo is happening after after Talmadge. And so one new thing we're doing is the first timers are gonna get an exclusive preview of supplier expo. So we're gonna kind of let them in ahead of time so they don't have to fight the crowd. Yeah, yeah. And the other thing we're doing is our sponsors have very generously provided amazing giveaways. I'm talking about like a year's subscription of software and 300 free roses shipped to your store and all kinds of things. We have a whole list on our website, my jaw draft. I was like, wow, these are really generous giveaways. So you don't want to miss it. But are we provided a giveaway?

SPEAKER_00 25:49

We are going to, Laura. We haven't given that to say it, so but you know what I'm saying.

SPEAKER_01 25:55

I love that. I love free stuff. It's so fun. Yeah, I think everyone's gonna love free stuff. Yeah, and I'm telling you, I'm gonna just bring it back up again. Flower buddy gibs gummy bears, gummy bears. Oh, they're great gummy bears.

SPEAKER_02 26:14

So anyway, I brought some home for my kids after next gen. What's in 'em? Like, what kind of voodoo is in those? Wait a minute. What are we talking about? Because I gave these to my kids.

SPEAKER_01 26:26

I never even ate them. No, no. I'm I asked them and they just laugh and they're like, we don't know, they're just really good. One of them, I can't remember it was Paul or Tony. Their wife is the one. Tony's Tony's wife picked up, and I'm like, they're so good. They're so good. I'll have to snag some of those this year. All right, here's my last question about SAF, because I don't want to drive people crazy, but what would you say to somebody that is kind of on the fence about going like, and do I want I don't know if I want to spend the money? Because you know, let's be honest, it's not cheap. It's not, but it's not a cheap event to put on. I mean, you're not getting wealthy off of this, I don't think.

SPEAKER_02 27:08

No, no, you're right. It's not cheap to put on, but it's very important to put on for this industry. And I would say to somebody who has sticker shock or is just trying to be conservative right now because of the uncertainty, I I would say you can't afford not to attend. Yeah. I talked to this florist earlier this year, and he said he's been several times, and he said the convention has never not paid for itself, from what I've heard of the people I've met. He said, Yeah, we have always come away with some idea or something that has like made us that money back. And I think that's a really powerful testament. And especially, you know, I think a lot of people feel like now is the time to pull back on spending. And, you know, I think in some regards, in some areas of your business, it it could be. But when it comes to education and making sure that you're on top of things and that you are finding solutions and surrounding yourself with knowledgeable people, this is not the time to be pulling back on that. You need this more than ever.

SPEAKER_00 28:13

I agree. And I would add to that inspiration. How do you put a cost or a value on inspiration? I mean, you can't really, it's like how much is it worth? And the connections that you'll make. I think you kind of alluded to that. But connections and inspiration, I think, are the two big reasons you should go to SAF. You know, it you've got to be out attending events and not just looking at everything online, because, you know, let's face it, there are great classes online that people can pay for. But if you look at those classes that you're buying education, the value is not the same as you going face to face. Like we are looking forward to seeing each other, even, you know, and and your whole team there with so many of our flower friends, and you can't put a back on them.

SPEAKER_01 29:00

And I I have to say there is such a difference, and you guys both know it, between doing a presentation online and then having questions in the chat, and that difference between being on stage and doing 20 minutes of QA. It's so much more intimate and fulfilling both ways.

SPEAKER_00 29:24

And the energy in the room is what you miss when you're doing an online presentation, both as a presenter and a participant. Energy is amazing, just amazing.

SPEAKER_01 29:35

So and that's the word you used inspiration walk away. I tell Vonda and Ellie this every time I go to SAF, I come back and I'm re-energized literally for another year. Because I'm connected again. Like I get emotional because I'm like, I saw my friends again. Oh my God, I and I connected this person with this person and I did this, you know, because I'm all wild, like you're the connector, yeah. I am that person, and nothing excites me more than meeting a new person, hearing their story, and going, Oh my gosh, I know this senior person that can help you. Let's hook up, you know, and and making that happen. And so it's always, always, always a good thing to invest in your education. Yeah. And to be able to do it personal, uh, face-to-face is it's just always a win-win. Okay. Where can people go to learn more?

SPEAKER_02 30:37

Yeah, so safnow.org is our website. And just look for the events tab on the top of the page.

SPEAKER_01 30:45

Okay. Last just quick fun questions. If SAF could give you a magic wand, maybe they already have, and said you can fix one challenge and one challenge only, Amanda, for the floral industry, what would that be? Oh gosh. I know.

SPEAKER_02 31:04

I I think just because of everything that's happened this year, I would just use my magic wand to give everybody stability and certainty to just kind of make all that go away so we can all focus on building our businesses and growing without the hassle of the change. I mean, change is good. Change challenges us, it refines our processes. But I just think that this has been really hard.

SPEAKER_01 31:37

The uncertain everybody, the up and down, up and down, up and down. Yeah. Yeah. So stability. Yeah, I think stability. Yeah, that'd be a good one. That would be nice to have in life. What's your favorite flower?

SPEAKER_02 31:51

Well, right now it's the peony because they're in full bloom at my house. Oh, yeah. Yeah. Beautiful. So gorgeous, so fragrant.

SPEAKER_01 32:00

Ugh. What would you be doing if you were not in the career you're in?

SPEAKER_02 32:07

I would 100% be writing a book or maybe working with fiction authors on their books. That is a dream. Dream about every day. But unfortunately, the last thing I want to do when I get off work is sit down at a computer again to write.

SPEAKER_01 32:28

Someday, someday you'll do it.

SPEAKER_02 32:30

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 32:31

Right. So thanks for coming on.

SPEAKER_02 32:33

Oh, thanks so much for having me. I have so much admiration and respect for both of you. Wow. What you're doing is is really authentic. And you guys are authentic. And it really shows and it's it's really special.

SPEAKER_01 32:47

Well, we adore you, and we are always advocates for Society of American Florists. You know that we probably talk about it too much. I don't know. But we do believe in everything that you guys stand for. And we love the conventions and we love the profit blasts and we love next gen.

SPEAKER_00 33:07

I don't because I haven't been. I'm way past that.

SPEAKER_01 33:10

Oh no, you can tell him. You can remember we had Mike on. So he and I talked about our mentor, our mentoring. Yeah. We call ourselves. So that's our in. We love those. We love those kids. Yeah. I mean, talk about energy. That event is so high. That could be a whole nother 30 minutes. I learned so much, so much from those wide-eyed inspirational kids. They are so full of energy. I love them all.

SPEAKER_02 33:42

So all right. I gotta get back to work. Yeah, me too. Well, thanks for having me on. This has been a really nice chat. And I all right. See you. Stay tuned. All right. All right, Amanda. Bye.

SPEAKER_01 33:56

Thank you so much for listening to our podcast. We hope you enjoyed spending time with us because we enjoy spending time with you. If you did, make sure you hit that subscribe button or add the Business and Pleasure of Flowers to your Google morning routine or your flash briefing on Alexa.

SPEAKER_00 34:15

We look forward to seeing you next week. So please come back and join us and discover how a bit of knowledge and one small change in your mindset can take you to new levels in your life and business.