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RE: New Flower show in the works for NY area

I spent a number of years in the planning group for the Philadelphia Flower Show in the 90’s.  Just some observations for you to consider in starting a new Flower Show. 

The success of the Philadelphia Flower Show is largely a function of having a dozen or more very large, very extravagant landscape type floral displays presented by large landscape companies in the Philly area.  October is an unusual time for a flower show, but it may be easier to get several large landscape companies to join the new effort since they don’t have to force so much stuff that is out of season.  I would give them free space and let them try to outdo each other and have prizes for the winners. 

The trade show is as much of a consumer draw as are the exhibits.  Almost half of the trade booths are companies, local and national, selling unusual plants; stuff you don’t see in the local garden center; e.g. bonsai, orchids, tropicals, cactus, etc.  Being October, those people might be more available than in the spring when there are shows to work all over the place.  Those folks will pay money for the space and give the show a percentage of sales. 

The garden club competitions at the Philly show are fiercely competitive.  Not only do they offer some pretty impressive displays, the clubs serve as part of the network getting the word out to the surrounding communities about coming to the show.  You don’t make any money directly, but indirectly they become a powerful public relations arm. 

The book signing is a good idea; the folks at Philly go one step farther and all the authors have at least one hour to give a lecture around the subject of the book.  The authors don’t get paid for these programs, but then their book is on sale during the whole show and they can sit and sign as long as they wish.  These lectures become another important draw for the audience.  People time their coming to the show against the list of speeches.  There should be a good number of garden writers with current books living between Boston and Philadelphia, within driving distance to Long Island. 

 

Just some thoughts to cogitate.  It might take a few years to develop, but I should think that Long Island has a large population  of folks who would come to a good show. 

 

Good luck,

 

Jeff Ball

 

-----Original Message-----
From: gardenwriters-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org [mailto:gardenwriters-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Melanie
Sent: Thursday, April 22, 2004 9:57 AM
To: Garden Writers -- GWL -- The Garden Writers Forum
Subject: [GWL] New Flower show in the works for NY area

 

Wanted to let all of you know of a new flower show in the works for the New York area.

 

The plans are being made right now for a Flower Show and Horticultural exhibition at Farmingdale State University on October 28 through October 31st. The University is centrally located on Long Island in Farmingdale and easy to get to from all major highways.

 

Farmingdale University has the only horticultural program on the island and will be part of the tours at this years GWA Symposium in September. If you live close by and would like to be part of the flower show please contact me at m*@optonline.net

 

We are in desperate need of sponsors, the profits from this show will directly benefit horticultural students at the University. I have volunteered to design an educational garden and will work with the students who will do the actual installation. It will be a Pirate garden and we hope to have a large draw with it.

 

I suggested a book signing/selling area and they liked the idea very much. If you have a book and are interested, again, please contact me.

 

The Bonsai society will run a convention at this flower show. If anybody knows of any Orchid people in the tri-state area who would be interested, I'd like to incorporate them in the Pirate garden.

 

Thanks in advance,

Melanie Vassallo

Garden Writer/Lecturer/Photographer

 

 

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