Our yearly symposium could not be produced without the generous support of our industry partners. As anticipation builds for us to be together this July in Chicago, we checked in with some of our partners to see what they have in store for us. We’ll be sharing these highlight previews from our partners with you over the coming weeks, so stay tuned for more installations in the Symposium Partner Highlight Series!

Diamond Partner Smithers Oasis North America

We chatted with Kelly Mace of Smithers Oasis about the history of their partnership with AIFD and Kelly said “I have been with the company for 30 years and I know we have been partnering with AIFD for at least that many years. Probably since the very beginning!”

Smithers, continually so generous with their support of symposium, are “excited to be sponsoring Main Stage programs Tropical Heatwave with the amazing Jackie Smith Johns AIFD and Lottie Nys AIFD, plus Color’s Emotional Scale with the fabulous Gretchen Sell and Jodi Duncan AIFD. We are also sponsoring hands-on classes; first Midnight at the OASIS: Exploring Dynamic Design Possibilities with OASIS(R) Midnight Floral Foam featuring the talented Loann Burke AIFD. And finally, co-sponsoring hands-on class Color – Lightness – Creativity 2.0 with the wonderful Bjorn Kroner. We can’t wait!”

Partner Expo: Look for trend setting designs and new products coming your way at this year’s Partner Expo. Kelly says, “Always innovative, we look forward to you joining us at the Partner’s Expo”.

New product alert! Kelly shares, “Designers have asked for it and we are excited to be launching a new Event Saddle. This Event Saddle is everything! The Event Saddle is coming soon, and we are excited to be able to showcase it at the Partner’s Expo. Plus, the floral design staple OASIS(R) FLORAGE(R) Holder is now available with a black base, and it contains OASIS(R) Midnight Floral Foam.”

“We are so excited to see everyone at this year’s symposium and can’t wait to see all of our floral family!”

Best Ways to Follow Smithers Oasis:

Facebook @Oasis Floral Products North America Instagram @OasisFloral

Pinterest @SmithersOasis TikTok @OasisFloralProducts Podcast How We Bloom

Inspiration Found Here:

Partner in Educational Funding AIFD Foundation

The AIFD Foundation has been a partner in educational funding since 1979. The established mission of the AIFD Foundation is to provide financial support for educational purposes, scholarships, projects and programs which facilitate the advancement and dissemination of knowledge in the field of floral design and related fields. There is simply no better place to be, than AIFD Symposium, to ensure our purpose through program support and a variety of scholarships to expand floral design education and increase awareness of AIFD and the AIFD Foundation.

The AIFD Foundation is sponsoring the Main Stage program Flower Farmer presented by Charlie Groppetti AIFD.

Partner Expo: Will the Foundation be featured at the Partners Expo? Yes!! Foundation Executive Director Lynn Lary McLean AIFD says “Our focus is centered on extending invitations to ‘Become a Friend of the AIFD Foundation’! Not only will a contribution benefit the AIFD Foundation, it will also add to the donor’s Regional Chapter totals to help win up to two $1,000 educational grants!!” Make sure to Become a Friend by July 4^th, 2023, to have your donation count towards your regions place in the contest.

Let’s Play! Along with the Friend of the Foundation initiative and contest, Lynn says “We have had so much fun with the “Hands & Heart” game played during the last few symposiums, that we will continue this game as well! Trustees will sell the trinket needed to play the game to win a 2024 Premium Registration!” Make sure you track down this years trinket before the game is played during Main Stage presentations.

The Annual Auction: Help us GROW floral design education by supporting the Silent Auction at Symposium!

On July 2nd and 3rd, we will GROW with your participation in the Annual Silent Auction, which will be offered as a Virtual Auction this year as it was in 2022! View the Silent Auction in person, or virtually, to emerge with that something special that helps you flourish, or just the right selection that broadens your horizon and expands your wellbeing to GROW!

Please bring your items to auction to GROW, or ship in advance to:

Keith Harbison AIFD
13672 Cambridge Drive
Lemont, IL 60439

Props, contributed to the AIFD Foundation from Main Stage Designers, will be offered for sale throughout the AIFD Symposium beginning July 3rd. Plan now to purchase your favorite so that your education continues to find new beginnings and GROW! Be in “The Gallery” as these props come off stage so that you may make your purchase!

The Growtique, a Pop-Up Body Flower Boutique will carry ready-to-wear creative floral couture, as well as flowers and adornments to design your own, to purchase and wear to our formal dinners, so plan to shop early! Proceeds to benefit students in several ways through the AIFD Foundation SAIFD Fund. Plan to stop by early to make your selection. Read more about The Growtique here! Proceeds benefit floral design students through the AIFD Foundation SAIFD Fund.

Best Ways to Follow the AIFD Foundation:

Facebook, Instagram & YouTube @AIFD Foundation

Inspiration Found Here:

Elly Lin and the World-class Experience that she will share on July 6th from 8am-3pm to benefit the AIFD Foundation. Nurtured Expression will emphasize the study of the leaf while imagining the inside emotion of plants and capturing inspired growth with new techniques for both the bridal bouquet and the arrangement. $379 Registration, through AIFD, prior to Monday, May 15. $399 Registration after May 15

Enhanced Hands-on Session with Per Benjamin to benefit the AIFD Foundation on July 5th from 4pm-6pm. During a brief theoretical opening, the former World-cup Champion will share his ideas about colour and the background to his theory. Learn and then practice the two basic tools shared in theory as you create a sustainable design from a wide range of flowers in this intense workshop.

$149 Registration, through AIFD, prior to Monday, May 15 $179 Registration after May 15

Gold Partner Details Flowers Software

Details Flowers Software has been supporting AIFD Symposium for the last four years. For the last two years, their comprehensive software has been the procurement tool used for all designers as they planned for their symposium presentations and classes.

When asked why Details is excited to be back with AIFD this year, CEO and Founder Corrine Heck shared “We love meeting all of the AIFD designers and seeing the amazing designs they create. As the procurement software of the annual symposium, we have helped the designers through the entire planning process for their Main Stage presentations. We are excited to see their concepts come to life! Reuniting with our floral industry peers (and meeting new friends) is always something we look forward to year after year.”

As a Gold Elite Partner, Corrine will be presenting two lecture sessions this year:

Call to Action on July 2^nd, 7am-8:30am

Are you interested in becoming the next AIFD® superstar? Jump into this class to learn all the requirements to creating an awesome stage presentation while learning the ins and outs of successful procurement plans. This course is fantastic for speakers, aspiring speakers, business owners, and freelancers who want to prepare for success in every event they create. This session is not to miss!

Wake Up To Profitability July 3^rd 7am-8:30am

Details Flowers Software’s CEO, Corrine Heck, offers a morning class to jumpstart your event business to profitability. She will dive into her top ten strategies for boosting your event business revenue and help you save time while doing it. Join us for this informative morning session!

Partner Expo: “We always have fun swag that you can pick up from our booth! We are here to answer any questions you have about our software. We are even offering an exclusive deal for Symposium attendees, so make sure to stop by our booth to try Details out for yourself!”

New Featured Items: When asked what’s new with Details, Corrine said, “At Details Flowers Software, we always innovate our platform to cater to our florists’ needs. Recently, we have launched our new Inspiration and Recipe Collections within the Inspiration and Recipe Galleries. We announced a partnership with Rosparima, where you can use their exclusive line of products in your events. Now, Details users can access Rosaprima products and items from Jet Fresh, Alexandra Farms, Alaska Peony Cooperative, Syndicate Sales, and Smithers Oasis.

Best Ways to Follow Details Flowers Software:

Instagram: @detailsflowers Facebook: @Details Flowers Software

Youtube: @detailsflowers LinkedIn: @Details Flowers Software

Inspiration Found Here:

Bronze Partner Green Point Nurseries

For over 10 years Green Point Nurseries has been a Symposium Partner. Having them back again this year will be a treat for everyone in attendance!

Eric Tanouye, President of GPN, says “We always look forward to the educational workshops that happen at Symposium. We also appreciate the opportunity of having our products highlighted front and center before AIFD attendees, and then to see them being used in the hands of AIFD designers showing the quality and versatility of Hawaii’s Flowers. Finally, the chance to network and make friends with in the industry is a true highlight.”

Eric also shares, “We are honored to sponsor the hands-on workshop Green Transformations: Upping Your Design Game with Foliage Manipulation featuring Phil Rulloda.”

Partner Expo: The Green Point Nurseries table at the Partners Expo is a visual feast every year, so we were glad to hear that they will be back again this year, featuring a display showcasing the flowers and ornamentals that Green Point Nurseries provides. Get your cameras ready to capture it all!