We’re GROWING With Our Partners!

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 Elite Partner Pete Garcia/Floramart

One of our longest running partnerships is with the Pete Garcia Company. For nearly 40 years, they have supported our education goals! This year they are sponsoring the Main Stage presentation by Ty Leslie, The Influencers, on Monday, July 3 at 3:15pm. President Dave Garcia says that Ty will “share his love of flowers and the people that influenced his life in the floral industry”.

When asked why The Garcia Company/Floramart are excited to be back with us this year, Dave says it’s because of these three pillars: Education • Inspiration • Connection

“Education – AIFD has become the “go-to” for Floral Education. Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned professional, you will learn something new and valuable at Symposium.

Inspiration – As soon as you arrive at Symposium, the Inspiration begins. Throughout the facility, you will be amazed by the incredible floral art and the people who create it, as well as how they share their knowledge. Connection – People from all over the world travel to AIFD Symposium for the connection. Some attend to see old friends and make new ones. Others come to connect professionally for sourcing, skills and business knowledge. Lastly, some come to demonstrate and share their personal connection to their craft.”

Partner Expo: Marlin Hargrove AIFD tells us to find the Garcia Company/Floramart at the Partners Expo “under the arch, where the bold structure of geometrics meets the grandeur of flora and fauna. Transfix your eyes on the illumination of a gentle flicker as your mind opens to endless creative possibilities. This mesmerizing experience is possible through a unique collaboration of beautiful floral products, some novel, some traditional, all provided by the many innovative vendors of Floramart®. Enhance your symposium experience as you visit both of our table presentations. Learn how we can impact your artistry…..permanently!”

New Featured Items:

Plus One Imports™ has a passion for flowers and we want to share that passion with you. Permanent Botanicals have always been one of our specialties; we are dedicated to creating the very best replications of what Mother Nature has to offer in color, texture, and style. Featuring New Permanent Botanicals

SNK Featuring New Wedding Arches and Stands

Patria™ Illumination – The Most Realistic LED Candlelight You Have Ever Seen. LED candles, made from real wax and are battery powered. The patented 360˚3D flame creates the flickering glow of a real candle. New items featured at AIFD – 15” and 18” Taper Candles.

Shopping for floral supplies should be simple. Since 1965, Pete Garcia Company™ has been a leading authority in North America’s Floral Industry, and the epitome of Southern hospitality. Floramart® is partnered with more than twenty of the sector’s top manufacturers and importers, bringing you the finest non-perishable floral products made from materials that last.

Floramart® was born to make the floral shopping experience easy, fun, and affordable. Headquartered just north of downtown Atlanta, Floramart® is the premier trade center in the floral industry, with thirty-thousand square feet to explore. Floramart® is your one-stop shop for all things floral and décor, Ribbon, Candles, LED, Foam, Containers, Permanent Botanicals, Natural and Sustainable products and so much more. Corsage, Wedding, Seasonal, Holiday and Everyday.

Best Ways to Follow Floramart:

Facebook @FloraMartAtl Instagram @FloraMartAtl

All things floral and décor: https://www.floramart.com/

Inspiration Found Here:

Gold Elite Partner Winward

The permanent botanical and home décor company, Winward, is back supporting AIFD this year. They’ve been a partner for about 20 years. Benjamin Tai from Winward says they keep coming back because we “always love to support AIFD!”

Winward is sponsoring Laura Dowling’s Main Stage program A Floral Adventure July 4^th at 2pm. Laura says, “I’m grateful for the support of all of the sponsors; their generosity will help me create a strong artistic vision that will hopefully inspire attendees to incorporate new techniques, design concepts and color combinations in their own work. In particular, I’m very excited to collaborate with Winward and plan to use their beautiful silk flowers, ribbons, and holiday decor in my presentation designs.”

New Featured Items: Keeping on trend, Winward will be featuring their new Calistoga Dried Collection and Cafe au Lait Collection, which have both been very popular due to on-trend color themes.

Best Ways to Follow Winward:

Facebook @Winward Instagram @WinwardSilks

Inspiration Found Here:

Silver Elite Partner The Elite Flower

After many years of supporting AIFD Symposium, The Elite Flower will be back again this year. They are co-sponsoring the Main Stage presentation by Laura Dowling, A Floral Adventure, July 4^th at 2pm.

Alike in Education: Adam Havrilla AIFD says, “We are excited to be part of an event that focuses on education. We believe the success of the industry is not only providing the best floral items, but contributing to education. When you educate a person about the floral industry you are ensuring the growth of the floral industry. We are honored to be partners with the leading floral organization in the USA.”

Sustaining GROWth: As the industry’s leading floral conglomerate, The Elite Flower has roots across the entire planet– literally. They’re proud to run sustainable and ethical farms in Colombia, Ecuador, and Kenya, which are all places known for their exceptional floral agriculture. Between their even climates, high altitudes, and abundant water and sunlight exposure, they’re able to produce some truly remarkable flowers. As an agricultural organization, our work is intimately linked to the environment. We’re committed to enforcing sustainable and responsible farming practices that respect the land we farm on, and our employees call home. These practices include following environmental regulations for greenhouse flower production, as well as implementing our own sustainability initiatives.

Best Ways to Follow The Elite Flower:

Facebook @The Elite Flower Instagram @TheEliteFlower

Inspiration Found Here:

Bronze Elite Partner Ethel M Chocolates

Ethel M. Chocolates is a new partner for AIFD Symposium this year, and there’s no doubt that they will be welcomed with open arms (and stomachs!). Ethel M makes small-batch chocolates daily, in Henderson, NV.

Partner Expo: Keep an eye out for the scrumptious Ethel M display at our Partners Expo. They will be sampling their beautiful chocolates!

Garden Delight: If you find yourself in the Henderson NV area, stop by and check out the cactus garden found at the Ethel M flagship store. It’s the largest botanical cactus garden in Nevada. Pair your chocolate tasting with views of the botanical desert terrain and enjoy the self-guided chocolate viewing aisle. Self-guided tour and Cactus Garden are free and open year-round!