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Coast to Coast: February/March 2007
Businesswoman of the Year |
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Written by Rita Truba
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Quebec
Montreal Gardeners’ & Florists’ Club
The December Annual General Meeting (AGM) was held on December 4th at Le Bouquet St. Laurent and hosted by the Bothelho family. At the AGM it was approved unanimously by the members, to reduce the number of general meetings throughout the year from six to three, with a Fall Dance as an extra get-together.
Joyeux Noel New York
A Quebec-grown, 15-metre tree graced 42nd Street between 5th and 6th Avenues in New York City’s Bryant Park this past December. The Fetes de Noel Holiday Tree was the centrepiece of a Canadian Tourist Promotion. It took more than 3,500 ornaments of crystal snowflakes, stars, starbursts in sparkling silver and white to cover the tree – all designed by Canadian Brian Gluckstein. The tree was magical and brought about awe and wonder from New Yorkers who do not impress easily.
Congratulations are in order
Larry Hodgson, of Quebec City, recently received the prestigious prize for The Best Horticulture Journalist given by the Perennial Plant Association.
Another hybrid rose
Rose Drummond of Drummondville will be offering the “Fernand Gignac” Rose to honour the Quebec entertainer. www.rose.ca
– submitted by Rita Truba
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| Dalia Bortolotti, owner of Harmony Florals and Gifts, Bell’s Corners, Ont. |
Florist Named Businesswoman of the Year
Algonquin college played a huge role in the success of Nepean’s Businesswoman of the Year, 2006.The Nepean chamber of commerce presented the award late last year to Dalia Bortolotti, a 2002 graduate of the florist program and now owner of her own flower shop, Harmony Florals and Gifts, in Bell’s Corners, Ont.
“I’m still in shock,” said Bortolotti, who was nominated by a client of hers and won over people who have been in business for much longer than she has.
Melanie Chayra, who is in charge of memberships at the chamber, said all the prospects are looked at by selected judges who evaluate based on specific criteria. “Even a nomination is an honour,” she said. “It’s absolutely no surprise to me that she won,” said previous classmate Sue Krueger. “She’s a phenomenal entrepreneur.”
Krueger opened her own shop two years after Bortolotti and gained a lot of advice and encouragement from her friend. “Dalia has been an inspiration to me,” she said. “She is very knowledgeable and meticulous in what she does.”
“I’m just so proud of her,” said former professor Lyn Whyte, AIFD, CAFA “She’s excelled so well.” Bortolotti attributes much of her current success to her choice to attend Algonquin College. After spending several years in the high-tech industry, she enrolled in the florist program because she wanted to completely change her employment future. The idea of her own floral shop was presented to her, and she said she decided to do things right and get all the education she needed.
“It was the first time in a long time that I was excited about something career-wise,” she said of the opportunity. “It’s the best decision I’ve made as career choices go.”
Her former experience in business helped her to get the store off the ground, and it has grown so much that they recently moved into a bigger facility.
Though she started out on her own, she now has two Algonquin graduates from the same program working for her as designers, and has a co-op student from the college helping out as well. Bortolotti said she would much rather have someone from Algonquin working for her because they know exactly
what to do.
“Some say I’m an elitist,” she said, but emphasized that from a business perspective, she wants to hire the most competent person. “I’m a firm believer that the Algonquin program is the best.”
Bortolotti said she came away from the college with a vast knowledge base and a huge advantage. She added that her whole experience at Algonquin was a very positive one, including the friendly competition among the students.
Biz Bytes
1-800-Flowers.Com Inc. Reports Record Revenues
The company that started over 30 years ago as a telephone florist is now reporting record growth due to its Internet sales. More than 2.6 million e-commerce customers placed orders during the second quarter. The company attracted 1.2 million new customers during this period, 63 per cent of whom came through its online channels. To read more please visit the Current Links section at www.canadianfloristmag.com.
FTD Reports Second-quarter Revenue Up by 38.8%
Second quarter fiscal year 2007 consolidated revenue grew $42.3 million, or 38.8 per cent, to $151.5 million, compared to revenue of $109.2 million for the same period of fiscal year 2006. Interflora Holdings Limited (“Interflora”), which the company acquired on July 31, 2006, accounted for $37.5 million of this increase in revenue. Growth in the company’s domestic businesses contributed the remaining $4.8-million increase. To read more, please visit the Current Links section at www.canadianfloristmag.com.
Consumers Can Buy Flowers On Blackberry
30 Second Software, Inc., an innovator in mobile commerce technology and services, has launched “Digby,” a mobile commerce service for Blackbery users. Current strategic partners include FTD Flowers, Godiva Chocolatier, Vermont Teddy Bears and Capalbo’s Giftbaskets. To read more, please visit the Current Links section at www.canadianfloristmag.com.
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