America in Bloom

Outreach Education
Lifelong learning, the continuing development of knowledge and skills throughout one's life, is a key element for you and your company's success.

In addition to the OFA Short Course, our signature educational event, OFA offers education throughout the year. We've offered workshops for growers, garden center owners/employees, florists, and interior plantscapers. During the past five years, we've taken education on the road to Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas, and Virginia.

Keep watching our calendar for upcoming educational events.

Upcoming Education

 
 
GrowerTalks Sustainability Conference 2008

November 7-8
Frisco, Texas (just outside of Dallas)

With the emphasis on sustainability in today's business world, the GrowerTalks' Sustainability Conference will be the first ever conference 100% focused on providing floriculture growers the needed foundation to navigate and implement the many available options associated with sustainability. Whether you're looking to make a few small adaptations to your greenhouse or aiming for more extensive changes, you'll find the necessary sessions to help you chose the path that’s right for your business.

Visit the GrowerTalks Sustainability Conference web site for more information.

Produced by GrowerTalks and GreenTalks. Founding Partner: OFA


 
Green Profit’s Retail Experience 2008

November 8-9
Frisco, Texas (just outside of Dallas)

This premier educational event dedicated exclusively to garden center retails is designed for anyone in the garden center industry looking to gain innovative tools, tips, and strategies to achieve new levels of excellence in their business. Seminars and tours cover a wide array of topics from store design and visual merchandising to profiting from organics and operating multiple locations.

Visit Green Profit's Retail Experience web site for more information.

Sponsored by Green Profit in cooperation with OFA.

 
Strategies for Managing Your Bottom Line ... Profitably.
 

Tuesday, November 11
1:30-5pm
Michigan Greenhouse Growers Expo
Lansing, Michigan

Knowledge Leaders
Bridget Behe, Michigan State University
Peter Konjoian, Konjoian's Floriculture Education Services
It’s no secret that profit margins have eroded to levels that threaten the future of many greenhouse operations. Costs continue to rise, prices continue to stagnate, and growers continue to struggle to maintain a sustainable level of profitability.

Bridget and Peter will discuss key topics of financial concern including cost accounting, revenue analysis, and calculation and evaluation of profit in this workshop. Renew your focus on this aspect of our green industry (the money part) by refreshing your knowledge of why financial analysis is important, how to figure some basic numbers, and analyze your revenue by crop to see what you should be growing.

A discussion of marketing and economic factors governing current industry behavior will also be presented.

Topics Include:
  • Market Analysis and Financial Primer
  • Revenue Analysis: Identifying Which Crops Are Makers, Which Are Takers
  • Cost Accounting: The First Step in Analyzing Profitability
  • How Pricing, Production Volume, and Shrinkage Influence Profitability
  • Boosting Profitability with Marketing, Strategic Pricing, and Differentiation
  • Strategic Thoughts for Your Business’s Future

Registration

$75 and includes complimentary admission to the Michigan Greenhouse Growers Expo
Register online or download the form to fax.

Deadline: October 24

In Cooperation With

The Michigan Greenhouse Growers Expo

Sponsored By