RIOROSES.COM 1 LIVRIO the E-MAGAZINE of RIO ROSES Issue No.28 June 2019 RETIREMENT from WORK, NOT LIFE

RIOROSES.COM 1 LIVRIO THE E-MAGAZINE OF RIO ROSES Issue No.28 June 2019 RETIREMENT FROM WORK, NOT LIFE

4TH OF JULY P.R.E.P.

SYMPATHY P.R.E.P.

FLORAL DELIVERY RATES

5 TIPS TO BUILD YOUR FLORAL BUSINESS THIS SUMMER

WEDDING COLLECTION

MEET THE DESIGNER

BREEDER’S CORNER

CARE AND HANDLING

COMMUNITY OUTREACH

FOR INQUIRIES marketing@equiflor.com

2 LIVRIO | APRIL 2019 RWO PROMOTION

MYSTERY BOX GIVEAWAY!

ENTER NOW! YOU COULD BE THE LUCKY WINNER OF A FREE BOX OF RIO GYPSOPHILA!

CHECK OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION.

RIOROSES.COM 3 RIOROSES.COM 3 PEOPLE of RIO RIO FAMILY TALKS FOURTH OF JULY FLOWERS

WHICH FLOWERS SYMBOLIZE THE SPIRIT OF THE 4TH OF JULY TO YOU?

← MAYA SAGASTUME MARKETING An interesting 4th of July arrangement would include red and white roses with blue delphinium and Rio Million Stars Gypsophila. This combination makes me think of a fireworks display!

RICARDO SANGIO→ SALES A combination of red roses, white lilies and blue hydrangeas would make a great patriotic flower arrangement. ↓ ANA SEDLER JESUS GOMEZ↓ ACCOUNTING SALES Flowers that shout “Happy 4th of The flower that I can relate July” are Rio red, white, and tinted to on the 4th of July is our blue roses, or Rio tri-color tinted dark blue delphinium. It’s roses in red, white, and blue, in a nice beautiful and strong like arrangement with white Rio Xlence this great country we live Gypsophila. in.

↑ NORMA HARDISSON ACCOUNTING The flowers that symbolize the spirit of the 4th of July are red, white, and blue carnations.

4 LIVRIO | JUNE 2019 BLOOM of the MONTH

handpicked, fresh from our farm

RIO GYPSOPHILA

Gypsophilia, also known as “Baby’s Breath,” bristles with small, dainty flowers on long, delicate stems. It is named for its ability to thrive in calcium-rich soil which often contains gypsum. The tiny white florets represent innocence and purity of emotion. Rio offers different varieties of Gypsophila such as Xlence, Million Stars, Snow Cap, and Vivo. Each variety follows precise grading specifications.

RIOROSES.COM 5 Retirement from , not Work Life Often when you think you’re at the end of something, you’re at the beginning of something else. How lucky am I to have worked my whole life doing something that makes it so hard to say goodbye. I am so grateful to all with whom I have worked; my heart has been touched by all of you and I have learned from each and every one of you. Without the mentorship of our wonderful customers and their retail florists, I would never have understood the movement of flowers and how this great floral industry works. Without the experience of working with our incredible grower partners, I would never have known what is possible. Without the efforts of each member of our Equiflor team in every department, we could never have made Rio one of America’s most trusted and desired flower brands. Every associate at Equiflor has taught me something about life, relationships, and the importance of balance in living. The merger between Equiflor and Plantas and Flores in Costa Rica—which made my retirement possible—catapults Equiflor to the leadership position in Miami importers as the go-to brand for most every flower sold in our industry. This leaves our customers in the best hands ever. I am confident that our fine group of growers in four countries, our logistics partners, the Equiflor management and sales team, and our incredible support staff will keep Equiflor moving in just one direction: forward and upward. There has never been a better time to be an Equiflor customer and distribution/marketing partner. With that said, I will remain a partner in our farm operations and freight forwarding business, so I’ll be retired but still connected. I hope to engage again with our great industry, industry members, growers, and the people who made it all happen at Equiflor. So I bid you adieu, but not farewell. The problem with retirement is that you never have a day off! RAUL MARRERO FORMER SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF EQUIFLOR (RIO ROSES)

6 LIVRIO | JUNE 2019 RIOROSES.COM 7 4TH OF P.R.E.P. JULYHow to Boost Your Online Sales this 4th of July Fourth of July is traditionally a holiday of three “F”s: Food, Fireworks and Fun. Now we want to help you add another: FLOWERS. While there are many ways to promote 4th of July offerings in your store through patriotic displays and special discounts, it’s only a part of the business. These days, the best way to get a whole lot of new customers is to promote online. Here are a few ways to do this for the 4th of July holiday:

8 LIVRIO | JUNE 2019 1.E-NEWSLETTERS: FLORISTS CUSTOMER Send out an e-newsletter to your customer list a few weeks ahead of NEWSLETTER July 4th. Make it personal, by sharing your own 4th of July traditions, special memories, or anything that will create an emotional connection. Also offer tips on how to throw a great 4th of July party, including a few of your favorite recipes, and of course talking about the way you use

SUBSCRIBE flowers in your decor. The point of this newsletter isn’t to sell anything, it’s to create a stronger relationship with your customers. More sales will come as a result. 2.PROVIDE A WEBSITE LINK: In the weeks after the newsletter goes out leading up to July 4th, send a series of emails to your customers with a special offer on red, white, and blue arrangements. Choose a different offer for each email, as customers may respond to one versus another. Provide a link to your website that shows these arrangements and make it easy for customers to click and purchase. 3.THE SOCIAL MEDIA ROUTE: While this is all going on, make sure that you’re regularly updating your social media with patriotic images and thoughts. Share as much as you can on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest. Show your followers some creative arrangements as well as pictures of your store and your team prepping for 4th of July fun! 4.FOURTH OF JULY SALE! Have a general 4th of July sale on your website, to promote and sell overstock items. For example, you may have some plants on hand that haven’t sold, or perhaps certain containers didn’t sell well. Offer a discount on these items to help move them out of your shop. 5.EXTEND ONLINE SALES: Extend your online sales past the holiday. There’s no reason to stop your 4th of July online sales on the actual 4th of July holiday. What if your customers prefer to shop on the weekends? Make sure you offer your special deals for at least a few days after the holiday, to capture these potential shoppers. 6.RUN A CONTEST WITH PRIZES: Run a contest on social media, offering a prize of a 4th of July arrangement for the most patriotic image. Maybe you want to feature “patriotic pets” or “patriotic kids” – these are most likely to get shared. And make sure you add a hashtag that includes the name of your store.

PREPARE NOW, AND GET READY FOR EXPLOSIVE 4TH OF JULY SALES!

RIOROSES.COM 9 SYMPATHY P.R.E.P. (plan, review, execute, profit) How to Promote Sympathy Flowers

While the Summer months can be traditionally slow periods, it’s important to constantly cultivate year-round business that can tide you through the leaner times. One way to do this is by making sure you’re continually promoting and selling sympathy flowers. While this is never a pleasant subject to discuss, it’s important— not just for the future of your business, but to provide support and comfort for those grieving during this difficult time.

Sympathy flowers add a personal, warm touch to a service and honor a person’s life in a beautiful way. In fact, sympathy flowers have been a tradition at funerals and memorials since ancient times where floral and herb essences anointed the bodies of the deceased, which were also surrounded by aromatic flowers and greenery.

Here are some steps you can take right now to help promote sympathy flowers in your business.

10 LIVRIO | JUNE 2019 Make Your Website an Information Source When a person is looking for sympathy flowers, they may not know exactly which ones to choose. If you review many florists’ websites, you’ll see that the Sympathy Flowers section shows a lot of arrangements but doesn’t offer much guidance. You’ll be a step ahead if you provide a bit more helpful information on your website.

On your Sympathy Flowers webpage, create a section explaining the most common flowers used in sympathy arrangements and their meanings. Examples could be lilies for innocence, peace and rebirth; white roses for purity and spirituality; red roses for grief and love; pink carnations for love and remembrance; and white carnations for purity.

You may also want to categorize sympathy flower arrangements into different types, such as flowers for a loved one’s funeral or memorial; flowers or plants for a friend or business colleague; arrangements by funeral type (memorial, cremation, burial); even floral arrangements by religious preference (Jewish, Christian, Mormon, etc.). Become Known in Your Area as a Sympathy Flowers Specialist

Being a specialist in the area of sympathy flowers doesn’t mean that’s all you do. It just means that you become the “go-to” florist for sympathy flowers because of your breadth of knowledge and helpful advice. Make it a point to learn everything you can about the importance of flowers in creating a warm, comforting environment. The SAF website is a great source for sympathy flowers talking points, which you can learn and use in your conversations with customers and others in the memorial business.

With this information on hand and with your website well prepared as above, visit local funeral homes and memorial sites and offer your services. Show the funeral directors your website, review the talking points on sympathy flowers with them, and let them know that you are there as a resource for them and their clients. Once you’ve developed a relationship with them, ask if they can add a link on their website to your Sympathy Flowers webpage. This helps them, and it’s good for your business.

With these plans in place, you’ll be able to cultivate much more sympathy flower business now and throughout the year.

RIOROSES.COM 11 Are you Charging Enough for Floral Deliveries? USE THIS THREE-STEP PROCESS TO FIND OUT

Flower delivery is a mainstay of most florists, as it provides the convenience that customers want and need. However, delivery costs can be a hidden revenue-sucker for a floral business if they’re not carefully managed. Whether you build the charge into your floral prices or make delivery a separate charge is your choice, but one thing is certain: You need to make sure you’re charging enough. Here’s a three-step process you can take to determine what to charge.

1. COST PER MILE Even with a simple “flowers-only” delivery where you’re doing no setup or breakdown, you need to take into account the costs of driving to the venue or customer’s home. Work out the cost of operating the delivery vehicle for a month—maintenance, gas, parking, tolls, etc.— then determine how many deliveries you do per month and the average distance for each. For example, say your basic vehicle operating costs are $500 per month and you do an average of 40 deliveries a month, that’s $12.50 per delivery. If your average delivery is 10 miles, then your cost per mile is $1.25. 2. LABOR COST The delivery person, whether a regular employee or one specially-hired for the delivery, comes with a cost. Work out the labor cost per hour for that person and figure it into your delivery fee based on how long each delivery takes. For example, if you are paying a delivery person $12 per hour and the delivery takes 30 minutes, add $6 onto the delivery fee.

12 LIVRIO | JUNE 2019 3. TOTAL COST Once you know the Cost per Mile and Labor Cost, you can easily figure out what to charge for any delivery. Say you have a customer who wants flowers delivered 5 miles away, and you know it will take 30 minutes to deliver the flowers and return back. That means your delivery cost would be 10 miles at $1.25 per mile ($12.50) plus $6 labor cost, for a total delivery charge of $18.50. And of course you’ll want to add a markup, so your final delivery charge could be $20.00.

Obviously, you would have to determine the actual costs based on pricing in your particular area, but it’s a great exercise to do in order to ensure you’re not losing revenue from unseen delivery expenses.

SPECIAL REQUESTS = SPECIAL PRICES

Some customers will want you to go above and beyond for deliveries, such as express delivery or delivering at specified times which may be outside of normal business hours. This is a service you should definitely consider providing, as it may make the difference between getting an order and not. However, make sure you’re charging a premium for those special requests, as this can be another good way to increase revenue.

While delivery pricing is certainly not the most important part of your floral business, it’s something that you should work out now, so that you don’t have to worry about whether or not you’re charging enough. Your customers will know the pricing up front which will make them happy, and you’ll know that you’re increasing revenues which will make you happy!

RIOROSES.COM 13 TIPS TO BUILD YOUR FLORAL BUSINESS THIS SUMMER Ahhh, Summer… the season to relax, enjoy the slower business, and rest up for the next busy season—wait, what? No way! This is the time you can do all the things you’ve been meaning to do to promote your flower business and reap the rewards not just this Summer, but all year long.

Here are a few ways you can build your business 5during the slower Summer months: EXPAND YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE There’s no better way to build engagement 1with your customers than through regular posts on social media. Now’s the time to create a plan for what you’ll post on your Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest pages, and make a calendar to ensure you post on a regular basis. You can post flower-related articles, photos of your flowers at local events, customer photos with their arrangements—the sky’s the limit. It’s also a great idea to create a monthly contest or drawing, then post a picture of the winner on social media.

CONNECT UP WITH YOUR COMMUNITY 2 Get active in your local Chamber of Commerce or other business leaders’ group. They are always holding mixers, so get out there and mingle, and make sure you have plenty of business cards to hand out. You may also want to put up a stand at your local farmer’s market, or offer to display your flowers at a local community event in exchange for being able to promote your business there.

14 LIVRIO | JUNE 2019 CREATE AN OUTDOOR DISPLAY Summer is a perfect time to show off your flowers, and 3 right outside your shop is the perfect place. Why hide them all indoors? Create a beautiful display outside your front door and you’ll draw in passers-by who may never have considered you before. You may also want to hold a sidewalk sale with other local businesses, to bring more traffic to your area. The more creative you get, the more customers you’ll draw in. HOST WORKSHOPS AND CLASSES People are always looking for fun 4 things to do in the Summer, particularly parents with children out of school. That’s why it’s an ideal time for you to host a free informational class or a paid DIY workshop. It gets people into your shop where you can show them what you have to offer, and the next time they need flowers, they’ll think of your shop first. And make sure to post photos on social media. PREPARE YOUR SHOP FOR BUSINESS! With all the Spring holidays, there’s really no time for 5Spring Cleaning in a flower shop—so why not do some Summer Cleaning? Get your shop sparkling, from the windows to the flower buckets to the counters. Maybe there’s some paint touch-up you’ve been meaning to do, or some more thorough floor cleaning. Whatever it is, take this time to make your shop as beautiful as it can be, so every customer who walks in will be impressed and want to do business with you.

WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR FLORAL BUSINESS, SUMMER’S NO TIME TO SIT BACK AND RELAX. DO A BIT EXTRA NOW, AND YOU’LL BE READY FOR EVEN MORE BUSINESS IN THE MONTHS TO COME.

RIOROSES.COM 15 RIO’S 2 019 JUNE WEDDING COLLECTION

Hand-curated by our floral designer.

16 LIVRIO | JUNE 2019 2.

JUNE WEDDINGS ARE THE IDEAL TIME FOR BRIGHT, BEAUTIFUL FLORAL ARRANGEMENTS. HERE, WE’VE COMBINED ELEGANT HOT PINK AND WHITE RANUNCULUS WITH SWEET PINK CARNATIONS, BRIGHT WHITE ANEMONES 4. AND SOFT PINK SPRAY ROSES TO CREATE A BOUQUET THAT WILL TURN HEADS THIS JUNE WEDDING SEASON! RIO’S 2 019 JUNE WEDDING COLLECTION 1. RIO WHITE RANUNCULUS 2. RIO ILLUSION CARNATION 5. 3. RIO SOPHIE ROSES 4. RIO HOT PINK RANUNCULUS 5. RIO MOONLIGHT CARNATION 6. ILSE BABY RIO SPRAY ROSES 7. RIO WHITE ANEMONES

RIOROSES.COM 17 MEET THE DESIGNER! ADAM HAVRILLA

Each month, LivRio features an interview with one of the industry’s hottest floral designers, to find out what inspires their creativity and learn about new trends. This month, we interviewed Adam Havrilla, AIFD AAF FSMD CFD.

A BIT OF BACKGROUND...

Adam Havrilla is an accredited member of AIFD, member of SAF’s Professional Floral Communicators International, and an Illinois Certified Floral Designer. His original and artistic designs have garnered numerous awards, including the coveted 2016 & 2018 Iron Designer title from the International Floriculture Expo.

Throughout his career as a professional floral artist and speaker, Adam has given back to the industry through education and industry involvement. Adam has served as President of the Illinois State Florists’ Association and is currently the President of the National Alliance of Floral Associations.

1. When did you start developing these amazing flower designs and where do you get your inspiration? I began my flower journey 20 years ago in a family-owned flower shop. Early on I realized that I wanted to be a floral designer, I just had to find a way to achieve it. So, I studied with the lead designers at the shop, read every floral magazine available, and took any class I could. Later in my career I was fortunate to start working in downtown Chicago in a design building. This

Q & A was the moment my life changed as a designer. I was surrounded by amazing interior and fashion design and I couldn’t wait to express it with floral. My vision to design was opened up in a whole new way.

18 LIVRIO | JUNE 2019 2. What is your vision for the new generations when it comes to buying habits, flower trends and flower designs? The best advice I can give to new generations is to learn about the industry. Take classes, be active in floral associations, take the journey to becoming AIFD. All these opportunities will help you stay on-trend and learn how to be better in business and achieve your goals. The industry is continually evolving, and you need to be part of it. Say “Yes” when asked to attend or volunteer at an event. These relationships and experiences will enhance your career in ways you could never dream of.

3. Anything you would like to share about your relationship with Rio Roses? Rio Roses has always been a staple in my floral designs. I cannot thank Rio Roses enough for producing amazing products and being such a great supporter of the floral industry. You are an example of what keeps our industry moving. RIOROSES.COM 19 BREEDER’S CORNER

Rio Roses from

LivRio is pleased to present some of the latest news from breeder Ball. BALL LEADS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT FOR CUT FLOWERS IN COLOMBIA

Ball Horticultural Company is the leading breeder, propagator, and distributor of vegetative material supplies for professional ornamental fresh cut flower growers. BallSB, the company’s representative for fresh cut flowers in the highland tropics, is constantly researching and innovating to provide the latest flower trends. It all starts with an “Aha!” moment, when a color, a flower, or a new way of growing is first imagined. BallSB works diligently to transform those “Aha!” moments into reality, with the most current technology and sustainable practices. Their R&D team is continuously exploring new species to widen their catalog of new varieties, and their breeding programs are supported with the latest technology such as molecular markers, cytological techniques, and field evaluations. To support this, in November 2018, BallSB inaugurated a new R&D center in Sesquile, Colombia. This center houses a commercial showroom as well as a trial and breeding station. They also work closely with two world-class laboratories, Innovaplants and Darwin Perennials, for tissue cultures. And at the same time, BallSB works with many sites around the globe to provide clients with up-to-the-minute information on the performance of different varieties in different environments. To that end, a showroom station is currently being built in Kenya to service African farms. BallSB maintains close contact with clients throughout the R&D process. Their philosophy is to become more than just a supplier: They want to become a true business partner whose main concern is to establish “win-win” relationships with stakeholders.

20 LIVRIO | JUNE 2019 SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES For BallSB, sustainability covers both breeding programs and production. GYPSOPHILA SNOWBALL™: Their new R&D station has rooftops • Large head diameter that collect rainwater and store it in • Doesn’t require artificial light reservoirs to supply the farm’s water to induce flowering needs. They also planted more than 780 • Almost null mortality after native trees around the farm to reforest pruning (3%), requiring a lot and protect the reservoir. As breeders, less chemicals BallSB seeks the most disease and plague-resistant varieties, requiring fewer nutrients and less water, to reduce their environmental impact.

We would like to hear your opinion on the LIMONIUM SHOOTING STAR™: selected varieties provided by Ball. Please send • Long lasting plants—more us an email to [email protected] than 3 years! and share your feedback! • Unique trendy color • Less susceptible to Mildew • Less of the typical Limonium odor

LIMONIUM SILVERPINK™ : • Long-lasting plants • Unique trendy solid pink color • Less susceptible to downy mildew • Less of the typical Limonium odor

DELPHINIUM SUNSHINE™ :

• Spray-type, perfect for bouquets and solid bunches • All flowers open at top • Pure, strong blue color • Three or more flushes • Totally stable and homogeneous—your expectations fully fulfilled!

RIOROSES.COM 21 To ensure you enjoy the maximum vase life possible, • Allow minimum 2 hours to hydrate placing buckets MATSUMOTO Matsumoto Asters should always be treated with in an area with good airflow. transit/storage solution pre-sale, and with flower • Always remember FIFO (first in/first out) when food in the vase. rotating Asters or any other flowers.

PURCHASING VASE CARE ASTERS • Choose stems with heads showing color, and ¾ to • Remove any leaves that might be below the vase The Kawaii flower! fully open. solution. • Cut approximately 1” or more off stems. Use clean, HYDRATION AFTER HARVEST sanitized clippers or knife, and treat with Floralife® Native to Eastern Asia, the Matsumoto • Start processing with a clean bucket, sanitized with Quick Dip if flowers have been transported dry. ® Aster is sure to add a little playful whimsy D.C.D. cleaner. • Immediately place flowers in vase to any bouquet. Known for its daisy like • Cut stems about 1 - 2 inches before placing in a solutions containing Floralife® Clear 300 or ® ® ® head full of soft purple, pink, red or white hydration solution such as Floralife HydraFlor Floralife Express 300. Clear ULTRA 100 or HydraFlor® 100. florets which coyly reveal their cheerful • Remove any leaves that are below the hydration Common Defects yellow centers as they open. solution. • Botrytis can develop on leaves if stems are packed Part of the Asteraceae family, Matsumoto • Hydrate in chilled solution in the flower cooler (34 - together too tightly, always allow enough space for Asters form heads which look like 38° F). air to flow around the stems. individual flowers, but are actually squat • Flowers not developing if harvested at too early of SHIPPING AND STORAGE inflorescences comprised of a collection a stage. of ray and disk flowers which many mis- • Shipping and storage temperatures should be 34 - • Foliage browning. 38° F. identify as petals. • Dehydration. • Wet shipment is recommended so flowers stay • Bent neck. upright and reduce effects of gravitropism (see Matsumoto Asters are classed under the • Stem bending (Tropisms). genus Callistephus meaning “Beautiful special considerations section). Crown.” Once you have seen the gorgeous RE-HYDRATION AT STORE LEVEL AND STORAGE Special Considerations mass of florets, you will immediately • Matsumoto Asters are susceptible to bacterial understand why. It’s full Latin name is • Start processing with a clean bucket, sanitized with D.C.D.® cleaner. contamination in the storage/vase solution. Ensure Callistephus Chinensis. good hygiene practices are followed at every step • Conditioning of stem ends is recommended ® and take steps to condition stem ends. A fast growing annual which typically to prevent blockage. Floralife Quick Dip will • Matsumoto Asters are susceptible to gravitropism, blooms in late summer/early Fall, condition the stems and promote uptake. Cut approximately 1” or more off stems. Use clean, meaning if placed on their side horizontally, they Matsumoto Asters produce their long- sanitized clippers or knife, and treat with Floralife® will grow up, bending away from gravity. This lasting flowers atop tall sturdy stems, Quick Dip. causes bendy stems – for this reason, flowers should be shipped and stored wet (upright in making them excellent cut flowers. By • Following Floralife® Quick Dip treatment, place bucket solutions). growing them in a warm greenhouse, and flowers in a holding treatment such as Floralife® regulating their exposure to light, they can Clear 200 or Floralife® Express 200. Do not put • Matsumoto Asters are susceptible to Phototropism, also be grown to bloom year-round. flowers directly in metal/galvanized buckets. Use meaning they will bend towards the light. clean, high quality water that has not been treated • Some publications report benefits of storage in They are harvested when the heads begin with a water softener as the salt levels can be solutions containing higher sugar levels – for this to show full color, unlike many flowers damaging to flowers. reason, wholesalers and retailers might consider ® ® which are harvested in bud, and best sold • Store in a cooler at 34 - 38° F. storing flowers in Floralife Clear 300 or Floralife Express 300. when the heads are about ¾ to fully open.

To learn more about best practices from the experts in flower care, visit www.floralife.com To ensure you enjoy the maximum vase life possible, • Allow minimum 2 hours to hydrate placing buckets MATSUMOTO Matsumoto Asters should always be treated with in an area with good airflow. transit/storage solution pre-sale, and with flower • Always remember FIFO (first in/first out) when food in the vase. rotating Asters or any other flowers.

To learn more about best practices from the experts in flower care, visit www.floralife.com COMMUNITY OUTREACH

HONORING OUR FALLEN HEROES WITH ROSES ON MEMORIAL DAY

Memorial Day is a time of reflection and gratitude, to honor those who gave their lives in service to our great country. This Memorial Day, Rio donated 2,000 roses to be placed on the graves of the fallen at Houston National Cemetery as part of the Memorial Day Flowers program.

This program began in 2011, when 10,000 flowers were placed on gravesites in Arlington National Cemetery. It’s grown steadily through the work of volunteers across the country, and last year more than 400,000 flowers were placed on headstones.

Rio’s donation was made in partnership with Nicola Parker AIFD, who began placing flowers in Houston National Cemetery in 2012 out of respect for her father, Ssgt James F. Whitmore. This year, with the help of many wholesale floral companies such as Southern Floral Wholesale in Houston, Texas, Nicola’s team was able to place over 18,500 roses.

Placing a flower for Memorial Day to honor a fallen service member or veteran is a heartfelt reminder of just what flowers can mean to people. Rio Roses was proud to contribute to this important event.

24 LIVRIO | JUNE 2019 ANNIVERSARIES + BIRTHDAYS

“Thank you for your years of dedication to our team. CLAUDIA MORA 06/04/2018 1 year You are terrifically tireless, RENE OJEDA 06/18/2018 1 year exceptionally excellent, and EMILIO MARTINEZ 06/29/2015 4 years abundantly appreciated.”

STEVE STEINBERG 06/01 Sr. Account Executive “Happy Birthday. June all AERLIM DIAZ 06/08 Chief Financial Officer your B-day wishes come MAYA SAGASTUME 06/17 Director of Marketing true on your special day.” ANNMARIE ZAMORA 06/27 Farm Sourcing Manager RICARDO SANGIO 06/27 Sales

RIOROSES.COM 25 THANKS FOR READING

SEE YOU NEXT MONTH

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