US: 48% of floral industry members optimistic about 2018 sales

Forty-eight percent of respondents to the Society of American Florists’ recent Economic Outlook Survey said they are “optimistic” about sales expectations in 2018 — another 16 percent said they are “very optimistic.” About 30 percent classified their feelings as “neutral/uncertain.” Five percent said they are “pessimistic”; almost 2 percent said they are “very pessimistic.”

Among respondents, industry members in the South, growers, and those respondents with businesses in suburban locations appear to be most optimistic about sales expectations. Survey respondents included all segments of the industry — retailers, wholesalers/suppliers/importers and growers. (The vast majority of respondents were retailers.)

Overall, 49 percent of respondents said business right now is “good,” and nine percent said it’s “excellent.” Thirty-eight percent said it’s “okay.” Meanwhile, 3 percent called business “poor” and, for 1 percent, it’s “terrible.”

Read more at safnow.org (Mary Westbrook)