Record week
In week 16 of 2018, Veiling Rhein-Maas achieved the highest weekly turnover in a full April week since the foundation of the company in 2010. In this week, the auction, including Clock pre sales and Clock Service, realised a weekly turnover of 12.16 million euros. The potted plant figures were excellent in April 2018, with an increase of over 60% in terms of quantity compared to the same period the previous year. Because of the large quantities of bedding and garden plants sold during this period, the quantity of products on offer decreased after Mother’s Day although the prices were still very good. In a compact season, which ran from the beginning of April to the middle of May, the available quantity of products remained steady. Local severe weather occasionally had a strong influence on the quantity of available products from some suppliers in May and June. In addition, heavy rainfall in Africa had an effect on the quantity of import products on offer in Straelen-Herongen.
Clock pre sales still popular
The Clock pre sales digital sales channel is further developing positively. On 25 June 2018, the Clock pre sales reached a cumulative annual turnover of more than six million euros. Alongside this digital sales channel, however, the physical auction still forms the heart of the auction at Straelen-Herongen. For instance, the lower section of the auction room was almost fully occupied several times in May. The average number of customers in the auction room and customers using Remote Buying (KOA) remained constant in comparison to the second quarter of 2017.
High-quality products remain the trend
Planted trays and arrangements as well as high quality products are still the trend among the customers of Veiling Rhein-Maas. In addition to the introduction of the auction group "Exclusive spray chrysanthemums", which was received very well by the auction customers, the label "Premium Quality" was successfully introduced for Alstroemeria in April. Calibrachoa, vegetable plants, patio plants, peonies and Eustoma were also extremely popular among the customers of the market place in Straelen-Herongen during the second quarter of 2018.