A strong turnout of garden centres, wholesalers and exporters from home and abroad braved the wintry weather at the Floralis Boskoop Spring Fair 2015, which took place earlier this month. Organisers said buyers were cautiously optimistic about the coming spring.

The use of digital purchase channels by the trade was more apparent than ever. When the fair’s Shop app was launched 18 months ago, visitors were hesitant, but many took the plunge to order via their smart phones this year.

Regular users of the Floralis Boskoop Web shop choose to purchase from the fair stock online, rather then visiting the fair itself. Says Martin Bokhorst of Floralis Boskoop. “This trend has increased more and more during the last year,” he added.

The organisers said garden centres were also using the fair to buy smaller quantities of a wider range of plants, in order to maintain customer choice but reduce wastage levels. They were buying single pieces or trays as well as full trolleys or shelves.

Garden centres appeared happy to wait for the season to get going before making big commitments.  “Garden centres and wholesalers first have to regain confidence in the market situation and want to wait and see how early sales will go,” said Floralis Boskoop MD Frans van Dijk. “Also there is plenty of nursery stock available, which can be easily ordered through the Web shop or Shop app at any time”, says.

“Early Spring and more…” is the theme of the next Cash & Carry at Floralis Boskoop (17-19 March 2015).

More information: www.floralisboskoop.nl