February 2015 | Volume 36, Issue 2
FNGLA’S MONTHLY PUBLICATION: DIGITAL MONTHLY ISSUE LOCATED AT HTTP://GREENLINE.FNGLA.ORG
Inspiration, Innovation, Creativity Abound at TPIE! With 6,162 participants from 42 states and 39 nations soaking up the TPIE experience, attendance surpassed last year’s TPIE and, in fact, is a five-year high! Retail buyers were up 13% and interiorscape buyers were up 14%. The TPIE Road Show was a sell-out. The FNGLA Certification Showcase was hugely popular. And, the Opening Session featuring international trends analyst Christine Boland was standing-room only. “TPIE is the most exciting and stimulating show in the industry,” said Theresa Riley of Rockledge Gardens and chairman of the 2015 show. “Not only do you see the most beautiful plants, colors and textures at TPIE, but it is where I meet extremely creative and inspiring people. TPIE is the show that brings incredible energy and opportunity to anyone wishing to take advantage of it.” With fifty new exhibiting companies and a small, yet noticeable, increase in the number of booths as well as the overall number of companies exhibiting, TPIE 2015 reflected the gradual and healthy improvement of today’s economy. Industry trade show watcher and TPIE Committee member Chris Beytes said, “The mood in Fort Lauderdale was exceptionally good. I attribute that to 2014 being a strong one for the industry and there are no reasons to believe 2015 can’t be just as strong — weather permitting, of course.” The week started with TPIE’s Road Show, which offered practical, yet inspiring, presentations by experienced experts from the interiorscape and retail business worlds. TPIE’s Road Show also staged visits to nurseries, retail stores and an expansive downtown green wall in the art district to capture innovative practices which can be used to create exciting future experiences for customers. TPIE is well known as the place to learn the latest industry trends. This was especially true this year as a standing room-only audience flocked to hear Dutch trend analyst Christine Boland share the most notable worldwide social trend markers and how they transfer to design and applications related to our industry products and services. A few key words and phrases used by Christine included: simplicity; filter and focus; togetherness; re-use; renew; Continued page 3
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