Floral techniques, inspiration and young talent

The autumn edition of the Trendz trade fair took place on the 25th, 26th, and 27th of August at the Event Hall in Gorinchem, The Netherlands. The programme of the Flower & Plant Stage was organised by Bloemkracht 6, a reference to the six organisers and main sponsors of the event: Jodeco Glass, Smithers-Oasis, Groothandelscentrum Plantion, Veiling Plantion, Bloem & Blad and VBW (Dutch Royal Floristry Association). The spectacular stage programme featured demonstrations, workshops, and exciting battles. There was also plenty of opportunity to catch up with industry peers and colleagues.

Demonstrations and workshops

Marginpar participated as a flower sponsor and attended the event on the 26th of August, day two of the fair. The day began on a high note with a joint demonstration by Ilona Oostenveld and Miranda ter Voorde. They showcased various applications of colour and technique, sharing valuable tips with the audience on sustainable materials and methods to keep floral arrangements looking beautiful for as long as possible. For example, they demonstrated how to use OASIS® TerraBrick™, Floralife® Quick Dip, and Floralife® Finishing Touch. This was followed by an interactive workshop led by Ria Derks of Ardisia Vormgeving on bouquet techniques, where participants learned to create their own mood boards and bouquets. As a surprise, Willem Lautenbag from Smithers-Oasis and Jeroen Blaauw from Jodeco Glass, both well-known figures in the floriculture industry, went head-to-head in a floral design battle. The results were certainly impressive!

Dutch Champion Franka Roenhorst

Dutch Champion Franka Roenhorst gave a presentation at Trendz on showpieces and profit-makers, demonstrating how to translate large floral works into commercially viable pieces that sell well in shops. Franka explains, "What is a profit-maker? For one florist, it's a hundred euros, while for another, it might be just ten. I find it very important to show what you can do with a showpiece at a competition or demonstration, but it's equally important to make the translation to commercial work."

The preparations for the 2025 World Cup have begun for Franka, and her presentation at Trends contributes to this. "A lot of practice, practice, practice, creating bases, and being creative," says Franka. It's also about generating publicity, especially through social media. Franka shared that she thoroughly enjoyed being on stage at Trendz and that she found Marginpar's flowers wonderful to work with. We received a lovely compliment from Franka about our Gloriosa Superba Simba Fifty Shades: "Beautiful Gloriosa, I noticed the nice thick stems right away. Excellent quality."

Stay up to date on the World Cup Floral Art

Emerging talents

'The Florist Colours Your Life!' is an initiative by the VBW in collaboration with the Young Floral Talents. The Young Floral Talents are a group of young florists who showcase their lives as florists, particularly on social media. The campaign is designed to enthuse young people about the profession and to encourage enrolment in vocational (MBO) education. During Trendz, the Young Floral Talents also took the stage. Demi and Charissa competed in an exciting battle. It was impressive to see these talents in action!

Bram Rijkers of VBW shared why it’s so important for young florists to have a platform: "These are the florists of the future who present their own perspective on the profession and aim to inspire others with their insights and creativity. By inspiring other florists, they can bridge generations. Additionally, these young talents grow as entrepreneurs and florists through this experience."

As a tip for young florists with ambitions to enter competitions, Dutch Champion Franka Roenhorst advises: "Get as much experience as possible, keep practising, and just give it a go. Try to learn from others and create your own work from that. If you have the ambition to be highly creative beyond the floral work in the shop, grab every opportunity with both hands!"