Northern Piedmont News

 

We have a florist, David Pridgen of Eddies Floral Gallery in Wilmington, to applaud for this one.  I call him our voice in the east.  His business, personally affected by order gatherers, was motivated with his associates and colleagues in the Wilmington area to evoke Senator Boseman's interest in this very important issue.  Every Florist in this state, and consumers of Floral products, owe David and his colleagues in the Wilmington area a vote of gratitude.

As we now know, Senate Bill 514, Sponsored by Senator Julia Boseman, cleared the appropriate committees in both the Senate and the House and was returned to the Senate for a final vote.  It was approved by the NC Senate today, July 19, 2007, by a unanimous vote.  Now, it will be forwarded to the Governor for his signature.

This piece of legislation is vital to NC Consumers of Floral products and to the over 600 busy local retail florists remaining in NC.  These florists have provided the end fulfillment and delivery of the large majority of all floral orders, whether it be by walking into a store on main street, calling a local number, a 1-800 number, or in the latest variance, via the Internet.

However, with technology has come a new creature, called the order gatherer.  We call them PHONEY FLORISTS because they seek to deceive the public by posing as a local florist, .while residing in the far away comfort and safety of a telephone call center and Internet order gathering center.. They will be severely limited in NC by the passage of Senate Bill 514.

Our next task will be to provide evidence for enforcement to the Attorney General of their activities,  by filing complaints, locating their deceptive advertising and their unlawful activities.  If you are not clear about how order gathers operate, go to www.floristdetective.com .

The following news article, posted online at the Society of American Florists web site, www.safnow.org, elaborates the nature of the beast.  A creature we should clear from business in NC, as other States like Tennessee are now doing.  

A list of NC State Senators follows the story, so please identity your representative and email their office to thank them for their support.  The vote was unanimous so all senators can be thanked for their support.

Most Sincerely, Jon Miller, President

 

 

 

 

 

 

 NC Senators  2007-2008 Session (50 living – 2 deceased)